Nitrate in Drinking Water - City of Atwater, CA
City of Atwater · Atwater, CA · 29,479 people served
Data: EPA SDWIS, ECHO
Nitrate Data for City of Atwater
No CCR entry for Nitrate and PWSID CA2410001 was matched in the pinned corpus used for this correction. This does not mean the contaminant was absent or the system was compliant.
Health Effects of Nitrate
Nitrate above 10 mg/L is acutely dangerous for infants under 6 months old, causing methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") — a condition where nitrate reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Symptoms include bluish skin, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, death. In adults, long-term nitrate exposure is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, and neural tube birth defects. Agricultural runoff is the primary source of nitrate contamination.
Source: CDC — Nitrate and Drinking Water from Private Wells; EPA.
EPA Standard
The EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate is 10 mg/L (as nitrogen), governed by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Water systems that exceed this limit must notify consumers and take corrective action.
What You Can Do
- If you have an infant, do NOT use tap water for formula preparation if nitrate exceeds 10 mg/L
- Install a reverse osmosis system — the most effective household nitrate removal method
- Ion exchange filters are also effective for nitrate removal
- Do NOT boil water to remove nitrate — boiling concentrates it and makes it worse
- Standard carbon filters and water softeners do NOT remove nitrate
- If on a private well near agricultural land, test at least annually
Recommended Water Filters
The most effective treatment for nitrate removal is Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange.
| Filter Type | Effectiveness | NSF Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse Osmosis (RO) | 90-95% | NSF 58 | Most reliable home treatment for nitrate |
| Ion Exchange | 90-95% | NSF 53 | Effective but may release other ions; requires regular regeneration |
| Distillation | 95%+ | NSF 62 | Effective but slow and energy-intensive |
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Recommended Water Filters
The most effective treatment for nitrate removal is Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange.
| Filter Type | Effectiveness | NSF Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse Osmosis (RO) | 90-95% | NSF 58 | Most reliable home treatment for nitrate |
| Ion Exchange | 90-95% | NSF 53 | Effective but may release other ions; requires regular regeneration |
| Distillation | 95%+ | NSF 62 | Effective but slow and energy-intensive |