Nitrate
Klamath Falls Water Department
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 | 0.0977 ppm | 7 | 3 | ND - 0.239 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.339 ppm | 7 | 5 | ND - 1.47 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.160 ppm | 7 | 4 | ND - 0.379 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.343 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.637 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.298 ppm | 7 | 5 | ND - 0.779 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.259 ppm | 7 | 4 | ND - 0.646 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-02 | N14141-I | ND |
| 2014-06-02 | N14142-I | 0.237 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | N14144-I | 0.208 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | N14143-I | ND |
| 2014-06-02 | N14145-I | ND |
| 2014-06-02 | N14146-I | 0.239 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | N14147-I | ND |
| 2015-06-17 | N15227-I | ND |
| 2015-06-17 | N15228-I | 1.47 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | N15224-I | 0.131 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | N15223-I | 0.259 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | N15225-I | 0.355 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | N15222-I | ND |
| 2015-06-17 | N15226-I | 0.161 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | N16176-I | ND |
| 2016-06-07 | N16183-I | ND |
| 2016-06-07 | N16177-I | 0.238 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | N16178-I | 0.204 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 160629901A-I | 0.379 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | N16179-I | ND |
| 2016-06-07 | N16180-I | 0.296 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17270-I | 0.205 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17271-I | 0.637 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17266-I | ND |
| 2017-07-12 | N17269-I | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17272-I | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17267-I | 0.162 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | N17268-I | 0.567 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | N18295-I | ND |
| 2018-07-25 | N18296-I | 0.779 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | N18294-I | 0.233 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | N18293-I | 0.508 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | N18292-I | 0.468 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | N18291-I | ND |
| 2018-07-25 | N18290-I | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-221-I | ND |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-222-I | ND |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-224-I | 0.646 ppm |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-220-I | 0.439 ppm |
| 2019-07-10 | 1907047901A-I | 0.377 ppm |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-225-I | ND |
| 2019-07-10 | N19-223-I | 0.353 ppm |