Nitrate
Pennsylvania American Water Pittsburgh
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 | 0.779 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.550 ppm - 1.19 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.681 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.420 ppm - 0.990 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.779 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.530 ppm - 1.11 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.796 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.540 ppm - 1.12 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.699 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.450 ppm - 0.940 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.866 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.560 ppm - 1.38 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-16 | 26124901 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 26126501 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 26126601 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 26126301 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 26125301 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 26125101 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2014-08-06 | 26528101 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | 27022401 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2014-10-07 | 27112401 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2014-10-07 | 27111501 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-10-07 | 27111801 | 1.17 ppm |
| 2014-10-07 | 27112501 | 1.19 ppm |
| 2014-10-07 | 27111401 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2014-10-22 | 27592901 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075028 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075036 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075038 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075032 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075034 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 13075030 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2015-08-05 | 13198211 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2015-08-10 | 13198174 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450749 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450753 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450751 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450747 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450755 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 13450745 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653079 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653077 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653073 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653071 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653075 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 14653081 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | 14821651 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2016-08-03 | 14821649 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152933 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152937 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152935 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152931 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152939 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 15152929 | 1.11 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489786 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489819 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489784 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489817 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489815 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2017-07-20 | 16489782 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-08-02 | 16646188 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-08-08 | 16646185 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953569 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953573 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953571 | 1.12 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953575 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953567 | 1.12 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 16953565 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40218501 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40217301 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40217501 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40218301 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40218601 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 40217101 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-08-06 | 40661401 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-08-07 | 40660101 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41317901 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41318601 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41318701 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41318501 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41318101 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2018-10-29 | 41318001 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45028201 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45027001 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45027801 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45027901 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45028001 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 45028101 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | 45841001 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2019-08-08 | 45839601 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839301 | 1.38 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839501 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839601 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839701 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839801 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 46839401 | 1.01 ppm |