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NITRATE IN WELL WATER AND WHAT TO <br /> DO ABOUT IT <br /> If You Use Private Well Water, Have Your <br /> Water Tested <br /> Public water systems are tested to insure that they <br /> conform to certain drinking water standards, but <br /> there are no requirements about the testing of pri- <br /> vate wells.It is especially critical that you have your <br /> water tested if you have an infant,or someone who <br /> is planning to become pregnant,in your household. <br /> In any case, it's a good idea to have your water <br /> tested at least once a year, between April and July <br /> when nitrate and nitrite levels are typically the <br /> highest. In addition, it is also important to have <br /> your well tested once a year for bacteria. If there <br /> are changes in the taste,odor or appearance of the <br /> water, it should be tested as soon as possible. <br /> If your water comes from a private well and you do not know if there are elevated levels <br /> of nitrate and nitrite in the water,your local county environmental health department <br /> will be able to refer you to a certified laboratory that can test your water for the levels of <br /> nitrate and nitrite. These tests cost approximately $50. The environmental health de- <br /> partment should also have information about the typical levels of nitrate in the ground- <br /> water in the area where you live. <br /> How Much Nitrate is Allowed in <br /> Drinking Water? <br /> The federal and state governments have set stan- <br /> dards for drinking water. These standards, called <br /> "Maximum Contaminant Levels" (MCLS), define <br /> levels of certain chemicals that are allowed in the <br /> drinking water and are not expected to cause any <br /> - harmful health effects to humans. The standards <br /> .. -- for nitrate and nitrite have been set at levels which <br /> should not cause methemoglobinemia in infants. <br /> What Do Well Water Test Results Mean? <br /> If you decide to have your water tested, the re- <br /> sults could be confusing because they can be presented in several different ways. The <br /> level of nitrate or nitrite in water can be reported in two different units of measurement: <br /> milligrams of nitrate per liter of water (mg/L) or parts of nitrate per million parts of water <br /> (ppm). Nitrate can also be reported as "nitrate as nitrogen" and nitrite can be reported <br />