Nitrate

Coachella Water Authority

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.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.552 ppm	36	36	0.248 ppm - 0.904 ppm
2015	0.553 ppm	6	6	0.316 ppm - 0.700 ppm
2016	0.537 ppm	6	6	0.300 ppm - 0.690 ppm
2017	0.482 ppm	6	6	0.250 ppm - 0.630 ppm
2018	0.341 ppm	9	6	ND - 0.610 ppm
2019	0.480 ppm	12	11	ND - 0.850 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
2014-05-15	4790-009-0845	0.565 ppm
2014-05-15	4790-010-0805	0.723 ppm
2014-05-15	4790-020-0816	0.723 ppm
2014-05-15	4790-018-0829	0.723 ppm
2014-05-15	4790-012-0755	0.361 ppm
2014-05-15	4790-019-0904	0.294 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-009-0805	0.452 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-018-0821	0.633 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-010-0853	0.655 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-020-0834	0.610 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-012-0905	0.407 ppm
2014-07-31	4790-019-0752	0.316 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-009-0824	0.542 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-018-0808	0.655 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-012-0718	0.316 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-019-0836	0.248 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-010-0737	0.836 ppm
2014-11-19	4790-020-0753	0.633 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-010-0650	0.813 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-012-0637	0.339 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-009-0723	0.520 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-018-0710	0.655 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-020-0659	0.678 ppm
2014-11-21	4790-019-0739	0.248 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-012-0955	0.407 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-018-0828	0.678 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-010-0940	0.904 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-020-0843	0.700 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-019-0920	0.271 ppm
2014-11-24	4790-009-0900	0.565 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-018-0845	0.678 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-020-0830	0.678 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-012-0743	0.407 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-010-0807	0.791 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-019-0924	0.271 ppm
2014-11-26	4790-009-0903	0.587 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-009-0920	0.700 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-020-0850	0.678 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-010-0837	0.655 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-018-0901	0.655 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-012-0821	0.316 ppm
2015-04-16	4790-019-0939	0.316 ppm
2016-04-26	4790-009-0754	0.540 ppm
2016-04-26	4790-010-0700	0.690 ppm
2016-04-26	4790-012-0909	0.360 ppm
2016-04-27	4790-020-0830	0.660 ppm
2016-04-27	4790-018-0800	0.670 ppm
2016-04-27	4790-019-0720	0.300 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-009-0826	0.530 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-010-0743	0.630 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-012-0858	0.290 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-018-0711	0.590 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-019-0652	0.250 ppm
2017-03-15	4790-020-0724	0.600 ppm
2018-03-19	4790-019-0815	ND
2018-03-19	4790-009-0805	0.400 ppm
2018-03-19	4790-018-0750	0.500 ppm
2018-03-19	4790-010-0855	0.610 ppm
2018-03-19	4790-020-0740	0.470 ppm
2018-03-19	4790-012-0930	ND
2018-12-17	4790-019-0800	ND
2018-12-17	4790-020-0830	0.580 ppm
2018-12-17	4790-012-0940	0.510 ppm
2019-03-27	4790-012-1652	0.550 ppm
2019-03-27	4790-010-1528	0.590 ppm
2019-03-27	4790-019-1542	ND
2019-03-27	4790-018-1540	0.590 ppm
2019-03-27	4790-020-1553	0.410 ppm
2019-03-27	4790-009-1622	0.480 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-012-1010	0.270 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-019-1320	0.260 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-010-1040	0.850 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-009-1125	0.550 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-018-1145	0.630 ppm
2019-04-22	4790-020-1130	0.580 ppm