The Top Water Filters for Nitrate Reduction

Did you know that 85% of the United States drinking water supply is contaminated with at least one chemical? A great water filtration system can really improve your life by providing you and your family with clean, healthy, and great-tasting water.

So if you’re looking for water filters for nitrate reduction, we recommend the Waterdrop RO Water Filtration System.

With over 1600 5-star ratings, the Waterdrop RO system is an NSF-certified filtration system designed to reduce inorganic pollutants in water, like nitrate/nitrite, arsenic, fluoride, asbestos, benzene, lindane, etc.

This water filter provides a TDS reduction rate of up to 94% and uses multi-stage filtration layers to clean water faster. Waterdrop has used advanced composite filter technology in this system which reduces the frequency and quantity of replacement — saving you time and money!

This RO filtration system by Express Water filters up to 99.99% of chemicals such as nitrates, lead, chlorine, fluoride, calcium, arsenic, and more.
It offers a fast flow rate of 0.8 GPM which means you can get filtered water fast.

Overall this is a budget-friendly water filter that everyone should have. All the items required for the filter installation are also included within the package only, so you don’t have to visit a hardware store to buy parts.

Waterdrop RO Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

With its improved composite filter technology, Waterdrop’s G2 P600 RO system can reduce most contaminants. CF filters use a sediment PP membrane and an activated carbon block to reduce rust, sediment, and organic matter.

To intercept TDS, atrazine, salt, nitrates, PFAS, fluoride, or heavy metals, the MRO filter utilizes a 0.0001-micron reverse osmosis membrane, a sediment PP membrane, an activated carbon block, and a PET pleated membrane.

This water filtration system uses reverse osmosis technology to save 70 percent of your under-sink space and prevent recontamination. You can install it yourself within 30 minutes.

It takes 3 seconds to change a filter with the twist-and-pull design without moving the system or requiring any tools. You will be reminded to replace the filter ahead of time with the filter life indicators.

Express Water ROALK10DCG Reverse Osmosis Alkaline Water Filtration System

You can create the purest alkaline water system with a home alkaline water system. This is pure reverse osmosis water. It’s free of 99.97% of contaminants, including TDS, fluoride, heavy metals, chlorine, tastes, odors, VOCs, arsenic, lead, and nitrates.

Quick Connect tubing allows for fast installation. A filter of the highest capacity can last for up to six months before it needs to be changed. The faucet has a flow rate of 0.8 GPM. The user can put the compact system under a sink. Perfect for houses, apartments, well water, RVs, and offices.

Unlike pitchers, faucet filters, or countertop systems, the Express Water filter makes your water cleaner and more convenient. The ROALK10DCG is a complete solution for pure alkaline filtration of water.

Express Water UV Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

This reverse osmosis water filter system by Express Water is an excellent choice if money is tight. Water is filtered through a 5-stage filtration system to remove over 100 types of contaminants. 

The robust UV sterilization process ensures that your drinking water is bacteria- and virus-free. It eliminates coliforms, E. Coli, viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms.

You won’t need to refill or activate your Alkaline UV water filter. Your water tank will automatically be filled with high-quality drinking water using Express Water’s water filtration system.

This RO water filter system is an excellent option if you have a tight budget, if you need clean drinking water, and if you don’t want to spend a lot on replacement filters. If you put this unit together yourself or struggle for a while to have the potential leaks sealed, you might need some help setting it up.

What are Nitrates in Water?

When nitrogen is combined with oxygen or ozone, nitrogen forms nitrate, a naturally occurring chemical compound.

In addition to being a vital component of all living things, nitrate is also harmful to health if a high level of nitrate is present in the drinking water, especially for infants and pregnant women.

Plants and animals are also responsible for making large amounts of nitrates, which get released into smoke or industrial or automotive exhaust gases.

Surface or groundwater can contain naturally occurring levels of nitrate that are not likely to cause health problems. Nitrate levels in well water are often caused by poorly constructed wells, poorly positioned wells, chemical fertilizers, or improper sewage disposal.

Such contamination may be more likely to occur after flooding, especially for shallow wells dug or bored or for wells that have been underwater for an extended time.

How much Nitrate is Safe in Drinking Water?

To assure your family’s safety, drinking water with a nitrate concentration (as measured by nitrogen nitrate) below 10 milligrams per liter of water (mg/L) is recommended.

In the United States, ten mg/L is the standard set by the Environment Protection Agency for the amount of nitrate in public drinking water in the United States.

