Nitrate IN

Nitrate in Drinking Water — South Bend Water Utility...

South Bend Water Utility · Granger, IN · 115,000 people served

6.5 mg/L

Highest Level Detected

10 mg/L (as nitrogen)

EPA Limit

High

Health Risk Level

ZIP Codes Served

115,000

People Served

Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange

Best Filter Method

Data: EPA SDWIS, ECHO, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report

Medical Disclaimer: This page provides environmental data and general health information from EPA and CDC sources. It is not medical advice. If you have health concerns related to your drinking water, consult a healthcare provider.

Nitrate Detected in South Bend Water Utility

Nitrate was detected at 6.5 mg/L in the South Bend Water Utility water system serving Granger, South Bend (IN), approaching the EPA limit of 10 mg/L (as nitrogen).

This system serves approximately 115,000 people across 18 ZIP codes.

Data source: 2024 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and EPA SDWIS/ECHO.

Detected Levels

Contaminant	Level Detected	EPA Limit	Status
Nitrate as Nitrogen	6.5 ppm	10 ppm	Within Limit

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

ZIP Codes Served by This System

Check water quality for your specific ZIP code:

Related Resources

Detected Levels

Contaminant	Level Detected	EPA Limit	Status
Nitrate as Nitrogen	6.5 ppm	10 ppm	Within Limit

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

ZIP Codes Served by This System

46530 46601 46604 46613 46614 46615 46616 46617 46619 46624 46626 46628 46634 46635 46637 46660 46680 46699

Full Water System Profile: See all contaminants, violations, and lead levels for South Bend Water Utility.

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