Are you concerned regarding Nitrates in your Drinking water? Do you have a reason to be concerned?

nitrates in water concerns

What is Nitrate?

Nitrate (NO3) is a compound that is formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen. The main adult intake of nitrate is from food rather than water; but sometimes high amounts of nitrate get into drinking water.

What happens if Nitrate levels are to high in water?

Drinking water that has
high levels of nitrate can cause health effects such as: Methemoglobinemia or
"blue baby syndrome," which results from nitrate decreasing the blood's capacity to carry oxygen, especially in infants who receive baby formula mixed with water containing nitrate above 10 mg/L.

How do you remove Nitrate from tap water?

Nitrite can be removed from drinking water by reverse osmosis, distillation or ion exchange.
Boiling, carbon adsorption filters and standard water softeners do not remove nitrite

How do you fix high nitrate levels in well water?

Nitrates can be removed
from water by reverse osmosis, distillation, or through ion exchange resin. Nitrates are difficult contaminants to eliminate from water. Nitrates will not be removed by sediment filters, carbon filters, or by the hollow fiber membrane of an ultrafiltration system.

Do water filters remove nitrates?

The only way to remove
nitrates from drinking water is through a water filtration system. Many water treatment companies promote Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems as an immediate solution to
provide nitrate and nitrite reduction.

Is it safe to drink water with high nitrates?

When nitrate levels are
high, everyone should avoid long-term use of the water for drinking and preparing foods that use a lot of water. High levels of nitrate in drinking water may increase the risk of colon cancer.

Are nitrates in drinking water harmful?

Considering all studies,
the strongest evidence for a relationship between drinking water nitrate ingestion and adverse health outcomes (besides methemoglobinemia) is for colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, and neural tube defects.

What are the side effects of nitrates?

The most common side
effects of nitrates include headaches, dizziness or light-headedness, flushing or a warm feeling in the face.

What are possible health effects?

Nitrate is converted into nitrite by bacteria in the gut. This nitrite combines with foetal
haemoglobin in the foetus or infant less than 6 months old preventing oxygen from binding and being distributed around the body.  Symptoms include blueness around the
mouth, hands, and feet, hence the name ‘blue baby’ syndrome and in severe cases can affect breathing and be life-threatening. By 6 months of age infants have only mature haemoglobin which does not bind to nitrite.  This allows oxygen to freely bind to haemoglobin and ‘blue baby’ syndrome does not occur. 
Fully breastfed infants are not affected as nitrites do not enter the breastmilk.  Very few cases of ‘blue baby’ syndrome have been reported in New Zealand, though nitrates in groundwater have been rising in the last twenty years.

How does Nitrate get into water?

High levels of nitrate in water can be a result of runoff or leakage from fertilized soil, wastewater, landfills, animal feedlots, septic systems, or urban drainage.

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Reverse Osmosis - Nitrate removal

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems:

Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration systems provide some of the highest levels of drinking water purification available today. These advanced systems remove a wide range of dissolved contaminants that conventional filters cannot eliminate, delivering clean, safe, and great-tasting drinking water for homes, rural properties, and businesses across New Zealand.

At Filtration Canterbury, our reverse osmosis water purifiers are designed for both town water supplies and rural water sources, making them ideal for households concerned about contaminants such as nitrates, heavy metals, and chemical pollutants.

Reverse osmosis systems are internationally recognised as one of the most effective and reliable water purification technologies, capable of removing contaminants at a molecular level.

Contaminants Removed by Reverse Osmosis:

Reverse osmosis filtration is highly effective at reducing a broad range of contaminants including:

  • Nitrates

  • Lead

  • Chromium

  • Barium

  • Cadmium

  • Dissolved salts and minerals

  • Chemical contaminants

  • Micro-pollutants

  • Many viruses and microorganisms

Because the purification occurs at a molecular level, reverse osmosis systems can remove contaminants that are completely dissolved in water and cannot be removed by standard sediment or carbon filtration alone.

Advanced Four-Stage Filtration System:

Our reverse osmosis systems use a multi-stage filtration process designed to progressively remove contaminants and improve water quality.

Stage 1 – Sediment Filtration

Water first passes through a sediment filter that removes sand, dirt, rust, and other suspended particles.

Stage 2 – Carbon Block Filtration

The carbon block filter removes chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, and compounds that cause unpleasant taste or odour.

Stage 3 – Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Water is forced under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane rated at approximately 0.0005 microns, removing dissolved contaminants at the molecular level.

Stage 4 – Post Carbon Filter

A final carbon polishing filter improves taste and ensures clean, fresh drinking water before delivery to the tap.

Purified water is then stored in a pressurised reservoir tank, ready for immediate use.

How Reverse Osmosis Works:

Reverse osmosis works by pushing water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane that separates water molecules from dissolved contaminants.

Only pure water molecules pass through the membrane while dissolved impurities are rejected and flushed away. This process effectively removes contaminants that are too small for conventional filtration systems.

The result is ultra-pure drinking water that is cleaner, safer, and better tasting.

Installation:

Our reverse osmosis systems are compact and designed for under-sink or under-bench installation.

Typical installation features:

  • Installation time approximately 60–90 minutes

  • Can be installed by a plumber or experienced handyman

  • Requires a minimum water pressure of 40 psi

  • Suitable for both town and rural water supplies

Operating Conditions:

For optimal performance the following conditions are recommended:

  • Maximum Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 2000 ppm

  • Water should be microbiologically safe before entering the RO system

  • System designed for cold water use only

  • Pre-filtration recommended where sediment or turbidity is present

Typical Filter Replacement Schedule:

Regular filter replacement ensures optimal system performance and water quality.

Filter Type Recommended Replacement
Sediment Filter Every 6 months or as required
Carbon Pre-Filter Every 6 months
Post Carbon Filter Every 12 months
RO Membrane Typically annually or as required

Replacement frequency may vary depending on water quality and household water usage.

System Dimensions:

RO Filtration Unit

Height: 40 cm
Width: 34 cm
Depth: 14 cm

Storage Tank Options

Mini Tank – 2.0G
20 cm diameter × 34 cm height

Small Tank – 2.2G
24 cm diameter × 38 cm height

Large Tank – 3.2G
28 cm diameter × 38 cm height

Reverse Osmosis Systems for New Zealand Water Conditions:

Water quality across New Zealand can vary significantly depending on the source, whether it is bore water, rural groundwater, rainwater collection systems, or municipal town water supplies.

Reverse osmosis systems are particularly valuable where contaminants such as nitrates, dissolved minerals, heavy metals, or chemical residues are present.

Filtration Canterbury designs and supplies reverse osmosis systems specifically suited to New Zealand water conditions, helping ensure safe and reliable drinking water for homes, farms, and businesses.