Nitrates / Phosphates

NITRATES (NO3-) are an oxidized form of nitrogen and are formed by combining oxygen and nitrogen. Excess levels of nitrates in water can create conditions that make it difficult for aquatic insects or fish to survive.

Levels of 0.1 to 0.2 are considered ideal for the concentration of nitrates in marine environments

PHOSPHORUS (P) occurs naturally in rocks and other mineral deposits. During the natural process of weathering, the rocks gradually release the phosphorus as phosphate ions which are soluble in water and the mineralize phosphate compounds breakdown

In fresh water streams and rivers, a safe concentration of phosphates is about 0.1 mg/l

Click here to see collected data so far: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NQ2YdIyRmynTBtDUh9pRKfdn5JHkB443SM8hFBp9eAM/edit?zx=qw9akzg56bkm#gid=0

Helpful sites:

http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/pubs/factsheets/groundwater/nitratedw.pdf

http://www.alken-murray.com/TESTS01.htm

http://www.water-research.net/index.php/phosphate-in-water