Nitrate
Metropolitan District Commission
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 | 0.0186 ppm | 7 | 2 | ND - 0.0700 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0429 ppm | 7 | 5 | ND - 0.130 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.231 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.0600 ppm - 0.430 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.0483 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0170 ppm - 0.0800 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.0330 ppm | 3 | 2 | ND - 0.0550 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.0448 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.0110 ppm - 0.0800 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-18 | AE01630GE | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01631GE | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01636GE | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01637GE | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01641GE | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01640GE | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE01632GE | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70740 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70739 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70741 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70733 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70734 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70736 | ND |
| 2019-12-03 | CE70735 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60685GE | 0.120 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60686GE | 0.410 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60690GE | 0.120 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60689GE | 0.140 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60679GE | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60680GE | 0.430 ppm |
| 2020-06-16 | AE60681GE | 0.340 ppm |
| 2021-11-23 | N300107450 300107453 | 0.0480 ppm |
| 2021-11-23 | N300107451 300107459 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2021-11-29 | N300109635 300109639 | 0.0170 ppm |
| 2022-12-15 | N300287100 300287103 | 0.0550 ppm |
| 2022-12-15 | N300287072 300287075 | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | N300287053 300287056 | 0.0440 ppm |
| 2023-12-06 | N300456222 300456224 | 0.0720 ppm |
| 2023-12-06 | N300456228 300456230 | 0.0770 ppm |
| 2023-12-06 | N300456234 300456236 | 0.0110 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | N300459242 300459243 | 0.0710 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | N300459261 300459262 | 0.0150 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | N300459237 300459239 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | N300459258 300459260 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | N300459231 300459233 | 0.0120 ppm |