How to protect yourself from nitrate exposure?

• Private well owners
  • Assess the location of your well, wells found near sources of nitrates may have a greater risk of contamination. Sources include: farm fields, barnyards, feedlots, septic tanks, municipal wastewater treatment systems or “sludge” and manure spreading sites.
  • Ensure your well is up to code with state regulations.
  • Test your well routinely.
  • If nitrate levels exceed the MCL, immediately use alternative water.
• Those serviced by Public Water Systems (PWS)
  • If nitrate levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of nitrates so that they are consistently below that level. The system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. More actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health. This information can be obtained through annual Consumer Confidence Reports.