Nitrate
Chatham 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 | 0.510 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.260 ppm - 1.70 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.520 ppm | 7 | 4 | ND - 2.30 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.183 ppm | 7 | 4 | ND - 0.450 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.283 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.460 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.637 ppm | 7 | 5 | ND - 2.40 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.968 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.290 ppm - 2.40 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-18 | 1.70 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-03-11 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | ND |
| 2015-05-18 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | ND |
| 2015-05-18 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | ND |
| 2016-02-23 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2016-05-09 | ND |
| 2016-05-09 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-05-09 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2016-05-09 | ND |
| 2016-05-09 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2016-05-09 | ND |
| 2017-05-16 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2017-05-23 | ND |
| 2018-01-25 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | ND |
| 2018-06-05 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | ND |
| 2019-03-12 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 0.480 ppm |