What is Nitrate?
Nitrate is a soluble nitrogen compound that moves readily through soil into groundwater.
Why test for it?
Nitrate is a standard parameter for private supplies and boreholes in agricultural areas.
Where can it come from?
- Agricultural fertiliser use
- Septic systems
- Natural nitrogen cycling
How is it measured?
Determined by ion chromatography or colorimetric analysis, reported in mg/L as NO₃.
What does my result mean?
Nitrate is reported with nitrite, since the balance between them provides information about conditions in the supply.