A person may also be at an increased risk of developing nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia if they suffer from anemia, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, sepsis, and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency, as well as some metabolic conditions.

Until recently, there has been no scientific evidence that assesses the health effects of drinking water that contains nitrate in a number of high concentrations.

Several studies have demonstrated a link between nitrate/nitrite exposure and other health problems such as nausea, headaches, and abdominal cramping, which are all known adverse effects of nitrate/nitrite exposure.

Additionally, some studies also suggest that dietary nitrate/nitrite exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer, especially gastric cancer. Still, a complete scientific consensus has yet to be reached regarding this issue.

How do Nitrates Get into Water?

It is possible to get nitrate into the water directly when fertilizers contain nitrate runoff. The presence of nitrates in the atmosphere results from the occurrence of nitrogen-containing compounds, such as those found in automobiles and other sources.

In the United States, more than three million tons of nitrogen are deposited annually from the atmosphere, either naturally due to chemical reactions or as a result of fossil fuel combustion like coal and gasoline.

Water bodies can also create nitrate from other forms of nitrogen, such as nitrite, ammonia, and organic nitrogen compounds such as amino acids, which usually are oxidized in water bodies.

In addition to the runoff from the land where manure has been applied or stored, sewage effluent contains ammonia or organic nitrogen.

A surplus of nitrogen can stimulate an overabundance of algae and aquatic plants in the water. This can lead to clogging of water intakes, dissolved oxygen being used up as they decompose, and blocking light from reaching deeper waters due to excessive growth of these organisms.

There is a possibility of lake and reservoir eutrophication, which is a condition in which algae scums form on the surface of the water, which causes fish kills, and can even cause the death of a lake when it does not receive enough oxygen.

This can lead to a decrease in animal and plant diversity and issues associated with fishing, swimming, and boating because the respiration efficiency of fish and aquatic invertebrates can be affected.

How do you test for nitrates in water?

You can only determine whether your water contains nitrates and nitrites by testing. These compounds do not have any taste, color, or odor.

A certified laboratory should perform an accurate test for nitrate contamination of your water. A valid and reliable nitrate measurement requires nitrate water analysis in a laboratory.

According to the EPA, you should test your well water for nitrates and nitrites every year. Nitrates and nitrites are often tested in-home water analysis kits. Get a water test kit from a drinking water laboratory or your local health department.

Tests for nitrates and nitrites should be performed as follows:

• Remove the test strip from the packet with the labels CL/CO/NA/NI.
• Take the test strip at the end without pads.
• Take the strip out of the sample without shaking it off excess water after being dipped in it three times.
• Maintain the level of the test strip for two seconds.
• Read the results for nitrate and nitrite after placing the strip on the results color chart and waiting 45 seconds.

Nitrate has a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and nitrite has an MCL of 1 milligram per liter (mg/L). In laboratory reports, measurements are usually stated in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). Mg/L is the same as ppm.

You can use your water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and all other activities you perform with water if your results for nitrate, nitrite, or both are below the MCLs.

To determine and fix the issue, it is imperative to consult your local health department if either your nitrate or nitrite levels are above the MCLs. 

How to Remove Nitrates from Water?

To remove nitrates, water can be successfully treated with ion exchange, distillation, and reverse osmosis techniques. The best way to find out what the best treatment option is local health authorities.

It is not possible to remove nitrate from your water by heating or boiling it. The nitrate level in water can actually increase slightly in concentration if the boiling process results in some of the water evaporating.

In fact, the boiling process increases the nitrate levels in water slightly. Water that has been filtered through mechanical filters or treated with chemicals, such as chlorine, does not remove nitrate.

In order to properly distill water, you must keep in mind that it is a much more involved process than simply boiling water. In order to boil water, the water is heated until the liquid has entirely ceased to exist and the entire liquid has transformed into gas.

It is likely that this water vapor will be cooled and switched back to liquid form, in which no nitrates or other contaminants will remain. Even though boiling water is sufficient to reduce chlorine levels and neutralize microorganisms, it is not enough to eliminate nitrates. 

Final Words

It is not worth the risk to expose yourself to excessive levels of nitrate contamination if you have an elevated level of nitrate contamination in your water. In the case of a high nitrate level in your water supply, installing a water filter can reduce it to a level that cannot be detected, creating a safe drinking water supply. 

As you can see, there are numerous options out there for nitrate reduction, and some will work better for you than others. Our final recommendation is the Waterdrop RO water filtration system because it’s inexpensive, does an amazing job, and it’s easy to find replacement filters.

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