Quick Nitrate & Nitrite Water Test Kit

Our Quick Nitrate & Nitrite Water Test kit can analyze for these naturally occurring substances to assure they are at a level considered safe for household use and consumption, which is typically determined by the maximum contaminant level set by regulatory agencies. Other WaterCheck tests can assess potential health impacts from heavy metals, bacteria, arsenic, radon, barium, iron, and manganese. The type of analysis you choose will depend on your specific concerns and water source.

Water quality can vary greatly based upon natural fluctuations in the water source and the types of treatment techniques utilized by the water department. If you are on a private well, there are no regulations which require regular testing of the water, so you are responsible for ensuring the water is safe to drink. The EPA recommends minimally testing your water at least once a year for nitrates and nitrites.

Our Quick Series is designed to get you results quickly. Results are available within 2 to 3 days of receipt at the laboratory. We can email them to you as well as mail you a printed copy.

Specific instructions will be included in your testing kit. Your nitrate and nitrite water test kit will include a water collection vial as well as a blue ice pack and cooler box. It’s important to freeze the ice pack for at least 8 hours prior to sample collection. You’ll also want to collect your sample Monday through Thursday as late in the day as possible. This will allow you to mail it back to us for next day delivery, assuring that it arrives at our facility within 24 hours for testing. A few other important tips:

• You’ll need to run the cold water for 3-5 minutes before collecting your sample
• Sample bottles are 500 ml
• Each test kit will include a lab form that you’ll need to fill out and return with your sample

A nitrate water test will indicate the milligrams per liter (mg/L) of both nitrates and nitrites in your water. These will be indicated as milligrams per liter (mg/L) on your testing report. Your report will also indicate if the contaminant was detected and whether it was detected at or above the EPA standard. We use clear indicators to help you read your report.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers nitrate levels under 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) nitrate to be safe for human consumption. If your water is above 10 mg/L for nitrate or nitrite, you should stop using it immediately for cooking and drinking, especially if you are feeding infants or children, or if you are pregnant or nursing.

Our tests are designed so that you can test your water yourself. Once you collect your nitrate water test sample, send it back to us via guaranteed overnight delivery – and we’ll take it from there.

Our tests are designed so that you can test your water yourself. Once you collect your nitrate water test sample, send it back to us via guaranteed overnight delivery – and we’ll take it from there.

If you need help with the results, just call us. Our Technical Service Representatives are available at (800) 458-3330.

We will ship the nitrate water test kit to you free of charge. The cost to mail your collected sample back to us is not included in the cost of the kit. We will be happy to extend our UPS rates to you. Just call us at (800) 458-3330 before you are ready to collect your sample and we can email a return label at that time.

Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring minerals (think “nitrogen”) and often the byproduct of plant growth and the natural life cycle of vegetation. That means there may be very small traces of nitrates in all drinking water. However, in recent years, additional sources of nitrates have become more widespread. These sources – such as fertilizers used on farms and lawns, wastewater that isn’t properly treated, animal waste runoff or septic system failures – have contributed to a rise in the potential for nitrates and nitrites to reach harmful levels in drinking water sources. High levels of nitrate in water can lead to the water having a yellow or brown color, which is not safe for drinking. Using a nitrate water test kit or completing a nitrite in water analysis can help you learn more about the level of nitrate in your water and ensure that you have safe drinking water.

Nitrates and nitrites are two of the compounds that make up nitrogen. They occur naturally in soil, plants, water and air. They’re also manufactured for use in fertilizers for crops or lawns. The most common sources for nitrate contamination in water are:

• Fertilizers
• Animal Waste
• Human Waste
• Faulty Septic Tanks
• Farm Runoff

If you suspect that there are high levels of nitrates in your water, it's important to consult with a water treatment specialist for solutions to treating nitrates in your water. Before that, however, it's a good idea to conduct an examination of water to determine the concentration of nitrate and the level of nitrite in your water. It's also important to consider the possible sources of contamination of water, such as a faulty septic tank, fertilizers that are used in the area and animal waste. Water treatment systems such as distillation, ion exchange and reverse osmosis can also be installed on your water system to help ensure that your drinking water meets the safe drinking water standard.

You’ve likely heard of nitrogen – an essential element for animal and plant growth. Nitrate and nitrite are two compounds that make up nitrogen. For decades, farmers and homeowners have used nitrate-rich fertilizers to boost root health and generate stronger, healthier crops. These nitrates dissolve easily in water and work their way into soils, where they also run the risk of entering surface water sources or well water – especially if the area doesn’t contain a lot of natural “water filters” such as trees and heavy vegetation. Nitrates are also present in human and animal waste. If a farm is located near a stream, river or lake, heavy rains can cause runoff into these critical water sources. Homes that utilize an old or faulty septic system can also run the risk of higher levels of nitrates in their water, which can lead to health concerns.

While nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring, they can cause problems when they reach unsafe levels. Rivers and lakes in recent years have experienced harmful algae blooms, a major sign of contamination due to high concentration of nitrate. When this water isn’t treated properly, a home has a faulty septic system or is located near a farm, excess nitrate levels and level for nitrite can remain in the water. This can cause serious health and developmental issues in infants and young children who consume domestic water with high nitrate levels. For adults, nitrate and nitrite contamination can also potentially cause cancer.