Nitrate

Nitrate is not a concern for WaterOne customers. Nitrate is primarily an issue in private wells and agricultural areas, indicating the presence of other contaminants such as agricultural pesticides or bacteria from a leaking septic tank.

Excessive levels of nitrate can cause serious life-threatening illness, especially in small infants. Nitrate can interfere with oxygen molecules in the blood, causing blue coloring of the skin and shortness of breath. This can be an acute condition, developing rapidly over a few days. Long-term exposure can cause side effects like damage to the spleen.

WaterOne takes seriously our responsibility to protect public health. Safe levels of nitrate and nitrite are established by the Safe Drinking Water Act at 10 parts per million (ppm) and nitrite at 1 ppm, respectively. WaterOne continuously tests for nitrate and nitrite with results that meet and exceed standards for health and safety.

Public safety is our priority. If WaterOne detects this or any other harmful substance in the water supply, we are required by law to notify the public. To ensure we reach you with important information about water quality and your water service, sign-up for Notify JoCo.