City of Boulder Storm Water Quality Program
Boulder Creek Watershed
Nitrate + Nitrite Time Series for 2001
Middle Boulder Creek Above North Boulder Creek Confluence

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


Marker Indicates no data available
Marker Indicates data exceeds plot scale.

Information on Nitrate + Nitrite:

Nitrogen occurs in water in various forms, including nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), and ammonia (NH3). Nitrate enters waterways from lawn fertilizer run-off, leaking septic tanks, animal wastes, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills and discharges from car exhausts. The burning of fossil fuels releases NOX compounds into the air that fall as acid rain (HNO3). Nitrates in water can cause severe illness in infants and domestic animals.

Ammonia is the decay product of animal proteins and is sometimes found in wastewater. Through the process of nitrification, ammonia in wastewater is oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate by bacterial or chemical reactions.

More general information about Nitrate + Nitrite
Measurement of Nitrate + Nitrite
Factors affecting Nitrate + Nitrite
Standards regarding Nitrate + Nitrite
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Nitrate + Nitrite data
Data Source: City of Boulder Water Quality Monitoring
Point of Contact: Chris Rudkin
Collection and Analysis notes
Analysis method: 8192 Hach DR 2000 (low range Cd reduction)

Monitoring site information:
BC-aNBC Map
BC-aNBC Photo
  • Location: Middle Boulder Creek Above North Boulder Creek Confluence
  • Name: BC-aNBC
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 24'
  • Latitude: 40 ° N 20'
  • Elevation: 6880 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls

Plot Label Date NO3+NO2
mg/L as N
01 January, 2001 No Data
02 February, 2001 No Data
03 March, 2001 0.50
04 April, 2001 0.52
05 May, 2001 0.90
06 June, 2001 0.10
07 July, 2001 0.70
08 August, 2001 < 0.10*
09 September, 2001 < 0.10*
10 October, 2001 0.21
11 November, 2001 < 0.10*
12 December, 2001 0.50
*value below detection limit:
Detection Limit (if available) 0.1

Preliminary Data - subject to revision

Select on the parameter name to view all Nitrate + Nitrite time series plots on the basin map. Select on the table date to view stream Nitrate + Nitrite profiles observed on that date. Select here to view all parameters at this site.

Return to the BASIN water quality catalog

Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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