Nitrate
City of Fountain Valley
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | 1.14 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.660 ppm - 1.78 ppm |
2015 | 1.18 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.660 ppm - 2.10 ppm |
2016 | 1.28 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.850 ppm - 1.99 ppm |
2017 | 1.21 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.890 ppm - 2.19 ppm |
2018 | 1.47 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.850 ppm - 2.46 ppm |
2019 | 1.30 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.940 ppm - 2.17 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-14 | 4417-006-0800 | 0.678 ppm |
2014-01-15 | 4417-008-0800 | 1.45 ppm |
2014-01-28 | 4417-009-0735 | 0.926 ppm |
2014-01-30 | 4417-010-0715 | 1.74 ppm |
2014-04-08 | 4417-020-0800 | 1.78 ppm |
2014-04-09 | 4417-011-0815 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-04-09 | 4417-009-0745 | 0.736 ppm |
2015-01-12 | 4417-009-0840 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-01-13 | 4417-006-0810 | 0.791 ppm |
2015-01-14 | 4417-008-0800 | 1.29 ppm |
2015-01-14 | 4417-010-0835 | 1.90 ppm |
2015-04-07 | 4417-006-0830 | 0.736 ppm |
2015-04-07 | 4417-008-0915 | 1.19 ppm |
2015-04-15 | 4417-011-0750 | 0.745 ppm |
2015-04-15 | 4417-020-0830 | 1.56 ppm |
2015-05-28 | 4417-009-0735 | 0.797 ppm |
2015-10-08 | 4417-010-0800 | 2.10 ppm |
2016-04-05 | 4417-009-0735 | 0.850 ppm |
2016-04-06 | 4417-008-0810 | 1.33 ppm |
2016-04-06 | 4417-020-0745 | 1.79 ppm |
2016-04-07 | 4417-006-0850 | 0.870 ppm |
2016-04-07 | 4417-011-0755 | 0.850 ppm |
2016-07-11 | 4417-010-0800 | 1.99 ppm |
2017-01-12 | 4417-010-0940 | 2.19 ppm |
2017-04-10 | 4417-020-0805 | 1.38 ppm |
2017-04-18 | 4417-011-0825 | 0.890 ppm |
2017-04-18 | 4417-008-0800 | 1.07 ppm |
2017-06-15 | 4417-006-0845 | 1.15 ppm |
2017-08-07 | 4417-006-0825 | 0.900 ppm |
2017-08-07 | 4417-006-0820 | 0.900 ppm |
2018-01-08 | 4417-006-0800 | 0.930 ppm |
2018-01-10 | 4417-008-0720 | 1.33 ppm |
2018-01-11 | 4417-010-0715 | 2.46 ppm |
2018-02-26 | 4417-011-0750 | 0.850 ppm |
2018-04-09 | 4417-008-0830 | 1.61 ppm |
2018-04-09 | 4417-006-0750 | 0.880 ppm |
2018-04-11 | 4417-020-0740 | 1.60 ppm |
2018-04-12 | 4417-010-0800 | 1.88 ppm |
2018-06-20 | 4417-011-0845 | 0.900 ppm |
2018-09-18 | 4417-009-0805 | 2.19 ppm |
2018-10-23 | 4417-009-0810 | 1.52 ppm |
2018-10-23 | 4417-009-0805 | 1.51 ppm |
2019-01-07 | 4417-008-0830 | 1.28 ppm |
2019-01-09 | 4417-006-0800 | 0.960 ppm |
2019-01-17 | 4417-009-0820 | 1.03 ppm |
2019-01-17 | 4417-010-0750 | 2.17 ppm |
2019-01-22 | 4417-008-0740 | 1.30 ppm |
2019-02-11 | 4417-020-0850 | 1.90 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 4417-011-0810 | 0.940 ppm |
2019-07-08 | 4417-009-0825 | 1.02 ppm |
2019-07-11 | 4417-008-0800 | 1.14 ppm |