Nitrate
Plymouth 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 | 0.485 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0700 ppm - 2.37 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.458 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0500 ppm - 2.30 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.445 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.0700 ppm - 2.31 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.470 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.1000 ppm - 1.96 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.418 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0500 ppm - 1.89 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.516 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0600 ppm - 2.02 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-01-08 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 2.37 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2014-01-08 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-05-14 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-02-25 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 2.31 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2016-01-26 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2016-02-11 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2016-05-02 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 1.96 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-02-06 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 1.89 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 1.09 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 2.02 ppm |
| 2019-03-27 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2019-03-27 | 0.0600 ppm |