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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate

City of Houston

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

260

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

134

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.202 ppm4635ND - 0.800 ppm
20150.192 ppm4131ND - 0.850 ppm
20160.188 ppm4231ND - 0.810 ppm
20170.248 ppm4434ND - 0.950 ppm
20180.154 ppm4434ND - 0.780 ppm
20190.182 ppm4327ND - 1.02 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
2014-02-03AC409940.800 ppm
2014-02-03AC409790.780 ppm
2014-03-14AC470390.510 ppm
2014-03-14AC470380.410 ppm
2014-03-14AC470370.360 ppm
2014-04-16AC50720ND
2014-04-16AC50723ND
2014-04-16AC507240.700 ppm
2014-04-16AC507340.660 ppm
2014-04-17AC509930.160 ppm
2014-04-17AC509900.120 ppm
2014-04-17AC509910.300 ppm
2014-04-17AC509940.150 ppm
2014-04-17AC50992ND
2014-04-17AC509950.01000 ppm
2014-04-17AC509960.300 ppm
2014-04-17AC509970.170 ppm
2014-06-03AC557550.0200 ppm
2014-06-03AC557540.0200 ppm
2014-06-03AC557530.250 ppm
2014-06-03AC557500.480 ppm
2014-06-03AC557570.240 ppm
2014-07-15AC596590.300 ppm
2014-07-15AC596600.290 ppm
2014-07-16AC59795ND
2014-08-14AC635820.160 ppm
2014-08-14AC63605ND
2014-08-14AC63597ND
2014-10-08AC691050.300 ppm
2014-10-08AC691060.370 ppm
2014-10-08AC691070.270 ppm
2014-10-09AC69305ND
2014-10-09AC693060.01000 ppm
2014-10-09AC693130.0700 ppm
2014-10-09AC693150.0400 ppm
2014-10-09AC693160.150 ppm
2014-12-09AC74088ND
2014-12-09AC740860.150 ppm
2014-12-09AC741160.260 ppm
2014-12-09AC740870.270 ppm
2014-12-09AC741150.160 ppm
2014-12-09AC74114ND
2014-12-18AC75397ND
2014-12-18AC753960.0200 ppm
2014-12-18AC75400ND
2014-12-18AC754010.0200 ppm
2015-03-04AC827590.01000 ppm
2015-03-04AC827860.560 ppm
2015-03-05AC827690.0300 ppm
2015-03-05AC827980.580 ppm
2015-03-24AC857780.310 ppm
2015-06-04AC945400.160 ppm
2015-06-04AC945390.01000 ppm
2015-06-04AC94552ND
2015-06-04AC945550.210 ppm
2015-06-04AC945530.850 ppm
2015-06-04AC945540.640 ppm
2015-07-21AD00268ND
2015-07-21AD00267ND
2015-07-21AD002950.410 ppm
2015-07-21AD002970.400 ppm
2015-07-21AD002940.300 ppm
2015-07-21AD002960.290 ppm
2015-07-22AD005300.0700 ppm
2015-07-22AD005330.01000 ppm
2015-07-22AD005320.01000 ppm
2015-07-22AD005310.240 ppm
2015-09-17AD074880.230 ppm
2015-10-22AD113860.190 ppm
2015-10-22AD11381ND
2015-10-22AD11385ND
2015-10-22AD113830.0600 ppm
2015-10-22AD113820.130 ppm
2015-10-22AD11387ND
2015-10-22AD11384ND
2015-10-22AD11388ND
2015-11-12AD132700.350 ppm
2015-11-12AD132690.110 ppm
2015-11-12AD132680.240 ppm
2015-11-12AD132740.270 ppm
2015-11-12AD13271ND
2015-11-12AD132720.220 ppm
2015-11-12AD132730.270 ppm
2015-11-12AD132750.160 ppm
2015-11-12AD132920.410 ppm
2015-12-08AD158590.130 ppm
2015-12-08AD15875ND
2016-02-18AD241620.200 ppm
2016-02-18AD241240.580 ppm
2016-02-18AD241260.0700 ppm
2016-02-18AD241210.310 ppm
2016-02-18AD241250.130 ppm
2016-02-18AD241220.210 ppm
2016-02-18AD241230.210 ppm
2016-03-03AD268010.810 ppm
2016-03-16AD289480.780 ppm
2016-03-16AD289470.720 ppm
2016-03-17AD29277ND
2016-03-17AD292760.810 ppm
2016-03-23AD300350.150 ppm
2016-03-23AD30037ND
2016-03-23AD300340.180 ppm
2016-03-23AD300010.130 ppm
2016-03-23AD300020.240 ppm
2016-06-08AD396590.230 ppm
2016-06-08AD396610.0300 ppm
2016-06-08AD396600.260 ppm
2016-06-16AD408620.170 ppm
2016-06-16AD40861ND
2016-06-16AD408600.1000 ppm
2016-09-20AD502620.260 ppm
2016-09-20AD502630.160 ppm
2016-09-21AD506270.180 ppm
2016-10-06AD526120.0800 ppm
2016-10-06AD52609ND
2016-10-06AD52610ND
2016-10-06AD526110.210 ppm
2016-10-06AD526130.160 ppm
