Nitrate
City of Garland
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 | 1.15 ppm | 2 | 2 | 1.13 ppm - 1.16 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.986 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.752 ppm - 1.22 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.610 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.535 ppm - 0.684 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.388 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.171 ppm - 0.748 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.481 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.0694 ppm - 0.859 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.395 ppm | 20 | 20 | 0.0605 ppm - 0.727 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-10 | Q1403882001 | 1.13 ppm |
| 2014-02-10 | Q1403882002 | 1.16 ppm |
| 2015-01-15 | Q1501174002 | 1.22 ppm |
| 2015-04-09 | Q1513376009 | 0.752 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | Q1600658002 | 0.684 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | Q1600658001 | 0.535 ppm |
| 2017-01-06 | Q1700792010 | 0.748 ppm |
| 2017-01-06 | Q1700792004 | 0.699 ppm |
| 2017-08-23 | Q1737871002 | 0.273 ppm |
| 2017-08-23 | Q1737871003 | 0.263 ppm |
| 2017-10-27 | Q1755542006 | 0.176 ppm |
| 2017-10-27 | Q1755542001 | 0.171 ppm |
| 2018-01-08 | Q1800588001 | 0.593 ppm |
| 2018-01-08 | Q1800588004 | 0.656 ppm |
| 2018-04-04 | Q1813975007 | 0.859 ppm |
| 2018-04-04 | Q1813975001 | 0.857 ppm |
| 2018-07-11 | Q1827363002 | 0.0694 ppm |
| 2018-07-11 | Q1827363001 | 0.0746 ppm |
| 2018-10-02 | Q1839039008 | 0.359 ppm |
| 2018-10-02 | Q1839039006 | 0.378 ppm |
| 2019-01-03 | Q1900234006 | 0.725 ppm |
| 2019-01-03 | Q1900234011 | 0.711 ppm |
| 2019-01-03 | Q1900234005 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-01-03 | Q1900234009 | 0.727 ppm |
| 2019-01-03 | Q1900234013 | 0.723 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | Q1916007013 | 0.639 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | Q1916007009 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | Q1916007005 | 0.619 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | Q1916007011 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | Q1916007006 | 0.658 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | Q1947768005 | 0.0719 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | Q1947768004 | 0.0683 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | Q1947768003 | 0.0743 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | Q1947768002 | 0.0605 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | Q1947768001 | 0.0719 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Q1970364001 | 0.146 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Q1970364005 | 0.144 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Q1970364004 | 0.146 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Q1970364003 | 0.139 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Q1970364002 | 0.141 ppm |