How to Test for Nitrate and Nitrite in Well Water – Causes, Risks, and Solutions
Are you concerned about nitrate or nitrite in your well water? These contaminants can enter your water supply through sources like agricultural runoff, fertilizers, and septic systems, posing serious health risks—especially for infants and pregnant women. In this article, we’ll explore where nitrate and nitrite come from, the potential dangers they present, and how you can protect your family by testing your well water with an EPA-certified water test kit.
Where does Nitrate and Nitrite come from?
Nitrate levels in your water can come from several sources. These include groundwater contamination from animal waste run off from farms, fertilizers, or seepage from septic systems. Microorganisms from these sources will change the Nitrate into Nitrite.
Effects of Nitrite
When Nitrite enters the body, it causes hemoglobin in the blood to change into methemoglobin. Methemoglobin reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry, resulting in cells being deprived of oxygen. This condition is called methemoglobinemia.
Who’s most at risk due to high Nitrate/ Nitrite levels?
The two groups at risk due to elevated levels of Nitrate/Nitrite in well water are Infants and pregnant women. Infants have low levels of acidity in their stomachs, which allow more bacteria to grow that can convert Nitrate to Nitrite, causing methemoglobin. This is often called “blue baby syndrome.”
In pregnant women, their methemoglobin levels can be naturally elevated, so additional Nitrate/Nitrite levels in their well water can be dangerous.
How can you detect Nitrate/Nitrite in your well water?
Unfortunately, you cannot see, taste, or smell Nitrate or Nitrite in your drinking water. Symptoms may not be as obvious as something like bacteria where you could experience immediate digestive discomfort.
The only way to detect Nitrate or Nitrite is by getting your water tested.
For most people who want to get their well water tested for Nitrate or Nitrite, the Premium Drinking Water Test Kit is the best option. This kit for Nitrate and Nitrite, and 50 other important parameters. Safe Home has an EPA-certified lab where our chemist will run your tests and provide you with results quickly.
If you live near farmland or near industrial run-off, it is especially important to test your well water for Nitrate/Nitrite with the Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit. This kit tests for everything included in the Premium Drinking Water Test Kit, as well as Pesticides and Herbicides that could have entered your well water.
Pesticides and Herbicides should always be tested for by a certified laboratory, and it’s easier and more affordable to have them tested at the same time as Nitrate/Nitrite.
When to test your well for Nitrate and Nitrite
The recommended times for testing nitrate levels in well water are when you have an infant at home or if anyone is planning to become pregnant. Even without these high-risk groups, it’s important to know how often to test your well for nitrate/nitrite.
You should test your water at least once a year. If you are specifically concerned about Nitrate and Nitrite, testing between April and July is ideal, since that’s when the levels will be the highest. Giving you the best chance to detect elevated levels.
If you have any questions about testing your private well for Nitrate and Nitrite, feel free to contact us at: https://safehometestkits.com/contact/
We’d be happy to help you answer any questions you may have.
What are dangerous levels of Nitrate and Nitrite?
When looking at a water test report, Nitrate and Nitrite can be reported several ways. The important thing to understand is the “MCL” meaning Maximum Contaminant Level. If Nitrate or Nitrite is below the EPA MCL, it is considered safe to drink by the EPA. This chart outlines the different ways that it may be reported and safe nitrate levels in well water.
What to do short term if Nitrate and Nitrite are too high?
If your Nitrate and Nitrite numbers are too high, the most immediate action to take is use bottled water for drinking and food preparation. You should use bottled water for anything where you might ingest the water, such as brushing your teeth. You can still use your water for bathing and showering.
It is important to not use water high in Nitrate or Nitrite when making infant formula. Use distilled water for this purpose until you are sure that your well water is safe.
While many contaminants can be treated by boiling, Nitrate and Nitrite cannot. Boiling will increase their concentration, making the water less suitable for drinking.
Long Term solutions for high Nitrate and Nitrite Levels in Well Water
If your Nitrate and Nitrite levels are elevated, there are a few strategies for long-term nitrate/nitrite removal from your well water. The first is to install a filter either at the wellhead or tap. Make sure the filter is rated to remove Nitrate and Nitrite before installing it.
You should also have a licensed well contractor to inspect your well for damage. If your well has elevated Nitrate and Nitrite it may due to damage that is allowing other dangerous contaminants to enter your well.
Another option is to talk to your county’s health department about getting connected to the public water system.
If your Nitrate and Nitrite levels are ever high, you should continue to test at least yearly. Even if you have an installed filtration system, it’s important to ensure the filter is working and that your levels remain below the MCLs.
