Nitrate
Malaga County Water District
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.93 ppm | 25 | 25 | 1.80 ppm - 4.00 ppm |
| 2019 | 3.10 ppm | 24 | 24 | 2.10 ppm - 4.60 ppm |
| 2020 | 3.27 ppm | 39 | 39 | 2.20 ppm - 5.10 ppm |
| 2021 | 3.39 ppm | 35 | 35 | 2.10 ppm - 5.20 ppm |
| 2022 | 3.49 ppm | 30 | 30 | 2.30 ppm - 5.60 ppm |
| 2023 | 3.47 ppm | 33 | 33 | 2.00 ppm - 5.30 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm
The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 10 ppm
The legal limit for nitrate, established in 1962, was developed to protect infants from acute methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening disorder of oxygen transport in the body. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus.
ppm = parts per million
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-03 | CA1010042_007_007-201801031028 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2018-01-03 | CA1010042_012_012-201801031135 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2018-01-03 | CA1010042_006_006-201801031120 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2018-02-07 | CA1010042_007_007-201802071100 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2018-02-07 | CA1010042_012_012-201802071405 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2018-02-07 | CA1010042_006_006-201802071350 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2018-06-15 | CA1010042_007_007-201806150940 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | CA1010042_007_007-201807101340 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | CA1010042_006_006-201807101400 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | CA1010042_012_012-201807101415 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2018-08-08 | CA1010042_012_012-201808081040 | 1.80 ppm |
| 2018-08-08 | CA1010042_006_006-201808081025 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2018-08-08 | CA1010042_007_007-201808081005 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2018-09-06 | CA1010042_006_006-201809061031 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2018-09-06 | CA1010042_007_007-201809061015 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2018-09-06 | CA1010042_012_012-201809061040 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2018-10-09 | CA1010042_007_007-201810090911 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2018-10-09 | CA1010042_012_012-201810090930 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2018-10-09 | CA1010042_006_006-201810090922 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | CA1010042_006_006-201811061230 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | CA1010042_007_007-201811061105 | 2.90 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | CA1010042_012_012-201811061219 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2018-12-10 | CA1010042_006_006-201812100910 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2018-12-10 | CA1010042_007_007-201812100830 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2018-12-10 | CA1010042_012_012-201812100845 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | CA1010042_007_007-201901081330 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | CA1010042_006_006-201901081351 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | CA1010042_012_012-201901081401 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | CA1010042_012_012-201904080946 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | CA1010042_006_006-201904080955 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | CA1010042_007_007-201904080925 | 2.90 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | CA1010042_012_012-201905081340 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | CA1010042_007_007-201905081250 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | CA1010042_006_006-201905280855 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2019-06-06 | CA1010042_007_007-201906060730 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2019-06-06 | CA1010042_006_006-201906060755 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2019-06-06 | CA1010042_012_012-201906060805 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | CA1010042_006_006-201907091018 | 4.20 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | CA1010042_007_007-201907090947 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | CA1010042_012_012-201907091006 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2019-10-08 | CA1010042_007_007-201910081021 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2019-10-08 | CA1010042_012_012-201910081130 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2019-10-08 | CA1010042_006_006-201910081100 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2019-11-04 | CA1010042_007_007-201911041002 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2019-11-04 | CA1010042_012_012-201911040948 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2019-11-04 | CA1010042_006_006-201911040907 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | CA1010042_006_006-201912050921 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | CA1010042_007_007-201912050955 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | CA1010042_012_012-201912050941 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202001061027 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202001061051 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202001061017 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2020-02-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202002040945 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2020-02-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202002040920 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2020-02-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202002041005 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | CA1010042_012_012-202003031053 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | CA1010042_006_006-202003031042 | 5.00 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | CA1010042_007_007-202003031012 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2020-04-07 | CA1010042_006_006-202004071055 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2020-04-07 | CA1010042_012_012-202004071106 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2020-04-07 | CA1010042_007_007-202004071117 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2020-05-11 | CA1010042_007_007-202005111105 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2020-05-11 | CA1010042_012_012-202005111052 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2020-05-11 | CA1010042_006_006-202005111030 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2020-05-13 | CA1010042_012_012-202005131016 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2020-05-13 | CA1010042_006_006-202005131005 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2020-05-13 | CA1010042_007_007-202005131030 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2020-06-03 | CA1010042_007_007-202006030735 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2020-06-03 | CA1010042_006_006-202006030805 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2020-06-03 | CA1010042_012_012-202006030830 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2020-07-07 | CA1010042_007_007-202007071023 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2020-07-07 | CA1010042_012_012-202007071003 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2020-07-07 | CA1010042_006_006-202007071037 | 4.40 ppm |
| 2020-08-05 | CA1010042_007_007-202008050820 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2020-08-05 | CA1010042_012_012-202008050909 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2020-08-05 | CA1010042_006_006-202008050856 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2020-09-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202009021001 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2020-09-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202009020955 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2020-09-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202009020945 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2020-10-07 | CA1010042_007_007-202010070928 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2020-10-07 | CA1010042_006_006-202010070942 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2020-10-07 | CA1010042_012_012-202010070951 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2020-11-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202011041041 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2020-11-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202011041000 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2020-11-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202011041025 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2020-12-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202012021046 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2020-12-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202012021100 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2020-12-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202012021035 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2021-01-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202101061450 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2021-01-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202101061442 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2021-01-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202101061434 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2021-02-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202102040907 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2021-02-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202102040852 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2021-02-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202102040836 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2021-03-03 | CA1010042_006_006-202103030900 | 4.20 ppm |
