NITRATE IN GROUND WATER

NITRATE IN GROUND WATER

This article, written by the American Ground Water Trust was originally published in THE AMERICAN WELL OWNER, 2000, Number 1

NITRATE IN GROUND WATER

Nitrate is found naturally in air and soil and is an essential nutrient for plant and animal growth. Nitrate sources in the environment include the decomposition of plants and animal wastes, human sewage and the application of fertilizer. Nitrate (NO3) is a common constituent of ground water. It is made up of nitrogen and three oxygen atoms. The median level of nitrate in ground water in the U.S. is generally less than 2 parts per million. The recommended maximum level for drinking water is 10 parts per million, more accurately described as milligrams per liter (mg/L). The American Ground Water Trust recommends that you check the level nitrate in your well water. If the level is more than 5ppm, test again in a few months to check if the level is increasing.

The amount of nitrate in ground water is typically related to the land use activities in the upstream watershed or on the land over the aquifer. Nitrate levels are generally highest in agricultural areas or downwind of coal-fired power plants. About 11 million tons of nitrogen is applied annually in the agricultural industry as commercial fertilizer. Another 6.5 million tons of nitrogen is applied each year as manure. Septic systems may also be a source of nitrate in ground water. The level of nitrate in ground water generally decreases with depth below ground, indicating that deeper ground water is somewhat insulated from surface conditions by intervening rock layers and/or that the deeper ground water resource resulted from precipitation that entered the ground before the widespread use of fertilizers.

High concentrations of nitrate may cause a disease know as "blue baby syndrome" or methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder that impairs the ability of the blood supply to carry oxygen throughout the body. It primarily affects infants less than 6 months of age. Most instances of this problem can be traced to babies drinking milk formula mixed in water with very high nitrate levels. The most serious problems often result from dug wells or drilled wells that have casing that is not sealed properly for the first 20 feet down from the surface. It is virtually impossible to keep nitrate contamination out of dug wells.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined an enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for nitrate (reported as nitrogen, N) in public water supplies. This would be equivalent to 44 mg/L of nitrate reported by a laboratory as NO3. (Check how your lab has reported nitrate levels before you rush out and buy conditioning equipment). Private well owners with high nitrate levels should ask their local health departments or their family doctor for advice. The presence of nitrate in ground water may also indicate that there is a potential for other contaminants to be present.

Nitrate levels in ground water are easily treated through ion-exchange, reverse osmosis (RO) or distillation processes to provide safe drinking water. Before choosing a treatment option, a homeowner should explore the benefits of each system. Ion-exchange systems are usually best for "whole-house" systems, but require special resins in contrast to typical "water softener" exchange units to be most efficient. RO systems are very effective, but typical residential systems can treat only a limited volume of water. Distillation is also effective, but has a relatively high operational cost.

[© American Ground Water Trust. This article may be reprinted for non-commercial educational purposes provided it is used in its entirety and that reference is made to its source as an article in THE AMERICAN WELL OWNER, 2000, Number 1]