Nitrate
Middletown Water Department
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.162 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0120 ppm - 0.311 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.144 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.00900 ppm - 0.382 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0890 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.00700 ppm - 0.171 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.133 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.00700 ppm - 0.258 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.191 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.00800 ppm - 0.374 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.172 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.00600 ppm - 0.337 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-09 | NOX 200397418 | 0.0120 ppm |
| 2014-06-09 | NOX 200397419 | 0.311 ppm |
| 2015-05-26 | NOX 200417356 | 0.00900 ppm |
| 2015-05-26 | NOX 200417357 | 0.382 ppm |
| 2015-09-28 | NOX 200425712 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2016-06-20 | NOX 200442684 | 0.00700 ppm |
| 2016-06-29 | NOX 200443422 | 0.171 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | NOX 200467163 | 0.00700 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | NOX 200467165 | 0.258 ppm |
| 2018-03-01 | NOX 200489001 | 0.00800 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | NOX 200492152 | 0.374 ppm |
| 2019-05-13 | NOX 200531892 | 0.337 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | NOX 200533082 | 0.00600 ppm |