Nitrate
City of Abilene
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.489 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0740 ppm - 1.24 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.448 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.146 ppm - 1.03 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.419 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.104 ppm - 1.04 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.287 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.106 ppm - 0.540 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.199 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.158 ppm - 0.222 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.272 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.237 ppm - 0.290 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm
The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-14 | Q1810359011 | 1.24 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | Q1810359004 | 0.0740 ppm |
| 2018-06-25 | Q1825174002 | 0.152 ppm |
| 2019-03-19 | Q1911332003 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2019-03-19 | Q1911332010 | 0.146 ppm |
| 2019-08-07 | Q1951863009 | 0.167 ppm |
| 2020-02-26 | Q2007280014 | 0.104 ppm |
| 2020-02-26 | Q2007280015 | 0.114 ppm |
| 2020-02-26 | Q2007280016 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2021-03-18 | Q2107090011 | 0.106 ppm |
| 2021-03-18 | Q2107090012 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2021-07-26 | Q2119593010 | 0.215 ppm |
| 2022-01-11 | Q2200834009 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2022-01-11 | Q2200834010 | 0.218 ppm |
| 2022-08-08 | Q2222807004 | 0.158 ppm |
| 2023-05-24 | Q2319581004 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2023-05-24 | Q2319581008 | 0.288 ppm |
| 2023-05-24 | Q2319581009 | 0.237 ppm |