Nitrate
Bourne Water District
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 | 0.218 ppm | 9 | 8 | ND - 0.480 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.270 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0700 ppm - 0.720 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.243 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0500 ppm - 0.510 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.307 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0900 ppm - 0.790 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.227 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0500 ppm - 0.600 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.288 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0600 ppm - 0.710 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-01-07 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | ND |
| 2014-05-09 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2014-10-17 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2014-10-17 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-01-22 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2016-11-02 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-11-02 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-01-20 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-10-23 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-10-23 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2019-11-20 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2019-11-20 | 0.350 ppm |