Nitrate
City of Woodway
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 | 0.247 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0400 ppm - 0.580 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.278 ppm | 6 | 5 | ND - 1.14 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.228 ppm | 6 | 4 | ND - 0.810 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.135 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0600 ppm - 0.250 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.103 ppm | 6 | 5 | ND - 0.180 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.138 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0700 ppm - 0.310 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-11 | AE08836 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | AE08834 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | AE45290 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | AE45291 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | AE45293 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | AE45294 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | AE53965 | 1.14 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | AE53966 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | AE53967 | ND |
| 2019-08-12 | AE77919 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2019-11-15 | AE89343 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2019-11-15 | AE89344 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2020-02-18 | AE98579 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2020-02-18 | AE98580 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2020-05-11 | AF10163 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2020-08-12 | AF23003 | ND |
| 2020-08-12 | AF23005 | ND |
| 2020-08-12 | AF23006 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2021-01-19 | AF39643 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2021-01-19 | AF39646 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2021-01-19 | AF39645 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | AF48883 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | AF48884 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2021-04-05 | AF48893 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2022-02-15 | AF84777 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2022-02-15 | AF84778 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2022-02-15 | AF84779 | ND |
| 2022-02-15 | AF84780 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2022-04-13 | AF93038 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2022-04-13 | AF93041 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2023-03-08 | AG32029 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2023-04-24 | AG37617 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2023-04-24 | AG37618 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2023-04-24 | AG37619 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2023-04-24 | AG37620 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2023-07-13 | AG48361 | 0.0800 ppm |