| 2021-03-03 | CA1010042_012_012-202103030901 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2021-03-03 | CA1010042_007_007-202103030850 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2021-05-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202105040830 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2021-05-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202105040845 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2021-05-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202105040906 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2021-05-11 | CA1010042_006_006-202105110854 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2021-05-11 | CA1010042_007_007-202105110910 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2021-05-11 | CA1010042_012_012-202105110930 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2021-06-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202106010905 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2021-06-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202106010944 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2021-06-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202106010920 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202107060906 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202107060919 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202107060855 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2021-08-03 | CA1010042_006_006-202108030852 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2021-08-03 | CA1010042_012_012-202108030916 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2021-08-03 | CA1010042_007_007-202108030907 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2021-08-16 | CA1010042_006_006-202108161244 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2021-08-16 | CA1010042_007_007-202108161227 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2021-08-16 | CA1010042_012_012-202108161258 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2021-10-05 | CA1010042_006_006-202110050919 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2021-10-05 | CA1010042_012_012-202110050927 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2021-11-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202111020906 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2021-11-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202111020851 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2021-11-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202111020915 | 2.20 ppm |
| 2021-12-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202112011030 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2021-12-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202112011045 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2021-12-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202112011019 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2022-01-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202201040911 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2022-01-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202201040900 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2022-01-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202201040926 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2022-02-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202202011030 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2022-02-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202202011015 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2022-02-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202202011045 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2022-03-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202203011005 | 4.20 ppm |
| 2022-03-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202203010946 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2022-03-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202203011020 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2022-04-05 | CA1010042_006_006-202204050925 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2022-04-05 | CA1010042_012_012-202204050955 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2022-04-05 | CA1010042_007_007-202204050940 | 4.20 ppm |
| 2022-07-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202207061020 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2022-07-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202207060950 | 4.40 ppm |
| 2022-07-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202207061005 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2022-08-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202208020930 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2022-08-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202208020915 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2022-08-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202208020945 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202209061002 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202209060950 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202209060935 | 2.90 ppm |
| 2022-10-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202210040915 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2022-10-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202210040930 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2022-10-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202210040900 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202211021205 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202211021150 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202211021120 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2022-12-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202212060955 | 5.60 ppm |
| 2022-12-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202212061010 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2022-12-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202212060940 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2023-01-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202301041015 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2023-01-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202301041045 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2023-01-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202301041030 | 3.80 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202303010905 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202303010850 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202303010920 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2023-04-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202304041010 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2023-04-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202304040942 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2023-04-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202304040955 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | CA1010042_007_007-202305011130 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | CA1010042_012_012-202305011200 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | CA1010042_006_006-202305011145 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | CA1010042_007_007-202306061000 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202306061030 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | CA1010042_006_006-202306061015 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | CA1010042_007_007-202307030930 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | CA1010042_012_012-202307031000 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | CA1010042_006_006-202307030945 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2023-08-02 | CA1010042_007_007-202308021015 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2023-08-02 | CA1010042_012_012-202308021030 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2023-08-02 | CA1010042_006_006-202308021000 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | CA1010042_007_007-202309051045 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | CA1010042_006_006-202309051030 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | CA1010042_012_012-202309051105 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2023-10-04 | CA1010042_012_012-202310041010 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2023-10-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202310040940 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2023-10-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202310040955 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2023-11-07 | CA1010042_012_012-202311070915 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2023-11-07 | CA1010042_006_006-202311070900 | 4.40 ppm |
| 2023-11-07 | CA1010042_007_007-202311070845 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | CA1010042_007_007-202312041000 | 3.20 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | CA1010042_006_006-202312040945 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2023-12-06 | CA1010042_012_012-202312061015 | 2.70 ppm |