Nitrate
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Div.
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 | 1.08 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.1000 ppm - 3.40 ppm |
2015 | 1.18 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.260 ppm - 4.00 ppm |
2016 | 1.31 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.0880 ppm - 4.30 ppm |
2017 | 0.877 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.0851 ppm - 2.19 ppm |
2018 | 0.809 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.111 ppm - 2.18 ppm |
2019 | 0.697 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.128 ppm - 2.20 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 |
---|---|
2014-05-19 | 0.690 ppm |
2014-05-19 | 3.40 ppm |
2014-05-19 | 0.770 ppm |
2014-05-19 | 0.1000 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 1.40 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 1.30 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 1.30 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 1.70 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 0.740 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 0.640 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 0.230 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.260 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.500 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.800 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.860 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.540 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.860 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 1.20 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 0.860 ppm |
2015-05-18 | 4.00 ppm |
2015-06-29 | 1.30 ppm |
2015-06-29 | 1.40 ppm |
2015-06-29 | 1.60 ppm |
2015-08-17 | 1.20 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 1.30 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 1.30 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 2.60 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 0.170 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 0.0880 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 4.30 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 1.30 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 0.780 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 1.50 ppm |
2016-05-16 | 0.420 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.779 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 1.49 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.881 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.0851 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 1.04 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.429 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 2.19 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.571 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 1.17 ppm |
2017-05-15 | 0.199 ppm |
2017-09-18 | 0.811 ppm |
2018-05-31 | 0.633 ppm |
2018-05-31 | 0.830 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 2.18 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 0.302 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 0.111 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 0.866 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 1.31 ppm |
2018-06-04 | 0.240 ppm |
2019-01-07 | 0.576 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.777 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.570 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.505 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 2.20 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.432 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.128 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.512 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 1.36 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.863 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.285 ppm |
2019-08-07 | 0.150 ppm |