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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate

Westford 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.

 

21

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

21

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20141.40 ppm221.20 ppm - 1.60 ppm
20151.46 ppm771.30 ppm - 1.70 ppm
20161.51 ppm660.870 ppm - 2.00 ppm
20171.45 ppm221.000 ppm - 1.90 ppm
20181.55 ppm221.10 ppm - 2.00 ppm
20191.70 ppm221.40 ppm - 2.00 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
2014-06-111.60 ppm
2014-06-111.20 ppm
2015-05-041.30 ppm
2015-05-041.70 ppm
2015-07-231.40 ppm
2015-08-181.50 ppm
2015-09-281.50 ppm
2015-10-061.40 ppm
2015-12-031.40 ppm
2016-01-061.50 ppm
2016-02-041.60 ppm
2016-03-031.60 ppm
2016-04-062.00 ppm
2016-04-061.50 ppm
2016-05-030.870 ppm
2017-05-241.000 ppm
2017-05-241.90 ppm
2018-05-151.10 ppm
2018-05-162.00 ppm
2019-05-011.40 ppm
2019-05-012.00 ppm