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Agricultural runoff causing blue baby syndrome in infants. Below are US cities ranked by their measured Nitrate levels compared to EPA limits. Higher percentages indicate greater concern.
Vulnerable Populations: Infants under 6 months at extreme risk. NEVER use nitrate-contaminated water for baby formula.
Ranked by percentage of the EPA limit, using one real EPA measurement per water system (2012–2019 (SYR4)). Click any city for its full report.
Historical data. Figure shown is the average of the system's 2012–2019 finished-water compliance samples (EPA Six-Year Review 4), non-detects counted as zero. Treat as history, not today's tap water.
| Rank | City | State | Level | Period | EPA Limit | % of Limit | Status | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hemet | California | 9.944 ppmAverage of 2 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 99.4% | Elevated | 33,828 |
| #2 | Seaford | Delaware | 7.727 ppmAverage of 306 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 77.3% | Elevated | 6,699 |
| #3 | Goodyear | Arizona | 7.016 ppmAverage of 157 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 70.2% | Elevated | 50,001 |
| #4 | Florence | Arizona | 6.596 ppmAverage of 44 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 66.0% | Elevated | 15,900 |
| #5 | El Monte | California | 6.375 ppmAverage of 3117 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 63.8% | Elevated | 248,000 |
| #6 | Waterloo | Iowa | 6.368 ppmAverage of 6 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 63.7% | Elevated | 69,504 |
| #7 | Burbank | California | 6.313 ppmAverage of 909 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 63.1% | Elevated | 105,603 |
| #8 | Fresno | California | 6.086 ppmAverage of 6619 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 60.9% | Elevated | 545,716 |
| #9 | Chino Hills | California | 6.075 ppmAverage of 180 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 60.8% | Elevated | 76,414 |
| #10 | Upland | California | 5.710 ppmAverage of 18 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 57.1% | Elevated | 78,376 |
| #11 | Colton | California | 5.703 ppmAverage of 16 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 57.0% | Elevated | 46,525 |
| #12 | Riverside | California | 5.685 ppmAverage of 2334 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 56.8% | Elevated | 298,398 |
| #13 | Buckeye | Arizona | 5.578 ppmAverage of 113 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 55.8% | Elevated | 30,377 |
| #14 | Commerce City | Colorado | 5.338 ppmAverage of 318 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 53.4% | Elevated | 75,559 |
| #15 | Maricopa | Arizona | 5.271 ppmAverage of 129 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 52.7% | Elevated | 84,000 |
| #16 | Livermore | California | 5.240 ppmAverage of 1063 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 52.4% | Elevated | 60,414 |
| #17 | Pasadena | California | 5.224 ppmAverage of 1836 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 52.2% | Elevated | 164,344 |
| #18 | Apple Valley | California | 5.174 ppmAverage of 27 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 51.7% | Elevated | 32,547 |
| #19 | Avondale | Arizona | 5.153 ppmAverage of 174 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 51.5% | Elevated | 96,130 |
| #20 | Eloy | Arizona | 5.113 ppmAverage of 34 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 51.1% | Elevated | 8,852 |
| #21 | Salinas | California | 5.067 ppmAverage of 2340 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 50.7% | Elevated | 123,679 |
| #22 | Salisbury | Maryland | 5.052 ppmAverage of 61 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 50.5% | Elevated | 30,343 |
| #23 | Manteca | California | 5.001 ppmAverage of 1136 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 50.0% | Elevated | 84,928 |
| #24 | Jurupa Valley | California | 4.962 ppmAverage of 2121 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 49.6% | Within Limit | 135,093 |
| #25 | Great Bend | Kansas | 4.961 ppmAverage of 109 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 49.6% | Within Limit | 14,580 |
| #26 | Ontario | California | 4.838 ppmAverage of 392 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 48.4% | Within Limit | 185,010 |
| #27 | Tustin | California | 4.821 ppmAverage of 201 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 48.2% | Within Limit | 66,600 |
| #28 | Modesto | California | 4.751 ppmAverage of 3999 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 47.5% | Within Limit | 218,771 |
| #29 | Dodge City | Kansas | 4.707 ppmAverage of 192 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 47.1% | Within Limit | 27,104 |
| #30 | Pocatello | Idaho | 4.629 ppmAverage of 252 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 46.3% | Within Limit | 58,231 |
| #31 | Clovis | California | 4.601 ppmAverage of 690 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 46.0% | Within Limit | 130,130 |
