Nitrate
City of Longview
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.180 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0445 ppm - 0.264 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.142 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0695 ppm - 0.219 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.220 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0720 ppm - 0.336 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.215 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0594 ppm - 0.340 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.183 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0379 ppm - 0.269 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.180 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.118 ppm - 0.244 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-14 | Q1404768013 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2014-02-14 | Q1404768012 | 0.264 ppm |
| 2014-02-14 | Q1404768011 | 0.0445 ppm |
| 2015-02-12 | Q1505852009 | 0.138 ppm |
| 2015-02-12 | Q1505852008 | 0.0695 ppm |
| 2015-02-12 | Q1505852007 | 0.219 ppm |
| 2016-02-11 | Q1606282007 | 0.0720 ppm |
| 2016-02-11 | Q1606282009 | 0.252 ppm |
| 2016-02-11 | Q1606282008 | 0.336 ppm |
| 2017-02-16 | Q1706910009 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2017-02-16 | Q1706910008 | 0.0594 ppm |
| 2017-02-16 | Q1706910007 | 0.246 ppm |
| 2018-05-17 | Q1820323016 | 0.269 ppm |
| 2018-05-17 | Q1820323015 | 0.0379 ppm |
| 2018-08-21 | Q1833337005 | 0.242 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | Q1905047007 | 0.118 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | Q1905047009 | 0.244 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | Q1905047008 | 0.178 ppm |