Cinnaminson, New Jersey, February 13, 2025
Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that a federal judge had granted a request by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to require three dairies in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington to provide well testing and bottled water or water treatment systems to well users near Granger, Washington.
According to the EPA announcement:
EPA believes the health of people in the area could be at risk from nitrate-polluted drinking water and alleges that three large dairies in that area have contributed nitrate to the area’s groundwater and contaminated drinking water wells.
In many areas of the nation, nitrate is principally a by-product of nitrogen use in fertilizer for agricultural purposes. Its presence in groundwater can also come from septic systems, confined animal feeding operations, and from treated wastewater. This means there are potentially countless people, especially in agricultural areas that could be drinking water with elevated nitrate levels.
“EPA warns that nitrate is an acute contaminant and that a single exposure can pose health risks, including a condition in infants known as methemoglobinemia that can result in death,” said Joseph Frasca of Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “There are also other health concerns, especially for pregnant women. The only way to know if nitrate contamination is a potential problem for those dependent on private wells is to have the water tested. EMSL Analytical, with laboratories across North America, provides water testing services. We even offer a Drinking Water Test Kit that monitors for nitrate and nitrite, as well as lead, total coliform, E. coli, turbidity, iron, manganese, and pH.
EMSL sponsored an educational video about private wells and the importance of testing drinking water quality several years ago that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/9mtMqsTiNag
To learn more about nitrate and other water testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com, or call (800) 220-3675. For access to Drinking Water Test Kits, visit www.WaterTestKitEMSL.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.
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