Nitrates in water are a growing concern to many consumers, especially those with individual wells or located in proximity to farming activities. Although naturally present in the environment, high concentrations of nitrates in water can be particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women. However, due to advancements in filtration process technologies, nitrate removal from water using filters is no longer a major concern for consumers.
This blog will describe what nitrates are, their importance and how to choose the best water filter for nitrates for your home.
What Are Nitrates in Water?
Nitrates are nitrogen and oxygen-based compounds widely known as plant nutrients. Nitrates are found in nature in large quantities (e.g., soil) and play a major role in supporting healthy plant growth and development. On the flip side, when agricultural excesses (e.g., fertilisers, livestock manure, and sewage) contaminate agricultural groundwater sources, such as private wells, nitrates in water can rise to unsafe levels.
Nitrates do not possess any detectable colouration, flavour, or odour, making it extremely difficult for many consumers to identify the danger of high levels of nitrate in their drinking water until laboratory analysis reveals it.
Why Are Nitrates in Drinking Water a Problem?
Nitrate levels that are too high can impair the blood's ability to transport oxygen. This condition (known as "blue baby syndrome") poses the greatest risk to infants (those under six months). Chronic exposure can also lead to long-term effects, including headache and hypertension, as well as other health concerns.
According to the EPA, there should be no more than 10 mg/L (ppm) of nitrates in drinking water. Exceeding this value requires immediate action to be taken.
Do Water Filters Remove Nitrates in Water?
A frequently asked question is: Do water filters remove nitrates in water?
The response is, "Some do, and many do not."
Typical sediment and/or carbon filters will not remove nitrates from water, and therefore, one must utilise advanced filtration equipment/technology that was developed specifically for the removal of dissolved pollutants to successfully reduce nitrate levels.
How to Choose the Best Water Filter for Nitrates
The water quality you have and the needs of your household will dictate what kind of system you need. Here’s what Phoenix Gravity Water Filters recommends:
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Testing your water first is the best way to determine your nitrate levels.
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Use the right filtration system to filter out the targets you want to remove from your water. Not every filter removes nitrate.
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Look for filters designed to remove specific contaminants from our drinking water. We recommend tested, certified products. These filters are of higher quality.
How to Reduce Nitrates in Water Long-Term
There are other ways to reduce nitrates in water in addition to installing a filter system.
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Avoid using fertilisers near your well (this applies to both residential and commercial users of septic systems for human waste)
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Inspect and maintain the septic systems regularly
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Test your well water annually.
Prevention and installation of a reliable filtration system offer the best possible outcome in reducing the nitrate level in our drinking water.
Final Thoughts
Nitrates in water are invisible but potentially harmful. If you have a suitable filtration method designed to effectively filter out nitrates, you can be sure your drinking water is safe.
At Phoenix Gravity, we are committed to providing our customers with easy-to-use products that are dependable and tailored to their individual water quality requirements. If you need assistance choosing the best product for your home to help eliminate the harmful effects of nitrates from your water, contact us for a free consultation with our trained experts.
Clean water should not be considered a luxury, but rather an essential requirement for all human beings. Phoenix Gravity Water Filters is committed to helping customers ensure that they have access to a safe water supply.
FAQs: Nitrates and Water Filtration
1. How effective is the Phoenix Gravity filter at removing nitrates from water?
The effectiveness of the Phoenix Gravity filter in nitrate-removing capacities from water is remarkable, with a 99.0% rate of success. On the classification spectrum, it comes under "Inorganic Non-Metallic Contaminants" and can successfully remove 99.9% of nitrites. This has been tested by independent laboratory tests, carried out under controlled circumstances in accordance with NSF/ANSI standard guidelines
2. How can I test for nitrates in water?
The most reliable method of determining whether or not there are nitrates in your drinking water is through a water sample tested by a certified laboratory.
3. How to reduce nitrates in water for well owners?
The best ways to lower nitrates are by regularly testing the water, having properly located wells, and installing water filters.