Nitrates can contaminate groundwater in many different ways. Fertilizers, manure on the land, and liquid waste discharged from septic tanks can allow nitrates to seep into the ground. Additionally, high levels of nitrate in water can result from runoff of fertilized soil, wastewater, landfills, animal feedlots, and urban drainage. Oftentimes, it is difficult to pinpoint the source of nitrate in drinking water, as there are several possibilities.
Anonymous, "NITRATES: SOURCES", contributed by Taranjot Bhari, Margaret Tebbe and Sierra Howard, Disaster STS Network, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 5 January 2024, accessed 1 December 2024. http://465538.bc062.asia/content/nitrates-sources
Critical Commentary
Information about sources of nitrates exposure.