Nitrate
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.569 ppm | 8 | 3 | ND - 1.77 ppm |
2015 | 0.718 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.390 ppm - 1.29 ppm |
2016 | 0.556 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.380 ppm - 0.820 ppm |
2017 | 0.590 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.470 ppm - 0.740 ppm |
2018 | 0.638 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.500 ppm - 0.740 ppm |
2019 | 0.655 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.530 ppm - 0.790 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-02-21 | 1.77 ppm | |
2014-02-21 | 1.73 ppm | |
2014-05-14 | ND | |
2014-05-14 | ND | |
2014-08-12 | ND | |
2014-08-12 | ND | |
2014-11-06 | ND | |
2014-11-06 | 1.05 ppm | |
2015-02-11 | 12458157 | 1.20 ppm |
2015-02-11 | 12458156 | 1.29 ppm |
2015-05-20 | 12815534 | 0.683 ppm |
2015-05-20 | 12815535 | 0.732 ppm |
2015-08-11 | 13197868 | 0.390 ppm |
2015-08-11 | 13197866 | 0.430 ppm |
2015-11-19 | 13573062 | 0.480 ppm |
2015-11-19 | 13573060 | 0.540 ppm |
2016-02-23 | 13927488 | 0.770 ppm |
2016-02-23 | 13927485 | 0.820 ppm |
2016-05-19 | 14327561 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-05-19 | 14327558 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-08-09 | 14820935 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-08-09 | 14820937 | 0.380 ppm |
2016-11-16 | 15296006 | 0.550 ppm |
2016-11-16 | 15296009 | 0.570 ppm |
2017-02-15 | 15722538 | 0.740 ppm |
2017-02-15 | 15722539 | 0.740 ppm |
2017-05-17 | 16174971 | 0.470 ppm |
2017-08-23 | 16644540 | 0.480 ppm |
2017-11-15 | 17090523 | 0.520 ppm |
2018-03-01 | 18C0104-03 | 0.740 ppm |
2018-05-02 | 18E0265-01 | 0.500 ppm |
2018-08-10 | 18H1250-01 | 0.710 ppm |
2018-11-19 | 18K1736-01 | 0.600 ppm |
2019-02-06 | 19B0869-01 | 0.790 ppm |
2019-05-21 | 19E2495-01 | 0.570 ppm |
2019-08-07 | 19H1554-01 | 0.530 ppm |
2019-12-03 | 19L1205-01 | 0.730 ppm |