Nitrate
Fairfax County 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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | 1.07 ppm | 17 | 17 | 0.480 ppm - 2.03 ppm |
2015 | 0.924 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.560 ppm - 1.32 ppm |
2016 | 0.927 ppm | 15 | 15 | 0.480 ppm - 1.62 ppm |
2017 | 1.16 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.760 ppm - 1.69 ppm |
2018 | 1.19 ppm | 39 | 39 | 0.570 ppm - 1.87 ppm |
2019 | 1.15 ppm | 33 | 33 | 0.620 ppm - 1.68 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-30 | FW13122701-03_NI | 2.03 ppm |
2014-01-30 | FW13122702-03_NI | 0.980 ppm |
2014-02-27 | FW14012839-03_NI | 1.31 ppm |
2014-02-27 | FW14012840-03_NI | 0.850 ppm |
2014-03-27 | FW14022109-03_NI | 1.10 ppm |
2014-03-27 | FW14022110-03_NI | 0.760 ppm |
2014-04-24 | FW14032669-03_NI | 1.02 ppm |
2014-04-24 | FW14032670-03_NI | 0.480 ppm |
2014-07-24 | FW14061907-03_NI | 0.950 ppm |
2014-07-24 | FW14061906-03_NI | 0.780 ppm |
2014-09-25 | FW14081481-03_NI | 1.18 ppm |
2014-09-25 | FW14081479-03_NI | 0.940 ppm |
2014-10-30 | FW140923099-03_N | 1.59 ppm |
2014-10-30 | FW140923098-03_N | 0.840 ppm |
2014-11-13 | FW141022038-03_N | 1.45 ppm |
2014-11-13 | FW141022037-03_N | 0.850 ppm |
2014-12-03 | FW141113029-02_N | 1.07 ppm |
2015-01-27 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 1.32 ppm |
2015-02-12 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 1.31 ppm |
2015-03-12 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.950 ppm |
2015-04-09 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.620 ppm |
2015-05-07 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.900 ppm |
2015-06-11 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.830 ppm |
2015-07-09 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 1.26 ppm |
2015-08-06 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.650 ppm |
2015-09-10 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.740 ppm |
2015-10-15 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 1.22 ppm |
2015-11-12 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.560 ppm |
2015-12-03 | 00125-FAIRFAX CO | 0.730 ppm |
2016-01-14 | FW151231001-02_N | 1.62 ppm |
2016-02-04 | FW160121044-02_N | 1.12 ppm |
2016-03-10 | FW160224042-02_N | 1.42 ppm |
2016-04-14 | FW160316067-02_N | 0.650 ppm |
2016-05-12 | FW160422080-02_N | 0.790 ppm |
2016-06-09 | FW160525077-02_N | 1.11 ppm |
2016-07-14 | FW160617069-02_N | 0.740 ppm |
2016-08-11 | FW160725068-02_N | 0.850 ppm |
2016-09-08 | FW160825057-02_N | 0.480 ppm |
2016-10-13 | FW160922038-02_N | 1.02 ppm |
2016-11-03 | FW161018056-02_N | 0.680 ppm |
2016-12-01 | FW161121047-01_N | 0.860 ppm |
2016-12-01 | FW161121047-03_N | 0.860 ppm |
2016-12-01 | FW161121047-04_N | 0.860 ppm |
2016-12-01 | FW161121047-02_N | 0.840 ppm |
2017-01-26 | FW161216029-03_N | 1.53 ppm |
2017-01-26 | FW161216028-03_N | 1.11 ppm |
2017-02-23 | FW170126072-03_N | 1.14 ppm |
2017-02-23 | FW170126071-03_N | 1.06 ppm |
2017-03-09 | FW170227041-03_N | 1.16 ppm |
2017-03-09 | FW170227045-03_N | 0.990 ppm |
2017-04-13 | FW170328070-03_N | 0.870 ppm |
2017-04-13 | FW170328069-03_N | 0.760 ppm |
2017-05-11 | FW170426060-03_N | 0.950 ppm |
2017-05-11 | FW170426062-03_N | 0.910 ppm |
2017-07-13 | FW170628091-03_N | 1.56 ppm |
2017-07-13 | FW170628092-03_N | 1.32 ppm |
2017-08-10 | FW170724080-03_N | 1.37 ppm |
2017-08-10 | FW170724081-03_N | 0.920 ppm |
2017-09-14 | FW170821082-03_N | 1.04 ppm |
2017-09-14 | FW170821081-03_N | 0.990 ppm |
2017-10-12 | FW170927068-03_N | 1.69 ppm |
2017-10-12 | FW170927067-03_N | 0.820 ppm |
