Nitrate

Ashwaubenon Waterworks

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.0330 ppm	1	1	0.0330 ppm
2015	0.00900 ppm	3	1	ND - 0.0270 ppm
2016	0.0680 ppm	3	3	0.0320 ppm - 0.130 ppm
2017	0.160 ppm	3	3	0.120 ppm - 0.240 ppm
2018	0.0600 ppm	3	1	ND - 0.180 ppm
2019	0.0425 ppm	4	1	ND - 0.170 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
2015-05-11	859064	ND
2015-05-11	859063	ND
2015-05-11	859062	0.0270 ppm
2016-05-09	920142	0.0320 ppm
2016-05-09	920141	0.0420 ppm
2016-05-09	920140	0.130 ppm
2017-02-06	972443	0.120 ppm
2017-02-06	972442	0.120 ppm
2017-02-06	972441	0.240 ppm
2018-03-05	1043417	ND
2018-03-05	1043416	ND
2018-03-05	1043415	0.180 ppm
2019-05-06	1119195	ND
2019-05-06	1119196	ND
2019-05-06	1119193	ND
2019-05-06	1119194	0.170 ppm