Do you have questions about your private drinking water supply? How about wellhead protection, including the management of your private sewage treatment system? Send your questions using the Ask An Expert feature on this web site. Questions will be addressed by Nebraska Extension Educator Meghan Sittler, Nebraska Extension Specialist Bruce Dvorak, and/or Nebraska Extension Educator Katie Pekarek. One question and answer will be featured each month in this section of the acreage web site.
Q: We have high nitrates in our well and have a reverse osmosis system for our house but we use untreated well water on our vegetables, is that safe?
Meghan: Yes, watering vegetables with the water high in nitrates does not pose a health risk. Vegetables actually require nitrogen or nitrate for their growth and development so the plants will utilize at least some of the nitrates present in the water. Just remember to not drink water out of the hose or hydrant with the untreated water.