Nitrate
Norman
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 | 0.360 ppm | 22 | 22 | 0.161 ppm - 0.658 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.328 ppm | 11 | 9 | ND - 0.775 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.226 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.226 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.422 ppm | 19 | 17 | ND - 1.05 ppm |
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-30 | 1322172 | 0.432 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346029 | 0.193 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346027 | 0.386 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346028 | 0.161 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346030 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346033 | 0.305 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346035 | 0.342 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346036 | 0.327 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346037 | 0.468 ppm |
| 2014-10-29 | 1346038 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2014-11-18 | 1351366 | 0.238 ppm |
| 2014-11-18 | 1351364 | 0.658 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351787 | 0.272 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351768 | 0.394 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351773 | 0.459 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351777 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351778 | 0.291 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351782 | 0.419 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351785 | 0.212 ppm |
| 2014-11-19 | 1351786 | 0.531 ppm |
| 2014-12-15 | 1357749 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2014-12-17 | 1359089 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | 1376049 | 0.775 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | 1376048 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | 1376047 | 0.269 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | 1376046 | 0.251 ppm |
| 2015-06-15 | 1402904 | ND |
| 2015-07-14 | 1410566 | ND |
| 2015-07-14 | 1410565 | 0.212 ppm |
| 2015-07-14 | 1410562 | 0.245 ppm |
| 2015-08-11 | 1418115 | 0.623 ppm |
| 2015-10-20 | 1437078 | 0.377 ppm |
| 2015-12-15 | 1451835 | 0.598 ppm |
| 2016-09-23 | 1527055 | 0.226 ppm |
| 2017-02-09 | 1562574 | 0.444 ppm |
| 2017-02-09 | 1562573 | 0.276 ppm |
| 2017-02-09 | 1562572 | 0.538 ppm |
| 2017-02-09 | 1562571 | 0.897 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 1570617 | 0.433 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 1570615 | 0.639 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 1570616 | 0.738 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 1570618 | 0.752 ppm |
| 2017-03-30 | 1575713 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | 1576613 | ND |
| 2017-04-04 | 1576612 | ND |
| 2017-06-08 | 1594972 | 0.267 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 1594971 | 0.189 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 1594970 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 1594969 | 0.239 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 1594966 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-08-02 | 1622976 | 0.232 ppm |
| 2017-10-09 | 1628520 | 0.297 ppm |
| 2017-10-09 | 1628533 | 0.184 ppm |