Nitrate
Littleton 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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.907 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.660 ppm - 1.10 ppm |
2015 | 0.810 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.560 ppm - 1.20 ppm |
2016 | 0.769 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.310 ppm - 1.60 ppm |
2017 | 0.480 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.210 ppm - 0.640 ppm |
2018 | 0.577 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.0600 ppm - 1.10 ppm |
2019 | 0.753 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.190 ppm - 1.20 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 | Result |
---|---|
2014-06-04 | 1.10 ppm |
2014-06-04 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 0.960 ppm |
2015-04-16 | 0.860 ppm |
2015-04-22 | 1.20 ppm |
2015-04-28 | 0.620 ppm |
2015-05-26 | 0.560 ppm |
2016-06-09 | 0.930 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.600 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 1.60 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.450 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.310 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.860 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.490 ppm |
2016-06-21 | 0.910 ppm |
2017-05-24 | 0.520 ppm |
2017-05-24 | 0.450 ppm |
2017-06-19 | 0.640 ppm |
2017-06-19 | 0.210 ppm |
2017-06-19 | 0.480 ppm |
2017-06-19 | 0.550 ppm |
2017-06-19 | 0.510 ppm |
2018-04-11 | 0.480 ppm |
2018-04-26 | 0.830 ppm |
2018-04-26 | 0.300 ppm |
2018-04-26 | 1.10 ppm |
2018-04-29 | 0.810 ppm |
2018-04-29 | 0.570 ppm |
2018-04-29 | 0.0600 ppm |
2018-05-01 | 0.880 ppm |
2018-05-01 | 0.590 ppm |
2018-05-01 | 0.0700 ppm |
2018-05-07 | 0.680 ppm |
2018-05-07 | 0.440 ppm |
2018-06-19 | 0.690 ppm |
2019-05-01 | 0.830 ppm |
2019-05-01 | 1.20 ppm |
2019-05-01 | 0.920 ppm |
2019-05-01 | 0.190 ppm |
2019-05-30 | 0.480 ppm |
2019-06-05 | 1.10 ppm |
2019-06-17 | 0.550 ppm |