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Page 4
<br />Centerville Bulletin
<br />surface water to enter the well. Repair-
<br />has suggested that nitrate may also play a
<br />Nitrate in Well Water
<br />ing the well or constructing a new,
<br />role in the development of some cancers.
<br />deeper well often results in a signifi-
<br />Nitrate is a common contaminant found in
<br />However, at this time there is no clear evi-
<br />cant reduction in the nitrate level. To
<br />many wells in Minnesota. Too much nitrate in
<br />dence that nitrate ingestion results in an
<br />find a licensed well contractor, look in
<br />drinking water can cause serious health prob-
<br />increased cancer risk.
<br />the Yellow Pages under “Well Drilling
<br />lems for young infants.
<br />and Service” or visit MDH website at:
<br />How much nitrate is too much?
<br />www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/
<br />What is nitrate?
<br />The federal drinking water standard for
<br />wells/lwc.
<br />Nitrate (NO) is a naturally occurring chemical
<br />3
<br />nitrate is 10 mg/L of nitrate-nitrogen, which
<br />made of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrate is found 4. Identify and remove sources of nitrate
<br />provides newborns with reasonable protec-
<br />in air, soil, water, and plants. Much of the near the well. Fertilizers, animal
<br />tion against blue baby syndrome. This level
<br />nitrate in our environment comes from decom-wastes, and sewage systems should be
<br />is mandatory for all public water systems,
<br />position of plants and animal wastes. People located and managed so that they do
<br />and recommended for private wells.
<br />also add nitrate to the environment in the form not contaminate the well. If a nitrate
<br />How do I know if my well water has nitrate?
<br />source is too close to the well and can-
<br />of fertilizers.
<br />not be moved, then you may need to
<br />Nitrate is tasteless, odorless, and colorless.
<br />How does nitrate get into well water?
<br />consider having the well permanently
<br />To find out if there is nitrate in your water,
<br />sealed and replaced by a licensed well
<br />Natural levels of nitrate in Minnesota ground-
<br />have it tested by a laboratory that is certi-
<br />contractor.
<br />water are usually quite low (less than 1 milli-
<br />fied for nitrate testing by Minnesota Depart-
<br />gram per liter \[mg/L\] of nitrate-nitrogen). How-
<br />ment of Health (MDH). Laboratories will
<br />What about a water treatment unit?
<br />ever, where sources of nitrate such as fertiliz-
<br />provide sampling bottles and instructions.
<br />ers, animal wastes, or human sewage are Home water treatment units are not recom-
<br />Contact your local health department, find a
<br />concentrated near the ground surface, nitrate mended for treating high nitrate water
<br />certified lab on MDH website at:
<br />may seep down and contaminate the ground-which will be given to infants. There is no
<br />www.health.state.mn.us/labsearch or look
<br />water. Elevated nitrate levels in groundwater foolproof way of knowing when the treat-
<br />in the Yellow Pages under “Laboratories—
<br />are often caused by runoff from barnyards or ment system may fail, and blue baby syn-
<br />Testing” or “Water Analysis” for a certified
<br />feedlots, excessive use of fertilizers, or septic drome has been known to occur after just
<br />laboratory serving your area.
<br />systems. one day of exposure to high nitrate water.
<br />How often should I have my well tested for
<br />Wells most vulnerable to nitrate contamination Should I test my well for anything other
<br />nitrate?
<br />include shallow wells, dug wells with casing
<br />than nitrate?
<br />It’s a good idea to have a routine nitrate test
<br />which is not watertight, and wells with dam-
<br />Yes. Private wells should be tested at least
<br />every two or three years, more frequently if
<br />aged, leaking casing or fittings.
<br />once a year for bacterial safety. It is also
<br />nitrate has been detected in previous sam-
<br />Nitrate contamination of a well is often regard-
<br />wise to test well water for bacteria any time
<br />ples. State regulations require well contrac-
<br />ed as a first sign of deteriorating groundwater the water changes in taste, order, or ap-
<br />tors to have a water sample tested for bac-
<br />pearance. A brochure on Bacterial Safety of
<br />quality.
