Nitrate
City of Arlington
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 | 0.343 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.339 ppm - 0.346 ppm |
2015 | 0.571 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.421 ppm - 0.721 ppm |
2016 | 0.487 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.397 ppm - 0.577 ppm |
2017 | 0.303 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.151 ppm - 0.455 ppm |
2018 | 0.180 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0252 ppm - 0.334 ppm |
2019 | 0.432 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.301 ppm - 0.562 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-02-11 | Q1404025018 | 0.346 ppm |
2014-04-30 | Q1413772003 | 0.339 ppm |
2015-01-21 | Q1502500005 | 0.421 ppm |
2015-04-28 | Q1515602003 | 0.721 ppm |
2016-01-06 | Q1600353017 | 0.397 ppm |
2016-04-13 | Q1614685003 | 0.577 ppm |
2017-01-24 | Q1703096011 | 0.455 ppm |
2017-06-26 | Q1726565002 | 0.151 ppm |
2018-01-23 | Q1802577014 | 0.0252 ppm |
2018-06-14 | Q1823825002 | 0.334 ppm |
2019-02-20 | Q1907393001 | 0.562 ppm |
2019-04-10 | Q1914375005 | 0.301 ppm |