Nitrates
What is it?
Nitrates (NO3) represent Nitrogen in a specific form during the nitrogen life-cycle, after Nitrites have been exposed to Nitrifying bacteria.
What do I need to know?
- Natural levels of nitrate are usually less than 1 mg/L
- Concentrations over 10 mg/L will have an effect on the freshwater aquatic environment
- 10 mg/L is also the maximum concentration allowed in human drinking water
- For a sensitive fish the recommended concentration is 0.06 mg/L
- High levels could be caused by agriculture run-off
![Nitrogen cycle](https://cdn.waterrangers.ca/assets/helpers/nitrates-abec5acf7daa308904f47a7eee8d733224b98f2778177a01fde61b7ab78a1522.jpg)