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Photo from U.S. Geological Circular 1225--The Quality of Our Nation's Waters--Nuttients and Pesticides

Photo of little 
girl drinking water

Photo by Kevin F. Dennehy

From a national perspective, nitrate did not pose a health risk for residents who drank water from major aquifers buried relatively deep below the land surface. People drinking ground water from shallow wells in vulnerable geologic settings (sand, gravel, or karst) in rural agricultural areas, however, are at risk of exposure to nitrate contamination.

 

 

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