Nitrate
North Penn Water Authority
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.49 ppm | 32 | 32 | 0.162 ppm - 4.52 ppm |
| 2019 | 2.76 ppm | 30 | 29 | ND - 4.81 ppm |
| 2020 | 2.74 ppm | 30 | 30 | 0.150 ppm - 4.76 ppm |
| 2021 | 2.76 ppm | 26 | 25 | ND - 4.85 ppm |
| 2022 | 2.80 ppm | 22 | 22 | 0.300 ppm - 4.98 ppm |
| 2023 | 2.07 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.620 ppm - 3.58 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm
The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-22 | 20180287 | 4.25 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180288 | 3.39 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180289 | 4.13 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180290 | 4.13 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181248 | 0.688 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181249 | 4.52 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181250 | 4.03 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181251 | 4.11 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181252 | 2.51 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181253 | 1.46 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 20181254 | 2.71 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | 20181906 | 0.858 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | 20181907 | 1.08 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | 20181908 | 3.33 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | 20181910 | 1.98 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | 20181909 | 0.247 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | 20182087 | 2.13 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182808 | 0.752 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182809 | 4.03 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182810 | 3.90 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182811 | 2.54 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182812 | 1.62 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182813 | 2.52 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 20182814 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 20183084 | 0.749 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 20183085 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 20183086 | 2.38 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 20183087 | 1.64 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 20183088 | 0.162 ppm |
| 2018-10-01 | 20183729 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2018-10-01 | 20183730 | 3.97 ppm |
| 2018-11-07 | 20184247 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2019-01-21 | 20190216 | 3.81 ppm |
| 2019-01-21 | 20190217 | 3.61 ppm |
| 2019-01-21 | 20190218 | 4.76 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191189 | 0.912 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191190 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191191 | 0.687 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191192 | 3.74 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191193 | 4.34 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 20191194 | 2.76 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 9054400-01 | 4.81 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 9054400-02 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 9054400-03 | 2.71 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 9054400-04 | 2.91 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 9054400-05 | ND |
| 2019-06-25 | 9065221-01 | 1.86 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192971 | 0.968 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192972 | 1.21 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192973 | 0.717 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192974 | 2.96 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193286 | 4.81 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193281 | 1.48 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193287 | 3.88 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193282 | 3.91 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193283 | 2.81 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193284 | 2.22 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 20193285 | 0.165 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 20194550 | 4.76 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 20194551 | 3.18 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 20194552 | 3.74 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 20194553 | 4.51 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | 21347776.00 | 4.35 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | 21347778.00 | 3.59 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | 21347780.00 | 3.54 ppm |
| 2020-01-06 | 21347782.00 | 4.36 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023913.00 | 4.76 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023915.00 | 3.73 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023917.00 | 2.21 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023919.00 | 3.35 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023921.00 | 3.57 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | 22023923.00 | 2.77 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 22216035.00 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 22216037.00 | 1.22 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 22216039.00 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 22216041.00 | 2.71 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 22216043.00 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2020-07-06 | 22417018.00 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2020-07-06 | 22417020.00 | 1.22 ppm |
| 2020-07-06 | 22417022.00 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2020-07-06 | 22417024.00 | 4.64 ppm |
| 2020-07-06 | 22417026.00 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607210.00 | 1.58 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607212.00 | 3.51 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607214.00 | 4.04 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607216.00 | 2.78 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607218.00 | 2.72 ppm |
| 2020-07-13 | 22607220.00 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2020-10-05 | 23182487.00 | 4.33 ppm |
| 2020-10-05 | 23182489.00 | 2.92 ppm |
| 2020-10-05 | 23182491.00 | 3.42 ppm |
| 2020-10-05 | 23182493.00 | 4.03 ppm |
| 2021-01-04 | 23712428.00 | 4.75 ppm |
| 2021-01-04 | 23712430.00 | 3.44 ppm |
| 2021-01-04 | 23712432.00 | 3.68 ppm |
| 2021-01-04 | 23712434.00 | 4.03 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | 24060836.00 | 4.33 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | 24060839.00 | 2.15 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | 24060842.00 | 3.45 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | 24060845.00 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2021-05-05 | 24248324.00 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2021-05-05 | 24248327.00 | 1.25 ppm |
| 2021-05-05 | 24248330.00 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2021-05-05 | 24248333.00 | 3.49 ppm |
| 2021-05-05 | 24248336.00 | 2.92 ppm |
| 2021-05-18 | 24438660.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-06 | 24638969.00 | 4.45 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | 24638971.00 | 2.58 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | 24638973.00 | 1.48 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | 24638975.00 | 3.47 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | 24638977.00 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2021-08-17 | 25023329.00 | 3.12 ppm |
| 2021-09-08 | 25023970.00 | 1.19 ppm |
| 2021-09-08 | 25023972.00 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2021-09-08 | 25023974.00 | 2.94 ppm |
| 2021-10-04 | 25221025.00 | 3.52 ppm |
| 2021-10-19 | 25404559.00 | 4.85 ppm |
| 2021-10-19 | 25404562.00 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117625.00 | 4.98 ppm |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117627.00 | 3.87 ppm |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117629.00 | 3.89 ppm |
| 2022-04-27 | 26464113.00 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2022-04-27 | 26464115.00 | 3.63 ppm |
| 2022-04-27 | 26464117.00 | 3.66 ppm |
| 2022-04-27 | 26464119.00 | 2.85 ppm |
| 2022-05-03 | 26648477.00 | 1.33 ppm |
| 2022-05-04 | 26464702.00 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2022-05-04 | 26464704.00 | 4.04 ppm |
| 2022-05-04 | 26464706.00 | 3.23 ppm |
| 2022-05-16 | 26648479.00 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2022-05-16 | 26648481.00 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2022-05-16 | 26648483.00 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037753.00 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037755.00 | 1.22 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037757.00 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037759.00 | 3.59 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037761.00 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 27037763.00 | 2.90 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 27642038.00 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 27642040.00 | 3.42 ppm |
| 2023-01-19 | 28173392.00 | 3.58 ppm |
| 2023-02-22 | 28349558.00 | 3.45 ppm |
| 2023-04-26 | 28702445.00 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2023-04-26 | 28702447.00 | 1.18 ppm |
| 2023-04-26 | 28702449.00 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2023-05-02 | 28900775.00 | 3.34 ppm |
| 2023-08-22 | 29497673.00 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2023-08-22 | 29497675.00 | 1.09 ppm |
| 2023-08-22 | 29497677.00 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2023-08-22 | 29497679.00 | 3.28 ppm |
| 2023-11-13 | 30071586.00 | 3.57 ppm |