IS NITRATE A CONCERN IN STREAMS AND GROUND WATER IN THE SNAKE RIVER BASIN?
On the basis of data collected during the NAWQA study, nitrate concentrations in streams in the upper Snake River Basin were generally low, and none exceeded the USEPA drinking-water standard of 10 milligrams per liter. However, in some streams of the basin, nitrate was a contributing factor to the overabundance of aquatic plants. In contrast to stream samples, some ground-water samples contained nitrate concentrations in excess of 10 milligrams per liter. Nitrate contamination in streams and ground water may become a more serious problem in the future as population growth and industrial development in the basin continue. Nitrate (NO3) is, in general, the predominant form of nitrogen in streams and ground water. Nitrate is highly soluble in water, stable over a wide range of environmental conditions, and readily transported in streams and in ground water. Nitrate is common in the environment; rainwater contains small concentrations. Although nitrate is an essential plant nutrient, in l
