Nitrate
City of League City
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 | 0.461 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0300 ppm - 0.990 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.497 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0300 ppm - 1.06 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.367 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0400 ppm - 0.560 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.616 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.130 ppm - 1.05 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.698 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.0200 ppm - 1.14 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.494 ppm | 11 | 10 | ND - 1.000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-06 | AC41695 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | AC41696 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | AC41691 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | AC41689 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | AC41688 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2014-04-30 | AC52279 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2014-08-19 | AC64212 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2014-08-19 | AC64192 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2014-12-15 | AC75015 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2014-12-15 | AC74997 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78342 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78347 | 1.06 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78349 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78346 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78345 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78348 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015-01-29 | AC78360 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-03-30 | AC86484 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2015-03-30 | AC86483 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-03-30 | AC86481 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20552 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20556 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20553 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20555 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20554 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2016-01-28 | AD20595 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | AD46525 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | AD52600 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | AD52602 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | AD52604 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-01-31 | AD67720 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-01-31 | AD67719 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82008 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82006 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82007 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82009 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82024 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | AD82025 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-09-19 | AD96678 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-12-12 | AE07578 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | AE10848 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | AE10847 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | AE10851 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | AE19794 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | AE19791 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | AE19789 | 1.14 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | AE19790 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2018-03-23 | AE19788 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2018-10-23 | AE44201 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2018-10-23 | AE44200 | 1.09 ppm |
| 2018-12-06 | AE48126 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50819 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50823 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50818 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50825 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50824 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | AE50835 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2019-04-10 | AE61711 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | AE74536 | ND |
| 2019-10-15 | AE86526 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2019-10-15 | AE86546 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-10-15 | AE86525 | 0.240 ppm |