Nitrate Water Test

What is it?

Nitrates are inorganic nonmetal compounds that form naturally when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. Nitrates have many uses from fertilizers to food preservatives. In drinking water, nitrate may be an indicator of nearby agricultural or septic tank contamination. Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking can pose a particular health risk to infants.

Where does it come from?

Nitrate is naturally occurring and often present in drinking water at levels that do not affect health. Nitrate can contaminate both ground and surface water, though concentrations are generally higher in well water. Sources of nitrate include agricultural runoff (chemical fertilizers and animal waste), industrial waste, sewage and septic systems, and the erosion of natural deposits.

How does it affect me?

Nitrate levels that exceed EPA drinking water limits can change the ability of blood to adequately carry oxygen through the body—a health risk to infants and pregnant women. Infants are particularly susceptible to these effects, which cause an acute illness known as “blue baby syndrome” with symptoms including shortness of breath and bluish skin that develop rapidly over the span of a few days and may cause death if left untreated. There is limited and uncertain evidence that nitrate may cause some gastrointestinal cancers as well as thyroid dysfunction, developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans.