Nitrate

The Callicoon Water Company Inc.

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

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	0.206 ppm	2	2	0.00108 ppm - 0.410 ppm
2015	0.545 ppm	2	2	0.170 ppm - 0.920 ppm
2016	0.626 ppm	2	2	0.142 ppm - 1.11 ppm
2017	0.729 ppm	2	2	0.358 ppm - 1.10 ppm
2018	1.99 ppm	2	2	0.270 ppm - 3.70 ppm
2019	0.900 ppm	2	1	ND - 1.80 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
2014-08-12	NO3 297847-04	0.00108 ppm
2014-08-12	NO3 297847-03	0.410 ppm
2015-07-21	NO3 307068-02	0.920 ppm
2015-07-21	NO3 30706801	0.170 ppm
2016-08-23	NO3 319277-01	0.142 ppm
2016-08-23	NO3 319277-02	1.11 ppm
2017-10-24	NO3 334073-02	1.10 ppm
2017-10-24	NO3 334073-03	0.358 ppm
2018-10-24	NO3 346327-02	0.270 ppm
2018-10-24	NO3 346237-03	3.70 ppm
2019-11-21	NO3 356974-01	ND
2019-11-21	NO3 356974-02	1.80 ppm