Nitrates In Our Drinking Water

            For many years, people have benefitted from nitrates. These substances have been used as lawn and garden fertilizers which provide grasses and shrubs with nutrients necessary for life. Despite this benefit, nitrates have accumulated in the soil and leached through the wells. As a result, possible toxicities ensue. Authorities have expected the penetration of nitrates in our water to shallow wells. However, even the deep wells have already been heavily affected. This finding just shows that nitrate in soil have gone so massive to the point of reaching deeper grounds.

            The greater danger comes when the depleted or old wells are not filled or dumped with concrete. The result is an excessive reservoir for run-off ground water. When these old wells fill with surface water, toxic substances from pesticides or agricultural chemicals can get concentrated. Since the well is an underground source of water, the already contaminated water may seep through the soil and reach clean and potable sources of water. This leads to potential water poisoning since the nitrate levels reach toxic levels.

            The detrimental effect of nitrates in our water is fatal. Since nitrates can get to the body through water, absorption by the circulatory system is fast. Thus, penetration to the different cells is very easy and seldom irreversible. In a research project, it was found that nitrates can seriously impair the blood’s ability to transport oxygen. When not controlled, the cells in the body will not be able to do their different life functions. The most dangerous part is when oxygen supply to the brain gets cut off by as little as six minutes. Irreversible brain damage can occur which can lead to paralysis or the inability of the breathing muscles to perform its vital function. The internal mechanism is in the combination of nitrate with hemoglobin, the blood’s oxygen carrier. The nitrate will bind strongly to the hemoglobin and prevent oxygen from going to cells.

            To prevent this from happening, water can be tested by the County Health Department or an Environmental Protection Agency certified laboratory. If water has been detected, point of use water treatment equipment must be used to lower the nitrate levels into an acceptable range. In some local municipalities, a split stream arrangement is conducted. In this set-up, water is drawn-off and an anionic nitrate removal process is done. This water is mixed with the untreated water in order to induce dilution.

            Nitrates in our water may be normal, but it must never reach toxic levels to prevent the detrimental effect from happening.