Nitrate
Benbrook Water Authority
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.0967 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.0175 ppm - 0.233 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.0848 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.0115 ppm - 0.132 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.138 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0150 ppm - 0.474 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.126 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0180 ppm - 0.318 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0918 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0162 ppm - 0.250 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.150 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0368 ppm - 0.411 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610042 | 0.228 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610014 | 0.0350 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610015 | 0.0355 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610016 | 0.0175 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610006 | 0.0580 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610007 | 0.0760 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610008 | 0.0895 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610009 | 0.0615 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | Q1403610010 | 0.233 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | Q1410443011 | 0.0430 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | Q1410443002 | 0.201 ppm |
| 2014-08-14 | Q1436874014 | 0.148 ppm |
| 2014-08-14 | Q1436874008 | 0.0306 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394023 | 0.112 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394019 | 0.0705 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394020 | 0.0260 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394026 | 0.126 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394021 | 0.132 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394022 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394025 | 0.116 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | Q1504394028 | 0.0115 ppm |
| 2015-04-30 | Q1515940012 | 0.0305 ppm |
| 2015-04-30 | Q1515940011 | 0.0830 ppm |
| 2015-04-30 | Q1515940010 | 0.125 ppm |
| 2016-01-21 | Q1602765001 | 0.0150 ppm |
| 2016-01-21 | Q1602764011 | 0.474 ppm |
| 2016-01-21 | Q1602764010 | 0.0965 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Q1617499015 | 0.0445 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Q1617499019 | 0.0885 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Q1617499018 | 0.0320 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Q1617499017 | 0.0880 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Q1617499016 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | Q1650881004 | 0.0985 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | Q1650881003 | 0.256 ppm |
| 2017-01-31 | Q1704261012 | 0.318 ppm |
| 2017-01-31 | Q1704261004 | 0.0870 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | Q1731488004 | 0.0665 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | Q1731488025 | 0.137 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | Q1731488024 | 0.0336 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | Q1731488022 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-08-02 | Q1732390001 | 0.0496 ppm |
| 2017-11-08 | Q1757459021 | 0.171 ppm |
| 2017-11-08 | Q1757459007 | 0.0180 ppm |
| 2017-11-08 | Q1757459006 | 0.0955 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024013 | 0.0745 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024007 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024023 | 0.0443 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024009 | 0.0162 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024010 | 0.0539 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Q1804024024 | 0.0618 ppm |
| 2018-04-12 | Q1815334002 | 0.0363 ppm |
| 2018-04-12 | Q1815334011 | 0.215 ppm |
| 2018-04-12 | Q1815334010 | 0.0232 ppm |
| 2018-07-19 | Q1828770007 | 0.143 ppm |
| 2019-01-29 | Q1904088030 | 0.0795 ppm |
| 2019-01-29 | Q1904088018 | 0.139 ppm |
| 2019-01-29 | Q1904088029 | 0.0937 ppm |
| 2019-01-29 | Q1904088035 | 0.411 ppm |
| 2019-01-29 | Q1904088023 | 0.0810 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | Q1926717010 | 0.125 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | Q1926717009 | 0.194 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | Q1926717008 | 0.0368 ppm |
| 2019-09-05 | Q1962592005 | 0.190 ppm |