Are There Nitrates in Your Well Water?
8/05/2020While there are regulations for municipal water supplies, wells are not regulated as they are typically privately owned. So, it's up to the homeowner to be educated and remain cautious when consuming well water. Nitrate is a common contaminant found in many wells. Too much nitrate in drinking water can cause serious health problems for young infants, pregnant women, and those that have low pH stomach acid. Here's what you need to know.
What is Nitrate?
Nitrate (NO3) is a naturally occurring chemical made of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrate is found in air, soil, water, and plants. Much of the nitrate in our environment comes from decomposition of plants and animal wastes. People also add nitrate to the environment in the form of fertilizers.
How do Nitrates get into Well Water?
Natural levels of nitrate in groundwater are usually quite low (less than 1 milligram per liter [mg/L] of nitrate-nitrogen). However, where sources of nitrate such as fertilizers, animal wastes, or human sewage are concentrated near the ground surface, nitrate may seep down and contaminate the groundwater. Elevated nitrate levels in groundwater are often caused by run-off from barnyards or feedlots, excessive use of fertilizers, or septic systems. Wells most vulnerable to nitrate contamination include shallow wells, dug wells with casing which is not watertight, and wells with damaged, leaking casing or fittings.
How Much Nitrate is too Much?
The federal drinking water standard for nitrate is 10 mg/L of nitrate-nitrogen, which provides newborns with reasonable protection against blue baby syndrome, nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia, and some forms of cancers caused by high levels of nitrate consumption. This level is mandatory for all public water systems, and recommended for private wells.
How Do I Know if there are Nitrates in My Well Water?
Nitrate is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. To find out if there is nitrate in your water, have it tested by a laboratory that is certified for nitrate testing. t's a good idea to have a routine nitrate test every two or three years, more frequently if nitrate has been detected in previous sampling.
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