Water Filtration

It is no secret that there are many different contaminants that can be found in our drinking water. Many of these are well known and include such materials as lead and copper. But there are other types of material that often find their way into water as well, and these are nitrates.

In simple terms, nitrates are forms of nitrogen. As you may know, nitrogen is important for all organic matter, and it can be found in the air, the soil, and in water. In small amounts, nitrogen is useful for all living organisms. But if too much is ingested, especially through water, health problems can occur.

The most vulnerable populace to nitrate overload are babies. When babies are given water-based formula or drinking water that is high in nitrate content health problems can arise. The most common health problem is called methemoglobinema. Many of you will also know this as blue baby syndrome. This occurs when the blood is not able to carry enough oxygen and the baby, in essence, suffocates.

So how prevalent is this problem? The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that as many as 600,000 household have some form of nitrate level that is above the safe drinking water standard of 10 milligram per liter.

Nitrates can be especially prevalent in rural areas and in well water. The reason for this becomes clear once we understand where much of this material comes from.

Rural areas that have been fertilized improperly or excessively over the years will often have high level of nitrates. Inadequate or improper drainage systems for storm water can also lead to higher levels of nitrates in ground water and well water. Of particular importance to some homeowners is the high level of nitrates sometimes found near septic tank systems. This can lead to the material finding its way into the ground water system or well water.

The best way to treat nitrate contamination is through prevention. This might include better maintenance of well water systems, less use of fertilizers, proper storage of manure, and periodic checks for nitrate levels.

The next level of protection is through the use of water filters, often in the form of point of use devices, or in some cases, point of entry water filter systems. The usual water filter treatment devices that are used for nitrate removal include ion exchange resins, water distillation, and reverse osmosis devices.

If you feel your water may be contaminated with nitrates, have it checked by a reputable laboratory. The cost of this test is very reasonable and well worth every cent you spend on it. They can tell you if you have a problem or not and how severe the problem is. If you discover that you have a problem with nitrates in your water, contact a reliable water filter vendor and discuss your needs with a professional.

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Have you ever been told to “eat your vegetables?” Well, this was a phrase that echoed through our house during my childhood. Until recently I had no idea that our main source of nitrate is from vegetables, such as lettuce, carrots and spinach among many others. I do not remember suffering any ill effects from eating my vegetables. So why should we be concerned about nitrates in drinking water?

It is perfectly natural to find low levels of this compound in water. Nevertheless on occasions the levels can rise above the EPA limit of 10 ppm. There are many different sources of nitrates; these can include agricultural run-off, industrial wastewater, animal feed lots and septic tanks.

In fact, even your local municipal park or golf course can be a source of nitrates. It is not usual to find high levels in public water systems. However, private wells are another story. Domestic wells are normally situated in the countryside where it is impossible to obtain the public water supply. Their location must be chosen with great care to keep them away from possible sources of contamination. This can include sewage disposal areas or near livestock facilities.

Nitrates in common with most of the water contamination cannot be detected without specialized testing as it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is highly recommended that any new water supply be tested to ascertain the nitrate levels. It is also advised that annual testing be carried out.

There are certain groups, which are extremely vulnerable to nitrates in drinking water. They include pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and elderly people. The reason since once a person ingests nitrate it is transformed to nitrite in the digestive system. This new compound causes the blood to undergo a transformation. After which it lacks the ability to carry adequate oxygen to the individual body cells.

This deprivation causes the veins and skin to appear blue. This can be fatal in infants under 6 months of age as their natural systems are incompletely developed. The same can happen on the elderly who may have an impaired enzyme system. Nursing mothers should drink only water that contains less than the EPA recommended level of nitrate as it may be passed to the infant in their milk.

It is highly advisable that you are aware of the nitrate levels in your water. There are a few test kits available for measuring the nitrate concentrations. Even so these are not going to be as accurate as samples tested in the laboratory. Of course this testing can work out to be quite expensive.

Nitrates can be removed from drinking water by an ion exchange method. There are water filters available which contain an ion exchange. The installation of this equipment in your household will be your first line of defence against nitrates in drinking water.

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Nitrates in drinking water have at times been blamed for blue baby syndrome, although scientists have cast doubt on what the risk actually is to humans. It is known that high levels in the ocean can cause the death of fish, primarily by increasing algae blooms and suffocating other forms or marine life.

In humans, excessive nitrate intake causes changes in the blood that lead to oxygen depletion in the organs and tissues. The blue baby syndrome mentioned above and the condition in adults is actually called Methemoglobinemia.

Adults, children and infants that produce insufficient stomach acid have an increased risk of Methemoglobinemia. The condition is treatable, assuming it is caught in time.

Increased consumption of green leafy vegetables can cause the problem, because of the nitrate content. Vegetables naturally contain it. It is added to farmland as a fertilizer. It is present in the ground due to the breakdown of human and animal waste.

In areas where there are septic tanks, it seeps into the ground and is present in groundwater. The amount present in lakes fed by groundwater can be high as a result.

Farm runoff is the primary cause of nitrates in drinking water in most areas. Even in an area that seems to be far away from farmland, the public freshwater source could at some point run through the land.

In general, healthy adults are not affected by nitrate intake. But, it does depend on their diet. Too much in the diet combined with too much in their drinking water could create a problem.

People with gallstones or hepatitis, asthma or food allergies are more sensitive to the negative effects of nitrate. When unfiltered tap-water is used to make baby formula, there is an increased risk to the infant, but not only because of the nitrate.

The nitrates in drinking water may be the least of a parent’s concerns. Perchlorate was recently found in dozens of different test sites throughout the US. Yet that compound is not regulated by the EPA. ’s milk and vegetables. It is assumed that the presence in cow’s milk is due to the animals drinking from ponds or streams tainted with the substance.’t have a water filter on your tap, you need one, you really do. Buying bottled water is no solution. The nitrate content of bottle beverages is not regulated. In fact, there are very few regulations concerning bottled brands.

Perchlorate is an element in rocket fuel. Not only was it found in samples of freshwater. It has also been found in cow

The nitrates in drinking water might be a problem to children. If perchlorate is there, it is definitely a problem. It is known to cause developmental delays and can lead to a variety of health problems.

Perchlorate is a VOC. It can be removed with a filter that reduces VOCs. You will need to check the product performance data to be sure that your water filter works to remove them.

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Nitrate, a chemical most commonly used as a fertilizer, poses an immediate threat to infants when it is found in drinking water at levels above the national standard. Nitrates are converted to nitrites in the intestines. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, nitrites prevent hemoglobin from transporting oxygen. (Older children have an enzyme that restores hemoglobin.) Excessive levels can cause “blue baby syndrome,” which can be fatal without immediate medical attention. Infants most at risk for blue baby syndrome are those who are already sick, and while they are sick, consume food that is high in nitrates or drink water or formula mixed with water that is high in nitrates. It is extremely important to avoid using water with high nitrate levels for drinking. This is especially important for infants and young children, nursing mothers, pregnant women and certain elderly people. Also, when you know nitrates are present in your drinking water, Do NOT Boil the water in an attempt to reduce nitrates. Boiling water contaminated with nitrates increases its concentration and potential risks. If you are concerned about nitrates, talk to your health care provider about alternatives to boiling water for baby formula. Using a water filter especially designed to remove nitrates is also recommended. Countertop, under sink and in-line refrigerator filters, both ultrafiltration type and reverse osmosis, will do an excellent job of removing nitrates and other similar contaminants from drinking water.