What are NITRATES?

Nitrates occur naturally in the environment and are used by living plants for proper metabolism.  Man-made products such as agricultural fertilizers and septic system effluent can also contribute to nitrate formation.  Bacteria converts the nitrogen into nitrates.  Plants release the excess, unabsorbed nitrates into the soil.  These nitrates often make their way into the groundwater. 

Elevated nitrate concentrations have been shown to cause methemoglobinemia, or “Blue Baby Syndrome,” in young babies and to inhibit iodine uptake in adults.  Other adverse health effects are still being researched.

Choosing the right ... Treatment Technology

The EPA lists three solutions as Best Available Technologies (BAT) for the treatment of Nitrates:

• Ion Exchange
  This nitrate removal treatment method uses anion ion exchange resins which exchange the resin’s surface-active anions for nitrates.  These resins also provide an exchange of chloride for nitrates and are affected by other background inorganics, such as sulfates.   The nitrates are absorbed on the resin and need to be removed when the resin becomes "exhausted".  The resin is regenerated with salt water (brine), rinsed and returned to service for reuse.
  
• Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR)
  This process uses electricity to induce movement of anions across a membrane to separate the nitrate, as well as other ions from the water stream.  The system is not specific to nitrates, creates a waste (reject) water stream and consumes power.
  
• Reverse Osmosis
  A semi-permeable membrane separation process that removes a percentage of the nitrates and creates a separate waste (reject) stream that contains most of the inorganic ions that were present in the feedwater stream.  Reverse osmosis also consumes power for its operation.

Choose the right ... Service Partner

Siemens has the right support services to meet both short-term (emergency/peak) or long-term (permanent) needs.  Some of the services we offer our customers include:

• Emergency Requirements
  Using our proprietary Temporary Mobile Water Treatment trailers and NSF-approved ion exchange medias, Siemens can solve your immediate nitrate remediation needs.  We can mobilize on-site within 1 week of an order and be on-line for potable water production. The systems are regenerated offsite thereby eliminating the need for a waste connection to the local POTW.  No on-site chemicals, handling, etc. for the safety of your plant personnel and no elimination of re-contamination potential. 
   Learn more about our mobile water capabilities
  
• Short Term Systems
  During peak water usages periods each year, Siemens can supply you with temporary (4 month) systems that supplement the base-loaded water production of your exisiting plant system.  Siemens has equipment systems that can be regenerated either on-site (require a waste discharge to the local POTW) or transported off-site for regeneration at one of our facilities.
  
• Long Term Capital Investments
  Siemens also provides the design and manufacture of complete, engineered systems to be installed permanently at your site.

Additional support services offered include:

 On-site maintenance service contract
 Operator training

 System audits