Nitrate
Burlington 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 | 0.260 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0900 ppm - 0.650 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.409 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.160 ppm - 0.900 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.347 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.0690 ppm - 0.880 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.351 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.130 ppm - 0.840 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.408 ppm | 20 | 20 | 0.120 ppm - 0.900 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.343 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.1000 ppm - 0.910 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-03-04 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2014-05-06 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2014-09-11 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-09-11 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-09-11 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2014-11-20 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2015-02-24 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-02-24 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-06-02 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-07-15 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-01-19 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2016-05-17 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-07-15 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2016-10-19 | 0.0690 ppm |
| 2017-03-28 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-07-25 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-12-29 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-05-08 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2019-02-07 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2019-11-26 | 0.120 ppm |