<br />teria and nitrate when they construct a new
<br />Well Water is available from MDH.
<br />well. After that, owners of private wells
<br />What are the health risks of nitrate in well
<br />must arrange for their own water testing.
<br />In addition, water can absorb lead from old
<br />water?
<br />lead pipes, lead-soldered copper pipes, or
<br />You should also have your water tested for
<br />Too much nitrate in drinking water poses a risk
<br />brass plumbing components, when the wa-
<br />nitrate if you are a woman planning on be-
<br />to infants under six months of age. If an infant
<br />ter stands idle in the pipes for more than a
<br />coming pregnant or if infants will be using
<br />is fed water or formula made with water that is
<br />few hours. If is recommended to either
<br />the water.
<br />high in nitrate, a condition called “blue baby
<br />flush standing water until you feel the water
<br />syndrome” (or “methemoglobinemia”) can
<br />What if nitrate is found in my water?
<br />get colder (usually 30-60 seconds), or have
<br />develop. Bacteria which are present in an
<br />your water tested for lead after it has been
<br />1. If the nitrate-nitrogen concentration
<br />infant’s stomach can convert nitrate to nitrite
<br />standing in the pipes at least six hours.
<br />exceeds the health limit of 10 mg/L, do
<br />(NO), a chemical which can interfere with the
<br />2
<br />Also, never use water from hot water fau-
<br />not give the water to any infant under
<br />ability of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen. As
<br />cets for drinking or cooking. A brochure,
<br />six months of age, either directly or in
<br />the condition worsens, the baby’s skin turns a
<br />Lead in Well Water Systems, is available
<br />formula. Infants should be provided
<br />bluish color, particularly around the eyes and
<br />from MDH.
<br />with water from a source which has
<br />mouth. If nitrate levels in the water are high
<br />been tested and shown to be low in
<br />enough and prompt medical attention is not Arsenic occurs naturally in about half the
<br />nitrate and bacterially safe. Commer-
<br />wells in Minnesota, and about 10 percent of
<br />received, death can result.
<br />cially bottled water is required to meet
<br />wells produce water which exceeds 10 mi-
<br />Why are young infants more susceptible?
<br />the nitrate standard, and can be given
<br />crograms per liter (parts per billion), the
<br />to infants.
<br />federal drinking water standard. Arsenic is
<br />As an infant ages, its stomach acidity increas-
<br />more prevalent in wester Minnesota, but
<br />es, reducing the numbers of nitrite-producing
<br />2. Do not boil to “treat” high nitrate water.
<br />can occur almost anywhere in the state.
<br />bacteria. After six months, the conversion of
<br />Nitrate is not removed from the water
<br />nitrate to nitrite in the stomach no longer oc-
<br />by boiling. Boiling actually concen-
<br />Long-term consumption of arsenic above
<br />curs. Most adults can consume large amounts
<br />trates the nitrate, due to evaporation of
<br />the drinking water standard may increase
<br />of nitrate with no ill effects. In fact, the aver-
<br />the water.
<br />the risk of health problems of the skin, cir-
<br />age adult in the United States consumes
<br />culatory system, nervous system, lungs, and
<br />3. Have your well inspected. It is a good
<br />about 20-25 milligrams of nitrate-nitrogen
<br />bladder, including some forms of cancer.
<br />idea to have your well inspected by a
<br />every day in food, largely from vegetables.
<br />Every private well should be tested at least
<br />licensed well contractor if the well is
<br />once or twice to determine if arsenic is pre-
<br />Pregnant women, people with reduced stom-
<br />old, or you do not know if it is structur-
<br />sent in the water. A brochure, Arsenic in
<br />ach acidity, and people with certain blood dis-
<br />ally sound. Nitrate and bacteria prob-
<br />Minnesota’s Well Water, is available from
<br />orders may also be susceptible to nitrate-
<br />lems are sometimes caused by struc-
<br />MDH.
<br />induced methemoglobinemia. Some research
<br />tural flaws which allow contaminated
<br />Please contact the Minnesota Department of Health for More
<br />Information at (651) 201-4600
<br />
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