Nitrate
North Hunt Special Utility District
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 | 0.183 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0194 ppm - 0.401 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.420 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.629 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.393 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0105 ppm - 0.552 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.512 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.972 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.202 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.425 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.297 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.632 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-04 | Q1822050009 | 0.0275 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | Q1822050005 | 0.0194 ppm |
| 2018-08-09 | Q1831973003 | 0.401 ppm |
| 2018-08-09 | Q1831973004 | 0.283 ppm |
| 2019-03-12 | Q1910237003 | 0.538 ppm |
| 2019-03-12 | Q1910237004 | 0.629 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | Q1928750005 | 0.512 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | Q1928750006 | ND |
| 2020-05-07 | Q2018055003 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2020-05-07 | Q2018055004 | 0.387 ppm |
| 2020-11-23 | Q2046621024 | 0.552 ppm |
| 2020-11-23 | Q2046621019 | 0.0105 ppm |
| 2020-11-23 | Q2046621018 | 0.545 ppm |
| 2021-02-08 | Q2103700007 | 0.387 ppm |
| 2021-02-08 | Q2103700008 | ND |
| 2021-02-08 | Q2103700011 | 0.688 ppm |
| 2021-02-08 | Q2103700012 | 0.972 ppm |
| 2022-02-10 | Q2204937004 | 0.425 ppm |
| 2022-11-29 | Q2235351002 | ND |
| 2022-11-29 | Q2235351003 | 0.0781 ppm |
| 2022-11-29 | Q2235351004 | 0.305 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | Q2309668001 | 0.632 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | Q2309668002 | 0.285 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | Q2309668006 | ND |
| 2023-03-13 | Q2309668017 | 0.269 ppm |