Two MCWD wells in the city monitored for high nitrate level

Two wells in the city are being monitored closely by the Metro Cebu Water District possible contamination, or higher than normal level content, of nitrates.
MCWD general manager Armando Paredes said one of these wells is in the city proper while the other one is in Talamban, both of which have been found earlier to have slightly higher nitrate level content that the standards set for drinking water. 

“The nitrate levels in water (from these wells) are slightly higher but still not considered harmful. But for small children it can cause diseases,” Paredes told reporters but did not say what is the nitrate level the MCWD found and what is the allowable amount of nitrate for drinking water.

Paredes reacted to reports that MCWD has closed some of its wells due to contamination and he clarified that MCWD has not shut down any of its wells so far this year because of this. MCWD has already abandoned several of its wells in the past due to high concentration of nitrate or high level of salinity.

The high level of nitrate has been suspected as to have been caused by septic tanks and households, said Paredes but he assured the public that MCWD has been keeping a close watch on these wells, and other sources to make sure that these are not contaminated.

A research from the Internet showed that e usual standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 milligrams per liter (10 mg/l). Short-term exposure to drinking water with a nitrate level at or just above the health standard of 10 mg/l is a potential health problem primarily for infants.

Babies consume large quantities of water relative to their body weight, especially  if water is used to mix powdered or concentrated formulas or juices. Also, their immature digestive systems are more likely than adult digestive tracts to allow the reduction of nitrate to nitrite.

In particular, the presence of nitrite in the digestive tract of newborns can lead to a disease called methemoglobinemia, the website source stated.

Short-term exposure to excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water causes serious illness and sometimes death, especially to infants, because the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child’s blood. Health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days with symptoms such as shortness of breath and blueness of the skin.

In the long-term, Nitrates and nitrites have the potential to cause the following effects: diuresis, increased starchy deposits, and hemorrhaging of the spleen.
The website further stated that “most nitrogenous materials in natural waters tend to be converted to nitrate, so all sources of combined nitrogen, particularly organic nitrogen and ammonia, should be considered as potential nitrate sources. Primary sources of organic nitrates include human sewage and livestock manure, especially from feedlots.”
The primary inorganic nitrates which may contaminate drinking water are potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate both of which are widely used as fertilizers, it added. –Wenna A. Berondo/RAE