Nitrate in Drinking Water

Bulletin 744-87

We've been using this water for years and we're OK.

Water can have nitrate levels that are above the EPA standard and still have no obvious effect on your family. This is not surprising for a number of reasons:

1. Methemoglobinemia only affects infants, young monogastrics and ruminant animals.

2. To protect infants, the water quality standard has a small margin of safety.

3. The symptoms of nitrate poisoning might be confused with those of respiratory problems or illnesses such as congenital heart disease. A blood test is needed to confirm the condition.

4. Because of the fluctuations in the levels of nitrate from year to year, a safe water supply may become unsafe.

Remember that nitrates are essential nutrients for plant growth. Only when there is too much nitrate in the sod do they become a problem in water. Routine water testing is important to protect the health of both families and animals. If nitrate levels in a water Supply exceed the present water quality standard, low-nitrate water must be provided for infants to drink. Nitrogen management, the only longterm solution to nitrate contamination, requires consideration of all aspects of nitrogen use. The problem of nitrate contamination is not a simple one, but it must be faced to protect families, animals, and the environment.