Nitrate
Travis County WCID 17
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 | 0.280 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.280 ppm |
2015 | 0.250 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.250 ppm |
2016 | 0.0600 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0200 ppm - 0.110 ppm |
2017 | 0.170 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0300 ppm - 0.270 ppm |
2018 | 0.0600 ppm | 5 | 3 | ND - 0.180 ppm |
2019 | 0.304 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.540 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-03-19 | AC47501 | 0.280 ppm |
2015-03-19 | AC85200 | 0.250 ppm |
2016-05-17 | AD36935 | 0.0200 ppm |
2016-07-27 | AD45905 | 0.110 ppm |
2016-11-07 | AD56726 | 0.0500 ppm |
2016-11-07 | AD56710 | 0.0600 ppm |
2017-01-26 | AD66974 | 0.270 ppm |
2017-01-26 | AD66993 | 0.270 ppm |
2017-05-24 | AD85347 | 0.240 ppm |
2017-08-10 | AD92624 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-12-07 | AE07110 | 0.0300 ppm |
2017-12-07 | AE07132 | 0.1000 ppm |
2018-03-06 | AE16845 | 0.180 ppm |
2018-05-22 | AE27162 | 0.0900 ppm |
2018-08-15 | AE37090 | 0.0300 ppm |
2018-08-15 | AE37095 | ND |
2018-10-04 | AE42617 | ND |
2019-01-23 | AE50841 | 0.540 ppm |
2019-01-23 | AE50846 | 0.520 ppm |
2019-06-04 | AE68996 | 0.320 ppm |
2019-09-11 | AE82920 | 0.140 ppm |
2019-10-22 | AE87124 | ND |