How to Test for Nitrates in Drinking Water

It is easy to test for nitrates in drinking water when you know how to do it. Although you could gather a sample and send it to a lab, it can be just as accurate and easy to do it at home. With the proper tools anyone can test for nitrates in drinking water and ensure that the water in any home is safe and clean. It is crucial for homeowners on a well system to test for nitrates in drinking water in all wells on the property.

Things You'll Need

• Clean, 14 oz. container
• Nitrate test strips
• Tap water

Instructions

1. Run cold tap water for three minutes prior to collecting a sample in the clean container.

2. Use the clean container to catch a sample of cold water as the tap water runs. Use the coldest water available from the tap.

3. Dip your nitrate test strip in the water immediately and remove as soon as saturated.

4. Gently shake off excess water. Read your test strip according to manufacturer instructions after one minute. In general, a reading over 10 ppm of nitrate chemical compound is considered unacceptable. The test strip will have a color-coded guide that is easy to read and correlates to the ppm (parts per million) reading.

5. Test water annually that is on the borderline of being high. Normal water results can be tested every three years.

Tips & Warnings

• To test water through a lab contact your state department of ecology. Many states have walk-in clinics to test water safety. Other states require a fee for testing.

• Do not drink nitrate contaminated water in any form. Nitrates are not dispelled through heating or any other process. Never mix baby formula from nitrate contaminated water as this could result in death.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Water Testing Kit