Nitrate
City of Krum
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 | 0.103 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0230 ppm - 0.276 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.135 ppm | 5 | 2 | ND - 0.647 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.0785 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.332 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.0869 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.327 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.0992 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0179 ppm - 0.301 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.0745 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.179 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801331012 | 0.0815 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801331013 | 0.0585 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801331014 | 0.0230 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801331011 | 0.0775 ppm |
| 2018-07-18 | Q1828860001 | 0.276 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | Q1901597012 | 0.0272 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | Q1901597017 | ND |
| 2019-01-09 | Q1901597018 | ND |
| 2019-08-20 | Q1957155005 | ND |
| 2019-08-20 | Q1957155006 | 0.647 ppm |
| 2020-05-11 | Q2018215003 | 0.0226 ppm |
| 2020-10-06 | Q2039052012 | ND |
| 2020-10-06 | Q2039052013 | 0.0209 ppm |
| 2020-10-06 | Q2039052024 | 0.332 ppm |
| 2020-10-06 | Q2039052025 | 0.0171 ppm |
| 2021-01-20 | Q2101424004 | ND |
| 2021-11-18 | Q2132474006 | 0.0672 ppm |
| 2021-11-18 | Q2132474007 | 0.0199 ppm |
| 2021-11-18 | Q2132474008 | 0.327 ppm |
| 2021-11-18 | Q2132474009 | 0.0203 ppm |
| 2022-02-08 | Q2204313008 | 0.0292 ppm |
| 2022-02-08 | Q2204313009 | 0.0179 ppm |
| 2022-02-08 | Q2204313010 | 0.301 ppm |
| 2022-10-19 | Q2231852004 | 0.0410 ppm |
| 2022-10-19 | Q2231852014 | 0.107 ppm |
| 2023-02-28 | Q2307984001 | 0.0441 ppm |
| 2023-08-14 | Q2333742004 | ND |
| 2023-11-07 | Q2347808005 | 0.0599 ppm |
| 2023-11-07 | Q2347808009 | 0.179 ppm |
| 2023-11-29 | Q2350801004 | 0.0893 ppm |