2017-11-02 | FW171024046-03_N | 1.61 ppm |
2017-11-02 | FW171024045-03_N | 1.09 ppm |
2017-12-07 | FW171120061-02_N | 1.25 ppm |
2017-12-07 | FW171120061-04_N | 1.22 ppm |
2017-12-07 | FW171120061-03_N | 1.20 ppm |
2017-12-07 | FW171120061-01_N | 1.19 ppm |
2018-01-25 | FW171226071-04_N | 1.63 ppm |
2018-01-25 | FW171226072-04_N | 1.87 ppm |
2018-02-08 | FW180117063-04_N | 1.28 ppm |
2018-02-08 | FW180117064-04_N | 1.74 ppm |
2018-02-21 | FW180212011-01_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-02-21 | FW180212011-02_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-02-21 | FW180212011-03_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-02-21 | FW180212011-04_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-03-22 | FW180220072-04_N | 1.50 ppm |
2018-03-22 | FW180220073-04_N | 1.05 ppm |
2018-04-12 | FW180315012-02_N | 1.16 ppm |
2018-04-12 | FW180315012-03_N | 1.15 ppm |
2018-04-12 | FW180315012-04_N | 1.15 ppm |
2018-04-12 | FW180315012-05_N | 1.13 ppm |
2018-04-12 | FW180315013-04_N | 0.960 ppm |
2018-05-10 | FW180424075-04_N | 0.700 ppm |
2018-05-10 | FW180424076-04_N | 0.570 ppm |
2018-06-21 | FW180522063-04_N | 0.930 ppm |
2018-06-21 | FW180522064-04_N | 0.700 ppm |
2018-07-12 | FW180615025-02_N | 0.870 ppm |
2018-07-12 | FW180615025-03_N | 0.870 ppm |
2018-07-12 | FW180615025-04_N | 0.870 ppm |
2018-07-12 | FW180615025-06_N | 0.870 ppm |
2018-07-12 | FW180615026-04_N | 0.660 ppm |
2018-08-09 | FW180716073-04_N | 1.06 ppm |
2018-08-09 | FW180716074-02_N | 0.610 ppm |
2018-09-06 | FW180824050-04_N | 1.20 ppm |
2018-09-06 | FW180824051-04_N | 0.810 ppm |
2018-10-11 | FW180926085-02_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-10-11 | FW180926085-03_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-10-11 | FW180926085-04_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-10-11 | FW180926085-05_N | 1.49 ppm |
2018-10-11 | FW180926086-02_N | 0.740 ppm |
2018-10-18 | FW181017007-01_N | 1.40 ppm |
2018-10-18 | FW181017007-02_N | 1.38 ppm |
2018-10-18 | FW181017007-03_N | 1.39 ppm |
2018-10-18 | FW181017007-04_N | 1.40 ppm |
2018-11-01 | FW181023017-04_N | 1.32 ppm |
2018-11-01 | FW181023018-04_N | 1.40 ppm |
2019-01-03 | FW181218030-02_N | 1.48 ppm |
2019-01-03 | FW181218030-03_N | 1.47 ppm |
2019-01-03 | FW181218030-04_N | 1.47 ppm |
2019-01-03 | FW181218031-02_N | 0.700 ppm |
2019-02-07 | FW190124008-04_N | 1.68 ppm |
2019-02-07 | FW190124009-02_N | 0.790 ppm |
2019-03-21 | FW190219085-04_N | 1.34 ppm |
2019-03-21 | FW190219086-02_N | 0.870 ppm |
2019-04-11 | FW190319015-02_N | 1.08 ppm |
2019-04-11 | FW190319015-03_N | 1.07 ppm |
2019-04-11 | FW190319015-04_N | 1.08 ppm |
2019-04-11 | FW190319015-05_N | 1.08 ppm |
2019-04-11 | FW190319016-02_N | 0.740 ppm |
2019-05-09 | FW190422080-05_N | 1.09 ppm |
2019-05-09 | FW190422081-02_N | 0.670 ppm |
2019-06-06 | FW190521052-05_N | 1.09 ppm |
2019-06-06 | FW190521053-02_N | 0.810 ppm |
2019-07-11 | FW190626014-02_N | 1.58 ppm |
2019-07-11 | FW190626014-03_N | 1.58 ppm |
2019-07-11 | FW190626014-04_N | 1.59 ppm |
2019-07-11 | FW190626014-05_N | 1.56 ppm |
2019-07-11 | FW190626015-02_N | 1.05 ppm |
2019-08-08 | FW190725066-05_N | 1.03 ppm |
2019-08-08 | FW190725067-02_N | 0.620 ppm |
2019-09-05 | FW190827033-05_N | 1.06 ppm |
2019-09-05 | FW190827034-02_N | 1.02 ppm |
2019-10-03 | FW190923067-02_N | 1.11 ppm |
2019-10-03 | FW190923067-03_N | 1.11 ppm |
2019-10-03 | FW190923067-04_N | 1.11 ppm |
2019-10-03 | FW190923067-05_N | 1.11 ppm |
2019-10-03 | FW190923068-02_N | 1.30 ppm |
2019-11-14 | FW191029061-05_N | 1.34 ppm |
2019-11-14 | FW191029062-02_N | 1.28 ppm |