Why nitrate?

Nitrate is an essential element of life and is found in almost every living thing.  Nitrate can enter the soil through fertilizers and through human and animal wastes.  When nitrate reaches ground water, the source of nearly 80% of the drinking water for the Columbia Basin residents, excessive nitrate can be harmful to infants and some adults.

Nitrate is considered an acute contaminant, because short-term exposure to levels above the maximum federal groundwater contaminant level of 10 ppm can cause an illness known as Methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder in some sensitive individuals such as infants of six months of age or younger and some older adults.  These individuals are at a greater risk because they have lower stomach acidity, a higher proportion of fetal hemoglobin, a high liquid diet per body weight and higher than normal incidences of physical symptoms that lower stomach acidity.  Infants under one year of age should not drink water with nitrate levels exceeding the drinking water standards.

If your drinking water comes from a private well instead of a public water system, it is suggested that you have your water tested for nitrate on a regular basis.  You may have your water tested at a local laboratory or contact your local health department for information on where to obtain testing.