Basin Water, Inc

What is Nitrate?

Nitrates are ionic substances widely found in the environment as byproducts of fertilizers, septic systems and groundwater recharge and can migrate easily into drinking water supplies. Once ingested, nitrates are converted into nitrites, which react chemically within the digestive and circulatory systems and have been linked to a number of cancers, diseases and methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby syndrome."

Nitrate, which has been detected in concentrations exceeding its MCL in over 1,000 groundwater sources in California, ranks second to only arsenic in terms of non-compliant detections in that state. Nitrate is recognized by the USGS as one of the most widespread contaminants of shallow groundwater across the United States, particularly in agricultural areas.

According to a recent National Water Quality Assessment survey completed by the USGS, more than 8,200 groundwater wells were found to be contaminated with nitrate levels exceeding the EPA MCL of 10 ppm. In terms of population affected by nitrate contamination, the United States Department of Health and Human Services currently estimates that 1% to 2% of the United States population, or approximately 3.0 million to 6.0 million people, may be consuming drinking water from the public water system with nitrate levels exceeding the current EPA MCL.

Nitrate is composed of one atom of nitrogen (N) and three atoms of oxygen (O); the chemical symbol for nitrate is NO3. Nitrate is colorless and odorless, making it very difficult to detect without proper testing.

> Next Page: The Dangers of Arsenic


Nitrate
Nitrate Information Page 1 Nitrate Customers Page 2 What is Nitrate? Page 3 Dangers of Nitrate Page 4 Theory Behind Ion Exchange Page 5 Advantages of Ion Exchange Page 6 The Basin Water System Other Contaminants What is Nitrate? > Next Page Nitrates are ionic substances widely found in the environment as byproducts of fertilizers, septic systems and groundwater recharge and can migrate easily into drinking water supplies. Once ingested, nitrates are converted into nitrites, which react chemically within the digestive and circulatory systems and have been linked to a number of cancers, diseases and methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby syndrome." Nitrate, which has been detected in concentrations exceeding its MCL in over 1,000 groundwater sources in California, ranks second to only arsenic in terms of non-compliant detections in that state. Nitrate is recognized by the USGS as one of the most widespread contaminants of shallow groundwater across the United States, particularly in agricultural areas. According to a recent National Water Quality Assessment survey completed by the USGS, more than 8,200 groundwater wells were found to be contaminated with nitrate levels exceeding the EPA MCL of 10 ppm. In terms of population affected by nitrate contamination, the United States Department of Health and Human Services currently estimates that 1% to 2% of the United States population, or approximately 3.0 million to 6.0 million people, may be consuming drinking water from the public water system with nitrate levels exceeding the current EPA MCL. Nitrate is composed of one atom of nitrogen (N) and three atoms of oxygen (O); the chemical symbol for nitrate is NO3. Nitrate is colorless and odorless, making it very difficult to detect without proper testing. > Next Page: The Dangers of Arsenic
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