Nitrates and their Removal from Water
Nitrates and their Removal from Water
Introduction
Nitrates are necessary for plant growth and are extracted from the soil by plant roots to form complex proteins needed for it's development. Plants can use Nitrogen, which is abundant in the air, however, their main source is nitrates (a soluble compound of oxygen and nitrogen) that is naturally found in the soil, that is actually created from decaying plants and organisms.
As time has developed intensive farming has become more and more common - to feed an increasing population and to deliver the maximum return of investment in a highly competitive market. Many farmers use special strains of crop that are designed to be quick growing, resistant to the climate of the location, and produce the greatest yield. However, these crops, in order to reach their full potentital as soon as possible, require fertilizers to be added. That's not all. As these crops are the livelihood of many agricultral workers, chemicals called pesticides are also used to kill off and prevent infestation from bugs.
What are fertilizers?
Fertilizers are usually manufactured chemical compounds that contain nitrogen and oxygen i.e. Nitrates. These are applied by spraying (by air or land) and are absorbed into the soil. The plants then make use of this nitrate and growing time is greatly improved. As consumers we can see the effecs of fertilization in terms of lower prices and increased product availability, however, many people do not realise the potential problems that this process causes. Plants, whilst incredibly efficient, never absorb all of the nitrate from the soil. In some cases, a large amount of nitrate may remain, where the fields were 'over-treated' initially. As nitrates are soluble in water, they can easily be washed from fields into neraby rivers, or soak downwards through to other supplies, such as boreholes.
It is worth noting that nitrates are also produced from organic farming, although the levels are usually thought to be lower, and they are derived from natural processes such as tilling crops or green manure into the soil prior to planting.
What are pesticides?
Pesticides can vary greatly depending on their intendend function, and whilst many are generally short-lived (after application), they are initially highly toxic. These products can contain a wide range of chemicals and or natural substances, of which there are too many to go into detail. However, whilst much research has been done with regard to their effectiveness, much more is required in terms of their after-effects. Potientially their is scope for by products of chemicals to be produced, and in the past many pesticides have been banned from use after a period of time, as the effects became more apparent.
What are the health risks?
There is some evidence to suggest that mothers living in area's of high nitrates (i.e. agricultral area's) may be at a higher risk of developing problems during pregnancy or have children with birth defects, due to consumption of nitrate through water supplies. High levels of nitrate in a babies diet once born, are known to cause a condition calledmethaemoglobinaemia or blue baby syndrome. This is potentially a very dangerous blood disorder, and whilst no known cases have been recorded in the UK for some time, it is a risk that has been attributed to use and overuse of fertilizers.
It has also come to our attention from many customers that nitrates may be related toallergy induced autism or AiA. In these cases some customers wish to remove all nitrate from their domestic supply (i.e. that used for washing, bathing etc) as opposed to just drinking water, in which case we can supply larger systems to suit. If you are looking for more information on AiA please visit www.autismmedical.com/welcome.htm
Finally excess nitrates in drinking water have been linked in some studies to cancer, however, these links have mainly only been proved in laboratories, and only on animals. People suffering from cancer are advised to cut down on nitrate ingestion in their diets, including certain preserved meats, fruits/vegetables and drinking water.
Who is at risk?
People living mainly in agricultral area's where contamination from fertilizers is common-place. However, it should be noted that nitrogen is naturally present in all water supplies as part of the nitrogen cycle.
What about my aquarium?
It is a fact that excess nitrates in water supplies can be a problem to aquariums of all types. Nitrates are generated within the tank itself as part of the nitrogen cycle - Dead animals, bacteria and decaying food all release nitrogen into the water, which must be carefully balanced to prevent harm to the fish. Therefore some owners feel it necessary to minimise the initial amount of nitrate by fitering their water first. Green and/or Blue Algae are a common indicator that your fish tank may have a nitrate problem, and testing is heavily recommended to check the levels (kits available from most aquatics suppliers).
You can get an Aquarium Reverse Osmosis System for your aquarium and a Black Box Pond Weed Controller (£39.95) for you pond.
How do I remove nitrates from drinking water?
Our No10 Twin system is a plumbed in water filter that has two housings. The first contains a general purpose filter that remove chlorine, heavy metals etc, and the second has a special nitrate reduction cartridge. This system, whilst greatly reducing nitrates, does not remove them entirely. The life of the nitrate cartridge is also dependent on the amount of nitrate in the water (typical 3 to 6 month life).
Pozzani also manufacture reverse osmosis systems. Reverse osmosis is a method of producing very pure water by passing standard tap water through a filter and then a special membrane. This membrane allows water particles through but not those of larger pollutants. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a gauranteed way to make virtually pure water, and reduces the level of nitrates by 95%+
