An alarming new study by The Center for Progressive Reform found that more than a third of Wicomico and Worcester counties’ residents may have been or are currently being exposed to hazardous nitrate levels in their drinking water. Beyond that concerning statistic, one in every 25 private drinking wells in the counties was found to have nitrate levels above the safe drinking water threshold. For these Eastern Shore residents, Maryland’s drinking water is unsafe.
What Did the Maryland Drinking Water Study Find?
The study targeted Maryland’s Eastern Shore and found that the increase in CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) and the increase in the application of nitrogen-rich manure has led nitrogen to enter the groundwater supply in the area. Many Lower Eastern Shore residents utilize the same groundwater for their drinking water due to the use of private drinking wells, which means that tens of thousands of unknowing residents are at an increased risk of serious health issues. This is particularly dangerous because Maryland has few policies to protect residents from nitrate and pollutants in their private drinking water. Without a requirement for the state to test the private well water periodically, this pollution in Maryland’s drinking water could be happening wholly unchecked.
What Are the Hazards of Unsafe Nitrate Levels in Your Water?
The EPA and other scientific bodies like NIH have completed a comprehensive range of research on safe nitrate levels in drinking water, and the risks of high levels of nitrate in Maryland’s drinking water are very serious. Some of the hazards of exposure to elevated levels of nitrate include:
- Infant methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome)
- Decreased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Increased risk of cancer (particularly gastric cancer)
How Can You Protect Your Eastern Shore Family?
First, you should test your well water for nitrate and other pollutants. The EPA standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter (mg/L). If the level is below that, it is considered to be safe for human consumption. A testing of your well water can look for nitrate levels as well as total dissolved solids, iron, lead, radium, and pH levels. To protect your family from nitrate in your water, there is no simple way to remove it without either eliminating the source of the nitrate or using a professional home water treatment unit. Nitrate does not evaporate like chlorine, so boiling it or freezing it will not impact the level of nitrate present.
Hague Quality Water of Maryland offers a broad spectrum of water testing and water filtration solutions that identify and remove pollutants to keep families throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland happy and healthy. Our Ocean City, MD office serves the Lower Eastern Shore community directly. We specialize in connecting families and residents with better ways to protect their access to Maryland’s drinking water.
Hague Quality Water of Maryland to Improve the Eastern Shore’s Access to Maryland’s Drinking Water
Are you an Eastern Shore resident concerned about the quality of Maryland’s drinking water on your property? Hague Quality Water of Maryland is here to help with our comprehensive water testing service and our state-of-the-art water treatment solutions. Our most popular water filtration system is the Hague WaterMax®, effective in removing harmful contaminants that may find their way into your water.
Additionally, we are very excited about one of our new services, which is being offered to our customers. Our new initiative is a contact-free water test kit for only $200. This kit is mailed directly or delivered to your home so that you can take samples of your home drinking water and mail them to a professional lab. You’ll receive the results directly and our team can work with you to determine the perfect solution for your situation.
Whether you need a reverse osmosis system or other water filtration system such as the Hague WaterMax®, our team cares deeply about the health and safety of your family. To purchase your kit today, click here. For additional assistance, call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992.
