Nitrate
East Milton Water System
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.459 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0410 ppm - 0.890 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.478 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0400 ppm - 1.10 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.472 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.310 ppm - 0.740 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.472 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0690 ppm - 0.900 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.308 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0250 ppm - 0.550 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.511 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0340 ppm - 1.000 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 | Result |
|---|---|
| 2014-06-03 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.0410 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.0690 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.0250 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.0830 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 0.0340 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2019-07-31 | 0.610 ppm |