| #32 | Monterey Park | California | 4.591 ppmAverage of 2600 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 45.9% | Within Limit | 62,183 |
| #33 | San Bernardino | California | 4.559 ppmAverage of 2638 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 45.6% | Within Limit | 214,665 |
| #34 | Westminster | Maryland | 4.557 ppmAverage of 125 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 45.6% | Within Limit | 35,256 |
| #35 | Chubbuck | Idaho | 4.517 ppmAverage of 39 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 45.2% | Within Limit | 15,842 |
| #36 | Delano | California | 4.450 ppmAverage of 127 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 44.5% | Within Limit | 51,428 |
| #37 | Queen Creek | Arizona | 4.441 ppmAverage of 144 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 44.4% | Within Limit | 95,502 |
| #38 | Brighton | Colorado | 4.411 ppmAverage of 38 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 44.1% | Within Limit | 56,304 |
| #39 | Tempe | Arizona | 4.310 ppmAverage of 153 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 43.1% | Within Limit | 165,000 |
| #40 | Hays | Kansas | 4.300 ppmAverage of 15 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 43.0% | Within Limit | 21,040 |
| #41 | Minneola | Florida | 4.264 ppmAverage of 44 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 42.6% | Within Limit | 20,605 |
| #42 | Fontana | California | 4.238 ppmAverage of 993 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 42.4% | Within Limit | 237,700 |
| #43 | Enfield | Connecticut | 4.240 ppmAverage of 90 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 42.4% | Within Limit | 18,544 |
| #44 | Brentwood | California | 4.167 ppmAverage of 5 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 41.7% | Within Limit | 64,513 |
| #45 | Paradise Valley | Arizona | 4.159 ppmAverage of 15 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 41.6% | Within Limit | 14,107 |
| #46 | Lodi | California | 4.072 ppmAverage of 207 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 40.7% | Within Limit | 68,272 |
| #47 | Newark | Delaware | 4.022 ppmAverage of 208 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 40.2% | Within Limit | 40,000 |
| #48 | Pomona | California | 4.003 ppmAverage of 2851 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 40.0% | Within Limit | 151,713 |
| #49 | Allentown | Pennsylvania | 3.991 ppmAverage of 20 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 39.9% | Within Limit | 118,000 |
| #50 | Smyrna | Delaware | 3.887 ppmAverage of 95 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 38.9% | Within Limit | 11,813 |
| #51 | Merced | California | 3.817 ppmAverage of 117 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 38.2% | Within Limit | 93,692 |
| #52 | Gilbert | Arizona | 3.767 ppmAverage of 247 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 37.7% | Within Limit | 247,600 |
| #53 | Baldwin Park | California | 3.773 ppmAverage of 1041 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 37.7% | Within Limit | 68,871 |
| #54 | Kingman | Arizona | 3.757 ppmAverage of 204 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 37.6% | Within Limit | 45,000 |
| #55 | Peoria | Arizona | 3.684 ppmAverage of 302 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 36.8% | Within Limit | 187,676 |
| #56 | Visalia | California | 3.656 ppmAverage of 141 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 36.6% | Within Limit | 148,496 |
| #57 | Vancouver | Washington | 3.639 ppmAverage of 166 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 36.4% | Within Limit | 373,047 |
| #58 | Granite City | Illinois | 3.621 ppmAverage of 8 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 36.2% | Within Limit | 33,572 |
| #59 | Terre Haute | Indiana | 3.578 ppmAverage of 8 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 35.8% | Within Limit | 67,765 |
| #60 | Newton | Kansas | 3.545 ppmAverage of 11 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 35.5% | Within Limit | 18,433 |
| #61 | Corona | California | 3.539 ppmAverage of 4729 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 35.4% | Within Limit | 168,575 |
| #62 | Bullhead City | Arizona | 3.528 ppmAverage of 66 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 35.3% | Within Limit | 36,330 |
| #63 | Glendale | Arizona | 3.482 ppmAverage of 212 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 34.8% | Within Limit | 234,766 |
| #64 | Chino | California | 3.401 ppmAverage of 1971 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 34.0% | Within Limit | 86,435 |
| #65 | Watsonville | California | 3.389 ppmAverage of 144 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 33.9% | Within Limit | 65,231 |
| #66 | Decatur | Illinois | 3.347 ppmAverage of 32 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 33.5% | Within Limit | 76,122 |
| #67 | Chalmette | Louisiana | 3.350 ppmAverage of 2 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 33.5% | Within Limit | 44,783 |
| #68 | Liberal | Kansas | 3.335 ppmAverage of 88 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 33.4% | Within Limit | 19,640 |
