Nitrate
City of California City
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 | 0.556 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.339 ppm - 1.08 ppm |
2015 | 0.646 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.407 ppm - 1.04 ppm |
2016 | 0.780 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.370 ppm - 1.30 ppm |
2017 | 0.703 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.390 ppm - 1.30 ppm |
2018 | 0.751 ppm | 12 | 11 | ND - 1.40 ppm |
2019 | 0.707 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.380 ppm - 1.10 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-05-30 | 5806-016-0750 | 0.610 ppm |
2014-05-30 | 5806-005-0825 | 0.791 ppm |
2014-05-30 | 5806-006-0735 | 0.474 ppm |
2014-05-30 | 5806-009-0640 | 0.339 ppm |
2014-05-30 | 5806-008-0810 | 0.339 ppm |
2014-08-25 | 5806-016-1335 | 0.655 ppm |
2014-08-25 | 5806-005-1400 | 1.08 ppm |
2014-08-25 | 5806-009-1310 | 0.384 ppm |
2014-08-25 | 5806-008-1345 | 0.384 ppm |
2014-08-25 | 5806-006-1320 | 0.497 ppm |
2015-03-27 | 5806-016-0730 | 0.678 ppm |
2015-03-27 | 5806-009-0820 | 0.407 ppm |
2015-03-27 | 5806-008-0840 | 0.429 ppm |
2015-03-27 | 5806-006-0800 | 0.678 ppm |
2015-03-27 | 5806-005-0715 | 1.04 ppm |
2016-03-25 | 5806-008-0735 | 0.660 ppm |
2016-03-25 | 5806-005-0805 | 1.10 ppm |
2016-03-29 | 5806-006-0805 | 0.580 ppm |
2016-03-29 | 5806-016-0845 | 0.670 ppm |
2016-03-29 | 5806-009-0730 | 0.370 ppm |
2016-12-15 | 5806-003-0920 | 1.30 ppm |
2017-03-16 | 5806-006-1515 | 0.790 ppm |
2017-03-16 | 5806-005-1430 | 1.20 ppm |
2017-03-16 | 5806-008-1340 | 0.440 ppm |
2017-03-16 | 5806-016-1400 | 0.740 ppm |
2017-03-16 | 5806-009-1445 | 0.400 ppm |
2017-08-01 | 5806-006-1135 | 0.600 ppm |
2017-08-01 | 5806-016-0925 | 0.720 ppm |
2017-08-01 | 5806-009-1030 | 0.390 ppm |
2017-08-01 | 5806-008-1000 | 0.450 ppm |
2017-08-01 | 5806-005-1100 | 1.30 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 5806-016-1135 | ND |
2018-01-25 | 5806-003-1100 | 0.970 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 5806-009-1205 | 0.370 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 5806-008-1240 | 0.710 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 5806-006-1150 | 0.590 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 5806-005-1220 | 1.000 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-009-0735 | 0.390 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-016-0835 | 0.770 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-008-0925 | 0.770 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-006-0940 | 0.640 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-005-0905 | 1.40 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 5806-003-0805 | 1.40 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 5806-008-1040 | 0.410 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 5806-016-1100 | 0.750 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 5806-006-1125 | 0.610 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 5806-005-1155 | 1.10 ppm |
2019-02-12 | 5806-003-1015 | 0.990 ppm |
2019-02-14 | 5806-009-1158 | 0.380 ppm |