Nitrate
Lakewood Water District
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 | 0.806 ppm | 23 | 21 | ND - 1.85 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.647 ppm | 20 | 15 | ND - 1.90 ppm |
| 2020 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021 | 0.699 ppm | 19 | 15 | ND - 1.94 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.672 ppm | 18 | 13 | ND - 1.86 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.611 ppm | 18 | 13 | ND - 1.76 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-22 | 1.80 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.470 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 1.04 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.990 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.650 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 1.60 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.760 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.860 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.570 ppm | |
| 2018-07-23 | 0.580 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | 1.27 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | 0.800 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | 0.240 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | 0.230 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | ND | |
| 2018-07-24 | 0.420 ppm | |
| 2018-07-24 | 0.430 ppm | |
| 2018-07-30 | 1.85 ppm | |
| 2018-07-30 | ND | |
| 2018-07-30 | 1.60 ppm | |
| 2018-07-30 | 0.220 ppm | |
| 2018-07-30 | 1.76 ppm | |
| 2018-10-29 | 0.390 ppm | |
| 2019-07-03 | 0.470 ppm | |
| 2019-07-03 | 0.930 ppm | |
| 2019-07-03 | ND | |
| 2019-07-03 | 0.290 ppm | |
| 2019-07-03 | ND | |
| 2019-07-03 | 0.790 ppm | |
| 2019-07-03 | 0.510 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 1.24 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 0.460 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 0.360 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 0.850 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 0.900 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 0.690 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 1.53 ppm | |
| 2019-07-09 | 1.90 ppm | |
| 2019-07-17 | 0.240 ppm | |
| 2019-07-17 | 1.77 ppm | |
| 2019-07-17 | ND | |
| 2019-08-26 | ND | |
| 2019-08-26 | ND | |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115246 | 1.94 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115023 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115024 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115039 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115026 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115028 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115030 | 1.15 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 4115032 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115079 | ND |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115081 | ND |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115894 | ND |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115893 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115891 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115892 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2021-05-19 | 4115080 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2021-05-19 | 4125324 | 1.74 ppm |
| 2021-07-07 | 4139148 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2021-07-07 | 4139147 | ND |
| 2021-12-08 | 4215253 | 1.72 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4328437 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4310391 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4310392 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4332295 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4310398 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 4332296 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2022-07-13 | 4330492 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | 4318499 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2022-07-13 | 4318500 | 1.26 ppm |
| 2022-07-13 | 4338555 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | 4318497 | 1.85 ppm |
| 2022-07-13 | 4318498 | 1.86 ppm |
| 2022-08-11 | 4338571 | ND |
| 2022-08-11 | 4357488 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2022-08-11 | 4331988 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2022-08-11 | 4331533 | 1.74 ppm |
| 2022-08-11 | 4338569 | ND |
| 2022-12-08 | 4397515 | ND |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470102 | ND |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470071 | 1.56 ppm |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470100 | 1.76 ppm |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470103 | ND |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470101 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470068 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2023-06-21 | 4470067 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478177 | ND |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478192 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478186 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478182 | 1.28 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478189 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478179 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478181 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478188 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4478190 | ND |
| 2023-08-02 | 4503879 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2023-10-04 | 4538107 | ND |