Nitrate
White Plains City
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 | 0.225 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.223 ppm - 0.227 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.269 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.261 ppm - 0.276 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0980 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0970 ppm - 0.0990 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.119 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.117 ppm - 0.120 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.125 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.124 ppm - 0.126 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.130 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.129 ppm - 0.131 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-25 | 14-6186 N | 0.223 ppm |
| 2014-06-25 | 14-6177 N | 0.227 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 15-6103 N | 0.276 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 15-6104 N | 0.261 ppm |
| 2016-06-22 | 16-8295 N | 0.0990 ppm |
| 2016-06-22 | 16-8296 N | 0.0970 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | 17-6190-NIT | 0.120 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | 17-6192-NIT | 0.117 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 18-6369 NIT | 0.124 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 18-6370 NIT | 0.126 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 19-6352 NIT | 0.129 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 19-6351 NIT | 0.131 ppm |