Nitrate
Meriden Water Division
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 | 0.668 ppm | 15 | 14 | ND - 3.51 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.540 ppm | 13 | 12 | ND - 3.35 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.450 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.01000 ppm - 3.81 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.381 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.01000 ppm - 3.37 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.676 ppm | 17 | 17 | 0.01000 ppm - 3.60 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.523 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.0200 ppm - 3.78 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-19 | CA94411 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2018-07-19 | CA94412 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2018-07-19 | CA94413 | 2.49 ppm |
| 2018-07-19 | CA94410 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98719 | 3.51 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98740 | 2.43 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98735 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98736 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98737 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98738 | ND |
| 2018-07-26 | CA98739 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2018-08-23 | CB17441 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-08-23 | CB17437 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2018-09-20 | CB35507 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2018-09-27 | CB59877 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | CD38010 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | CD38011 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | CD38012 | 2.45 ppm |
| 2019-06-24 | CD40812 | 3.35 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42473 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42472 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42471 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42476 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42475 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2019-06-26 | CD42474 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2019-07-03 | CD50737 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2019-07-03 | CD50736 | ND |
| 2019-07-31 | CD69099 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2020-06-10 | CG10479 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2020-06-10 | CG10478 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16089 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16091 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16090 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16088 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16087 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2020-06-17 | CG16086 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2020-06-24 | CG20610 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2020-06-24 | CG20609 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2020-07-08 | CG29532 | 3.81 ppm |
| 2020-07-29 | CG43211 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2020-07-29 | CG43212 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2020-07-29 | CG43213 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45714 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45718 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45717 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45715 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45713 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | CI45716 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51091 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51092 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51093 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51094 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51095 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | CI51096 | 3.37 ppm |
| 2021-08-25 | CJ13500 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-08-25 | CJ13501 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-05-25 | CL38209 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-05-25 | CL38208 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45778 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45777 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45776 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45775 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45774 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45773 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45772 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45771 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45770 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45769 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | CL45779 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2022-06-27 | CL64555 | 3.54 ppm |
| 2022-10-26 | CM70801 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2022-10-26 | CM70802 | 1.33 ppm |
| 2022-11-09 | CM80568 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2023-01-30 | CN32220 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2023-01-30 | CN32219 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2023-03-08 | CN55431 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2023-03-08 | CN55433 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | CN58724 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | CN58725 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2023-03-15 | CN60227 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2023-03-15 | CN60228 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2023-03-15 | CN60223 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2023-03-15 | CN60221 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2023-03-15 | CN60222 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2023-03-22 | CN65582 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2023-07-17 | CO51914 | 3.78 ppm |