2016-10-06AD52601ND
2016-10-06AD52598ND
2016-10-06AD52599ND
2016-10-06AD52605ND
2016-11-18AD58676ND
2016-11-21AD587150.01000 ppm
2016-11-21AD586860.130 ppm
2016-11-21AD586840.230 ppm
2016-11-21AD58682ND
2016-11-21AD586850.160 ppm
2016-11-21AD586830.01000 ppm
2017-01-26AD669880.280 ppm
2017-01-26AD669860.330 ppm
2017-01-26AD669850.0900 ppm
2017-01-26AD669480.180 ppm
2017-02-28AD723140.860 ppm
2017-02-28AD723190.800 ppm
2017-03-01AD726600.880 ppm
2017-03-01AD726590.840 ppm
2017-03-02AD729530.950 ppm
2017-03-02AD729520.710 ppm
2017-03-28AD770330.170 ppm
2017-03-28AD770340.190 ppm
2017-03-28AD770360.270 ppm
2017-03-28AD770350.490 ppm
2017-03-28AD770040.210 ppm
2017-03-29AD77322ND
2017-03-29AD773360.01000 ppm
2017-03-29AD77308ND
2017-03-29AD773090.0200 ppm
2017-04-26AD81069ND
2017-04-27AD813690.0200 ppm
2017-07-06AD88401ND
2017-07-06AD884020.01000 ppm
2017-07-06AD884030.240 ppm
2017-07-25AD904550.300 ppm
2017-09-11AD95335ND
2017-09-11AD953370.0400 ppm
2017-09-11AD953360.380 ppm
2017-09-11AD95305ND
2017-09-11AD953120.0200 ppm
2017-09-11AD953030.0200 ppm
2017-09-11AD953040.210 ppm
2017-09-26AD978960.120 ppm
2017-09-26AD978940.820 ppm
2017-09-26AD978930.540 ppm
2017-09-26AD978950.410 ppm
2017-11-07AE03760ND
2017-11-07AE03762ND
2017-11-07AE037610.0200 ppm
2017-11-07AE037640.180 ppm
2017-11-07AE037630.140 ppm
2017-11-14AE04636ND
2017-12-04AE064680.150 ppm
2017-12-04AE06467ND
2018-01-18AE091710.330 ppm
2018-01-18AE091720.0800 ppm
2018-01-18AE091730.230 ppm
2018-01-18AE09154ND
2018-01-23AE097660.130 ppm
2018-01-23AE097680.320 ppm
2018-01-23AE097670.270 ppm
2018-01-23AE097480.0200 ppm
2018-01-23AE09750ND
2018-01-23AE09749ND
2018-01-31AE114280.780 ppm
2018-03-29AE205470.120 ppm
2018-03-29AE205500.730 ppm
2018-03-29AE205480.140 ppm
2018-03-29AE205510.280 ppm
2018-03-29AE205490.270 ppm
2018-03-29AE205460.170 ppm
2018-03-29AE205450.0700 ppm
2018-03-29AE205520.260 ppm
2018-04-26AE24021ND
2018-04-26AE240160.0300 ppm
2018-04-26AE240170.210 ppm
2018-04-26AE24018ND
2018-04-26AE240220.0200 ppm
2018-04-26AE24019ND
2018-04-26AE240200.220 ppm
2018-05-22AE271580.0200 ppm
2018-05-22AE271560.0600 ppm
2018-05-22AE271550.150 ppm
2018-05-22AE271570.01000 ppm
2018-07-19AE33866ND
2018-07-19AE338630.170 ppm
2018-07-19AE33862ND
2018-07-19AE338670.01000 ppm
2018-07-19AE338650.240 ppm
2018-08-03AE357390.250 ppm
2018-08-15AE370930.270 ppm
2018-08-15AE370960.200 ppm
2018-08-15AE370980.170 ppm
2018-09-26AE41665ND
2018-09-26AE41641ND
2018-09-26AE416430.130 ppm
2018-09-26AE416420.170 ppm
2018-11-14AE459810.240 ppm
2019-01-15AE500010.590 ppm
2019-01-15AE500000.560 ppm
2019-01-16AE499990.680 ppm
2019-01-16AE499590.200 ppm
2019-03-06AE573030.170 ppm
2019-03-06AE57302ND
2019-03-06AE57301ND
2019-03-06AE572991.02 ppm
2019-03-06AE57278ND
2019-03-06AE57289ND
2019-03-06AE572850.220 ppm
2019-04-10AE619530.350 ppm
2019-04-10AE61935ND
2019-04-11AE61954ND
2019-04-11AE61933ND
2019-06-25AE718760.140 ppm
2019-06-25AE71877ND
2019-06-25AE71863ND
2019-06-25AE71856ND
2019-07-25AE758680.200 ppm
2019-07-25AE758690.180 ppm
2019-09-23AE841640.220 ppm
2019-09-23AE841630.220 ppm
2019-11-18AE894290.0600 ppm
2019-11-18AE894040.130 ppm
2019-11-18AE89405ND
2019-11-18AE894030.720 ppm
2019-11-18AE89369ND
2019-11-22AE903010.110 ppm
2019-11-22AE90306ND
2019-11-22AE903020.290 ppm
2019-11-22AE903070.130 ppm
2019-11-22AE903000.160 ppm
2019-12-02AE90768ND
2019-12-02AE907670.220 ppm
2019-12-02AE907560.150 ppm
2019-12-02AE907620.180 ppm
2019-12-02AE907600.260 ppm
2019-12-02AE907610.290 ppm
2019-12-02AE907580.270 ppm
2019-12-02AE90759ND
2019-12-02AE907570.110 ppm
2019-12-02AE90755ND