Nitrate
Elderville Water Supply Corporation
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 | 0.144 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0790 ppm - 0.251 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.171 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0740 ppm - 0.248 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.136 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.106 ppm - 0.169 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.133 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0997 ppm - 0.214 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.198 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.156 ppm - 0.268 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.123 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0920 ppm - 0.173 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419300011 | 0.251 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419300009 | 0.134 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419300008 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419300007 | 0.128 ppm |
| 2014-07-24 | Q1430822009 | 0.0790 ppm |
| 2015-02-17 | Q1506272009 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2015-02-17 | Q1506272008 | 0.113 ppm |
| 2015-02-17 | Q1506272007 | 0.208 ppm |
| 2015-02-17 | Q1506272006 | 0.248 ppm |
| 2015-08-03 | Q1529818001 | 0.0740 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | Q1601476001 | 0.106 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | Q1601476003 | 0.162 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | Q1601476002 | 0.108 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | Q1601477011 | 0.169 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | Q1701120003 | 0.214 ppm |
| 2017-10-05 | Q1749178003 | 0.0997 ppm |
| 2017-10-05 | Q1749178002 | 0.102 ppm |
| 2017-10-05 | Q1749178007 | 0.117 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801269009 | 0.156 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801269008 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801269007 | 0.186 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801269006 | 0.268 ppm |
| 2019-01-10 | Q1901409001 | 0.103 ppm |
| 2019-01-10 | Q1901409003 | 0.0920 ppm |
| 2019-09-05 | Q1962426004 | 0.173 ppm |