Nitrate
City of Olive Branch
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.444 ppm | 8 | 7 | ND - 0.760 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.421 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.760 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.481 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.830 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.440 ppm | 7 | 5 | ND - 0.830 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.543 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.950 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.444 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.810 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 | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-028NI | 0.380 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-023NI | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-022NI | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-013NI | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-011NI | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-009NI | 0.530 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-008NI | ND |
| 2014-01-29 | 140130-007NI | 0.250 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-077NI | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-059NI | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-067NI | 0.550 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-068NI | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-069NI | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-078NI | 0.370 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 150127-079NI | ND |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-038NI | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-048NI | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-047NI | ND |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-046NI | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-045NI | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-044NI | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 160323-043NI | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-028NI | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-017NI | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-014NI | ND |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-011NI | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-008NI | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-005NI | ND |
| 2017-02-07 | 170208-004NI | 0.490 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-071NI | 0.350 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-065NI | 0.580 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-066NI | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-067NI | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-069NI | 0.590 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-072NI | ND |
| 2018-01-29 | 180130-077NI | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-018NI | 0.810 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-029NI | 0.420 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-028NI | 0.170 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-023NI | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-022NI | ND |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-021NI | 0.690 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 190206-019NI | 0.410 ppm |