Nitrate
Town of Hampstead
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5.93 ppm | 39 | 39 | 4.00 ppm - 8.50 ppm |
| 2019 | 5.69 ppm | 51 | 50 | ND - 8.60 ppm |
| 2020 | 5.89 ppm | 54 | 54 | 3.44 ppm - 8.60 ppm |
| 2021 | 6.18 ppm | 44 | 44 | 4.01 ppm - 9.28 ppm |
| 2022 | 6.09 ppm | 48 | 48 | 4.10 ppm - 9.42 ppm |
| 2023 | 5.63 ppm | 45 | 45 | 3.99 ppm - 8.61 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm
The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.
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 | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_04 | 6.60 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_05 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_06 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_07 | 6.60 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_08 | 6.90 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_11 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | E052960_13 | 8.50 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_03 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_04 | 6.30 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_05 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_06 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_07 | 6.80 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_08 | 6.30 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_11 | 5.00 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | E054175_14 | 8.00 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_01 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_02 | 6.20 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_03 | 5.50 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_05 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_07 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_09 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_11 | 7.10 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_11_A | 6.70 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_14 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_16 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_17 | 8.40 ppm |
| 2018-09-05 | E055512_19 | 8.50 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_01 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_03 | 6.40 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_04 | 5.90 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_05 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_06 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_07 | 4.50 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_08 | 6.50 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_09 | 6.20 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_11 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_12 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_13 | 6.40 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | E056641_14 | 7.90 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_01 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_02 | 6.80 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_03 | 6.70 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_04 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_05 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_06 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_07 | 6.90 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_08 | 6.30 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_10 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_11 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_12 | 7.00 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | E057700_13 | 8.00 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_01 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_03 | 6.50 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_04 | 6.90 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_05 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_06 | 4.40 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_08 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_10 | 7.20 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_11 | 6.40 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_13 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_14 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_15 | 6.50 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | E058911_16 | 8.20 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_01 | 5.70 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_02 | 6.70 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_03 | 6.90 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_04 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_05 | 5.60 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_06 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_07 | 7.60 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_08 | 6.70 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_10 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_11 | 5.60 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_12 | 6.20 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | E060257_13 | 8.60 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-01 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-02 | 5.80 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-03 | ND |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-04 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-06 | 5.80 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-07 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-08 | 5.50 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-09 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-10 | 6.60 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-11 | 5.80 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-13 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-14 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-15 | 7.50 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | E061473-16 | 6.60 ppm |
| 2019-12-16 | E061589-01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_01 | 5.95 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_02 | 6.46 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_03 | 4.92 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_04 | 4.28 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_07 | 6.35 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_08 | 6.11 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_09 | 5.46 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_10 | 5.67 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_11 | 7.00 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_12 | 6.35 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_14 | 5.23 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_15 | 6.07 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_16 | 6.66 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | E062383_17 | 8.13 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E062383_14_A | 6.88 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_01 | 5.39 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_03 | 3.44 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_05 | 4.13 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_07 | 6.26 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_08 | 6.05 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_09 | 5.69 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_10 | 4.54 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_12 | 4.78 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_15 | 6.41 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_17 | 4.81 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_18 | 5.49 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_19 | 8.48 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | E063274_20 | 8.05 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325-17 | 7.85 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_01 | 5.18 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_02 | 4.06 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_03 | 5.86 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_06 | 5.70 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_07 | 5.52 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_08 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_09 | 4.98 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_10 | 6.56 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_13 | 6.11 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_14 | 4.64 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_15 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | E064325_16 | 7.40 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_01 | 5.48 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_02 | 4.37 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_03 | 5.71 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_04 | 6.36 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_06 | 5.81 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_07 | 5.48 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_08 | 6.97 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_09 | 4.97 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_10 | 5.65 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_11 | 7.08 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065414_12 | 8.60 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | E065415_05 | 5.49 ppm |
| 2020-12-14 | E065517_01 | 6.68 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_01 | 4.01 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_02 | 4.64 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_03 | 6.45 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_04 | 5.49 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_05 | 4.32 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_06 | 6.98 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_07 | 6.95 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_09 | 5.00 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_10 | 6.14 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_11 | 8.15 ppm |
| 2021-03-02 | E066176_12 | 9.01 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_01 | 5.49 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_03 | 4.21 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_04 | 6.04 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_05 | 5.28 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_06 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_09 | 6.73 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_10 | 6.56 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_12 | 4.79 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_13 | 5.55 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_15 | 7.08 ppm |
| 2021-06-02 | E067105_16 | 8.59 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_01 | 6.09 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_02 | 4.60 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_03 | 6.41 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_04 | 5.93 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_07 | 6.20 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_08 | 7.06 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_09 | 7.39 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_11 | 5.16 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_13 | 6.01 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_14 | 7.09 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | E068099_17 | 9.28 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-01 | 5.63 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-03 | 4.37 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-04 | 6.24 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-05 | 6.15 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-06 | 5.79 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-07 | 6.85 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-08 | 6.69 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-10 | 5.04 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-11 | 5.76 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-12 | 6.34 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | E069059-13 | 8.83 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_01 | 5.88 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_02 | 4.42 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_03 | 5.02 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_05 | 6.44 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_06 | 6.36 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_07 | 6.06 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_08 | 6.85 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_09 | 6.84 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_11 | 5.19 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_12 | 5.85 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_13 | 6.43 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | E069898_14 | 8.98 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_01 | 5.94 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_02 | 4.46 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_03 | 4.88 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_05 | 6.77 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_06 | 5.90 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_07 | 5.93 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_08 | 7.03 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_09 | 5.31 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_09_A | 7.32 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_12 | 5.66 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_13 | 6.69 ppm |
| 2022-06-01 | E070826_14 | 9.42 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-01 | 5.75 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-02 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-05 | 5.40 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-06 | 5.55 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-08 | 6.82 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-09 | 6.62 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-11 | 5.04 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-12 | 5.86 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-13 | 6.60 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696-14 | 8.69 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696_03 | 4.22 ppm |
| 2022-09-01 | E071696_07 | 6.17 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_01 | 6.12 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_02 | 4.14 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_03 | 4.49 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_05 | 4.97 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_06 | 5.61 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_07 | 6.37 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_08 | 7.02 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_09 | 7.06 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_11 | 5.43 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_12 | 5.92 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_13 | 6.04 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | E072568_14 | 8.75 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316AA1 | 6.18 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316BB1-3 | 3.99 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316R | 5.28 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316S | 4.41 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316T | 5.68 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316U | 5.08 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316V | 5.03 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316W | 8.33 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316X | 4.62 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316Y | 5.75 ppm |
| 2023-03-01 | 030123-316Z | 6.08 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316AA1-2 | 6.45 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316BB1-BB3 | 4.16 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316R | 5.38 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316S | 4.65 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316T | 5.82 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316U | 5.49 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316V | 5.09 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316W | 8.61 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316X | 4.90 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316Y | 5.79 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 060123-316Z | 6.10 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316AA1-2 | 6.57 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316BB1-B3 | 4.17 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316R | 5.46 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316S | 4.79 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316T-T1 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316U | 5.79 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316V | 5.34 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316W | 8.33 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316X | 5.14 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316Y | 5.60 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | 090523-316Z-Z1 | 6.05 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316AA1 | 6.62 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316AA1-BB3 | 6.62 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316BB1-BB4 | 4.15 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316R | 5.56 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316S | 4.82 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316T | 5.03 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316U | 4.93 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316V | 5.44 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316W | 8.59 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316X | 4.73 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316Y | 5.86 ppm |
| 2023-12-04 | 120423-316Z | 5.75 ppm |