Nitrate
Arizona Water Company - Sierra Vista
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.630 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.120 ppm - 1.20 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.833 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.120 ppm - 2.40 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.856 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.150 ppm - 2.00 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.644 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 1.80 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.766 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.130 ppm - 2.00 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.913 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.140 ppm - 2.00 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050281I | 0.820 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050280I | 1.10 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050279I | 0.120 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050278I | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050277I | 0.200 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050276I | 1.20 ppm |
| 2014-02-05 | 201402050275I | 0.840 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080113I | 0.120 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080109I | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080110I | 2.40 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080111I | 0.220 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080112I | 0.140 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080114I | 1.10 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 201504080115I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050478I | 0.780 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050484I | 1.50 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050483I | 1.20 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050482I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050481I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050480I | 0.200 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | 201604050479I | 2.00 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150160I | ND |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150159I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150158I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150157I | 0.170 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150156I | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150155I | 1.80 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 201702150154I | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240108I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240104I | 0.940 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240105I | 0.940 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240106I | 0.190 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240107I | 0.130 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240109I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 201801240110I | 2.00 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210053I | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210059I | 1.90 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210058I | 0.980 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210057I | 0.140 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210056I | 0.180 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210055I | 0.240 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 201902210054I | 2.00 ppm |