LaMotte Nitrate-Nitrogen Enzyme Reduction Test Kit - Manual

Ni trate-Ni tro gen En zyme
Re duc tion Test Kit
More About Ni trate Testing
Code 8137-LP
Ni trate in Na ture
Nitrogen occurs in natural waters as nitrate (NO
3
), nitrite (NO
2
), ammonia
(NH
3
) and organically bound nitrogen. Nitrate test results are expressed as
“nitrate-nitrogen” (NO
3
-N), meaning “nitrogen that is in the form of
nitrate”. Nitrate is a nutrient needed by all aquatic plants and animals to
build protein. Natural waters generally have a nitrate-nitrogen level below
1 ppm. Higher levels indicate the addition of nitrate from unnatural sources.
Nitrate-nitrogen levels above 10 ppm are considered unsafe for drinking
water.
NO
3
-N Concentration
< 1 ppm natural waters
< 10 ppm safe for drinking water
> 10 ppm unsafe for drinking water
Sources of Ni trate
Nitrate has always existed in nature but not in the quantities that it does
today. When forests and wetlands surrounded waterways, nutrients and soil
were held in place by vegetation and did not run off the land into the water.
Small amounts of nitrate entered the aquatic ecosystem naturally from forest
fires, fallout from volcanoes and the decay of aquatic plants.
Now, in addition to small amounts of nutrients from natural sources, large
amounts of nitrate are created by modern land use. Farms, suburbs and cities
are built on the banks of streams, lakes and rivers. Nutrients enter the water
through point and nonpoint sources. Examples of point source pollution,
which can be traced to a specific site, are industry, and mainly, wastewater
and sewage treatment plants. Nonpoint sources of pollution cannot be
contributed to a specific location. Automobile exhaust, acid rain and fertilizer