Nitrate
City of Waco
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.443 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0200 ppm - 0.850 ppm |
2015 | 0.173 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.01000 ppm - 0.480 ppm |
2016 | 0.618 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.01000 ppm - 1.22 ppm |
2017 | 0.368 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0200 ppm - 0.670 ppm |
2018 | 0.150 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.150 ppm |
2019 | 0.757 ppm | 3 | 2 | ND - 1.14 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-02-12 | AC42570 | 0.840 ppm |
2014-02-12 | AC42572 | 0.850 ppm |
2014-02-12 | AC42571 | 0.0200 ppm |
2014-02-12 | AC42569 | 0.0600 ppm |
2015-02-05 | AC79398 | 0.130 ppm |
2015-04-15 | AC88266 | 0.480 ppm |
2015-04-15 | AC88252 | 0.01000 ppm |
2015-10-08 | AD09909 | 0.0700 ppm |
2016-01-13 | AD17782 | 1.18 ppm |
2016-01-13 | AD17779 | 1.22 ppm |
2016-04-04 | AD31603 | 0.01000 ppm |
2016-07-11 | AD43470 | 0.0600 ppm |
2017-01-12 | AD64570 | 0.660 ppm |
2017-01-12 | AD64571 | 0.670 ppm |
2017-04-13 | AD79590 | 0.0200 ppm |
2017-10-02 | AD98693 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-01-09 | AE08254 | 0.150 ppm |
2018-01-09 | AE08255 | 0.150 ppm |
2019-01-23 | AE50845 | 1.14 ppm |
2019-01-23 | AE50844 | 1.13 ppm |
2019-04-02 | AE60775 | ND |