Despite many restrictions on the amount and timing of fertilizer, the nitrate contamination in well water is not falling as hoped. The “VSR Water Protection” association discovered this when evaluating 39 well water samples. On August 20, the nonprofit organization invited well owners to have their water tested by a mobile testing laboratory.
Limit value at 50 milligrams per liter
The well water results sometimes showed dramatic exceedance of nitrate values. The limit value here is 50 milligrams per liter, but physicist Harald Gülzow found that this value was exceeded in every third sample.
Dramatic exceeding of the limit value
The water expert found the contamination found in the garden fountains in Pogreß with 243 milligrams of nitrate per liter, in Toddin with 185 milligrams, in Kloddram with 114 milligrams, in Vellahn with 92 milligrams, in Pamprin with 87 milligrams and in Woez with 81 milligrams, particularly frightening.
Steegen, Gammelin and Wittenburg are less polluted
The groundwater in Steegen is slightly less polluted with 62 milligrams of nitrate, in Gammelin with 60 milligrams and in Wittenburg with 59 milligrams. The State Office for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Geology MV (Lung) sees these results as somewhat relativized.
Parameters were missing for evaluating the samples
Information about the expansion and use of the well system was missing for the water samples examined by the VSR. It is also unclear under what conditions the samples were taken, according to a statement. On the other hand, such peak values could also be achieved by taking the sample from the stagnant water from shallow wells.
Fertilizer in the garden can also increase nitrate levels
While Harald Gülzow blames agriculture primarily for the high nitrate levels, the Lung also does not rule out the possibility that the samples from private wells, their immediate surroundings or immediate catchment area, are subjected to regular nitrogen fertilization (small gardens and home gardens, lawns). , showed particularly high values.
