In an agricultural state like Iowa, nitrate can enter water from several sources, including fertilizer, manure, septic systems, and other organic matter.

Why Are Nitrates an Important Issue in Iowa?

Agriculture is a major part of Iowa’s economy and identity. Our productive soils and extensive corn and livestock production also mean that large amounts of nitrogen are part of our environment.

As water moves through the soil, nitrate is highly soluble and can travel with it into groundwater. This can be particularly important for homeowners using private wells, especially shallower wells and wells located in areas more susceptible to surface contamination.

Municipal water systems and private wells are also very different from a homeowner’s perspective. Public water supplies are routinely monitored and must comply with drinking-water regulations. With a private well, the homeowner is responsible for making sure the water is tested.

That distinction is important.

If your family gets its drinking water from a private well, you shouldn’t assume that clear, good-tasting water means nitrate isn’t present. Laboratory testing is the only reliable way to know.

How Much Nitrate Is Too Much?

The federal drinking-water standard for nitrate is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L), measured as nitrogen.

Infants under six months are particularly vulnerable to high nitrate concentrations. In the body, nitrate can be converted to nitrite, which can interfere with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. This can lead to a serious condition commonly called “blue baby syndrome,” or methemoglobinemia.

Researchers are also continuing to study possible associations between long-term nitrate exposure and other health outcomes. As that research develops, it is important to discuss nitrate accurately and responsibly.

Nitrate is something Iowa homeowners should take seriously, without creating unnecessary fear.

Should Iowa Homeowners Test Their Water?

If you’re on a private well, absolutely.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends testing private wells at least once each year for nitrate and bacteria. Additional testing may be appropriate depending on the well’s depth, construction, surrounding land use, previous results, flooding, nearby contamination, or changes in water quality.

I encourage homeowners to think of water testing as information rather than something to be afraid of.

You can’t make a good treatment decision until you know what’s actually in the water.

Iowa also has resources available to help private well owners with testing, including programs administered through participating county health departments and certified drinking water laboratories.

Can Nitrates Be Removed From Drinking Water?

Yes.

When nitrate is present at an undesirable level, the treatment solution needs to be designed specifically for nitrate reduction. One of the most common technologies used for drinking-water treatment is reverse osmosis (RO).

Reverse osmosis can significantly reduce nitrate, but that isn’t its only benefit.

A properly designed RO system can also reduce a wide range of other dissolved contaminants and substances that may be present in drinking water, including certain metals, salts, minerals, and other dissolved solids. Depending on the system and its certifications, RO may also reduce contaminants such as lead, arsenic, fluoride, and other substances of concern.

For many Iowa families, that makes RO about more than solving one specific water problem. It can provide a dedicated source of high-quality drinking water for drinking, cooking, making coffee, filling reusable water bottles, making ice, and preparing food.

It is important to understand that not every water treatment system removes nitrate, and not every reverse osmosis system has the same performance or certifications. A standard sediment filter, carbon filter, or conventional water softener should not automatically be assumed to solve a nitrate problem.

That’s why I always come back to the same principle:

Test first, then treat the water based on what you actually find.

When properly selected and maintained, reverse osmosis can provide homeowners with benefits that go well beyond nitrate reduction—giving families greater confidence in the quality of the water they drink every day.

Testing Comes Before Treatment

One of the principles I’ve learned during my years in the water-treatment industry is simple:

Don’t guess about your water. Test it.

Two homes only a few miles apart can have very different water. A municipal-water customer may have completely different concerns than someone using a private well. Even neighboring wells can produce different test results.

A professional water evaluation should begin with understanding the water source and identifying the specific problems you’re trying to solve. From there, treatment can be designed around the actual water conditions rather than assumptions.

The Bottom Line for Iowa Homeowners

Nitrate isn’t a reason to panic, but it is a reason to pay attention.

If your home is served by a public water system, nitrate is already part of the regulated testing performed by your water supplier. If you have a private well, responsibility for testing falls largely on you.

Have your water tested regularly. Know your nitrate level. And if nitrate is elevated, work with qualified professionals to determine the appropriate treatment.

Clean drinking water starts with knowing what’s actually in it.

About Brook Haas

Brook Haas is the owner of BrightWater Kinetico in Central Iowa and has more than 16 years of experience in the water-treatment industry. He works with homeowners, businesses, builders, and community organizations to better understand local water-quality challenges and identify appropriate treatment solutions.

Suggested website resources:
Iowa Department of Natural Resources — Private Well Program
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services — Nitrate & Drinking Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Nitrate in Drinking Water