| #69 | Rialto | California | 3.314 ppmAverage of 329 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 33.1% | Within Limit | 54,453 |
| #70 | Key West | Florida | 3.111 ppmAverage of 10 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 31.1% | Within Limit | 86,000 |
| #71 | Chandler | Arizona | 3.061 ppmAverage of 425 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 30.6% | Within Limit | 247,328 |
| #72 | Peoria | Illinois | 3.038 ppmAverage of 78 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 30.4% | Within Limit | 137,575 |
| #73 | Irvine | California | 3.013 ppmAverage of 389 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 30.1% | Within Limit | 444,800 |
| #74 | Glendale | California | 2.955 ppmAverage of 1036 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 29.5% | Within Limit | 188,784 |
| #75 | Arcadia | California | 2.936 ppmAverage of 3159 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 29.4% | Within Limit | 51,361 |
| #76 | Bel Air | Maryland | 2.942 ppmAverage of 16 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 29.4% | Within Limit | 13,200 |
| #77 | Oxnard | California | 2.852 ppmAverage of 1676 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 28.5% | Within Limit | 200,232 |
| #78 | Georgetown | Kentucky | 2.844 ppmAverage of 22 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 28.4% | Within Limit | 44,608 |
| #79 | Surprise | Arizona | 2.788 ppmAverage of 128 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.9% | Within Limit | 40,007 |
| #80 | Georgetown | Delaware | 2.759 ppmAverage of 247 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.6% | Within Limit | 7,259 |
| #81 | New Castle | Delaware | 2.746 ppmAverage of 84 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.5% | Within Limit | 5,549 |
| #82 | Los Angeles | California | 2.736 ppmAverage of 9617 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.4% | Within Limit | 3,875,566 |
| #83 | El Mirage | Arizona | 2.731 ppmAverage of 73 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.3% | Within Limit | 39,884 |
| #84 | Garden City | Kansas | 2.726 ppmAverage of 48 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.3% | Within Limit | 35,126 |
| #85 | Quincy | Illinois | 2.712 ppmAverage of 8 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 27.1% | Within Limit | 42,000 |
| #86 | Marana | Arizona | 2.656 ppmAverage of 33 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 26.6% | Within Limit | 15,162 |
| #87 | Chico | California | 2.584 ppmAverage of 123 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 25.8% | Within Limit | 114,925 |
| #88 | Columbus | Ohio | 2.558 ppmAverage of 232 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 25.6% | Within Limit | 1,305,946 |
| #89 | Richmond | Indiana | 2.528 ppmAverage of 24 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 25.3% | Within Limit | 41,485 |
| #90 | Twin Falls | Idaho | 2.513 ppmAverage of 44 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 25.1% | Within Limit | 56,121 |
| #91 | Alhambra | California | 2.477 ppmAverage of 2832 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 24.8% | Within Limit | 79,776 |
| #92 | Bloomington | Illinois | 2.484 ppmAverage of 395 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 24.8% | Within Limit | 77,610 |
| #93 | Waipahu | Hawaii | 2.432 ppmAverage of 178 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 24.3% | Within Limit | 217,479 |
| #94 | Clermont | Florida | 2.403 ppmAverage of 16 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 24.0% | Within Limit | 39,279 |
| #95 | Santa Ana | California | 2.379 ppmAverage of 129 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 23.8% | Within Limit | 310,539 |
| #96 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 2.374 ppmAverage of 294 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 23.7% | Within Limit | 1,600,000 |
| #97 | Wilmington | Delaware | 2.342 ppmAverage of 28 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 23.4% | Within Limit | 107,976 |
| #98 | Citrus Heights | California | 2.343 ppmAverage of 2 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 23.4% | Within Limit | 67,818 |
| #99 | Mesa | Arizona | 2.290 ppmAverage of 260 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 22.9% | Within Limit | 466,000 |
| #100 | Madison | Alabama | 2.290 ppmAverage of 26 samples | 2012–2019 | 10.000 ppm | 22.9% | Within Limit | 54,114 |
Most practical home solution. Point-of-use under-sink systems.
Whole-house or point-of-use. Exchanges nitrate for chloride.
Effective but slow. Good for drinking water only.
Methemoglobinemia occurs when nitrates convert to nitrites in infants, reducing oxygen in blood. Baby's skin turns blue. It's a medical emergency.
Infants under 6 months have different stomach chemistry that allows bacteria to convert nitrate to dangerous nitrite. Adults' stomach acid prevents this.
NO. Boiling INCREASES nitrate concentration by evaporating water. Never boil nitrate-contaminated water for infants.