Nitrate
City of Richland Hills
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 | 0.266 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0390 ppm - 0.705 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.313 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0122 ppm - 0.908 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.249 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0176 ppm - 0.709 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.154 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0168 ppm - 0.420 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.1000 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0200 ppm - 0.260 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.159 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0199 ppm - 0.420 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-30 | Q1803802002 | 0.705 ppm |
| 2018-04-10 | Q1814526002 | 0.0552 ppm |
| 2018-04-10 | Q1814526009 | 0.0390 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | Q1902265001 | 0.908 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | Q1902265003 | 0.0173 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | Q1902265011 | 0.0122 ppm |
| 2020-02-19 | Q2006408010 | 0.0176 ppm |
| 2020-02-19 | Q2006408011 | 0.0203 ppm |
| 2020-11-04 | Q2042937003 | 0.709 ppm |
| 2021-03-17 | Q2107046005 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2021-03-17 | Q2107046007 | 0.0253 ppm |
| 2021-03-17 | Q2107046006 | 0.0168 ppm |
| 2022-01-19 | Q2202013004 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2022-01-19 | Q2202013009 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2022-01-19 | Q2202013010 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | Q2347048007 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | Q2347048009 | 0.0199 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | Q2347048010 | 0.0374 ppm |