Nitrate
City of Gilmer
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 | 0.0470 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0460 ppm - 0.0485 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.0707 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0310 ppm - 0.136 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0360 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0315 ppm - 0.0415 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0296 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0109 ppm - 0.0492 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0759 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0526 ppm - 0.118 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.162 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0451 ppm - 0.379 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-07 | Q1434763003 | 0.0465 ppm |
| 2014-08-07 | Q1434763002 | 0.0485 ppm |
| 2014-08-07 | Q1434763001 | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2015-07-20 | Q1527723003 | 0.0310 ppm |
| 2015-07-20 | Q1527723002 | 0.136 ppm |
| 2015-07-20 | Q1527723001 | 0.0450 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | Q1620683005 | 0.0315 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | Q1620683006 | 0.0350 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | Q1620683001 | 0.0415 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | Q1711226028 | 0.0109 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | Q1711226012 | 0.0286 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | Q1711226011 | 0.0492 ppm |
| 2018-08-30 | Q1834899012 | 0.0572 ppm |
| 2018-08-30 | Q1834899011 | 0.118 ppm |
| 2018-08-30 | Q1834899010 | 0.0526 ppm |
| 2019-10-10 | Q1972218011 | 0.379 ppm |
| 2019-10-10 | Q1972218013 | 0.0620 ppm |
| 2019-10-10 | Q1972218012 | 0.0451 ppm |