High nitrates in Pender's drinking water
High nitrate levels have been found in a northeast Nebraska town's water supply.
By News Channel NebraskaPENDER, Neb. -- High nitrate levels have been found in a northeast Nebraska town's water supply, village officials said Monday.
The village of Pender has issued a notice via social media stating that the public water supply system is in violation of the nitrate drinking water standard.
According to the notice, nitrate levels have been measured at a concentration of 16 milligrams per liter in a sample collected from the treatment plant on March 31st. The standard is 10 milligrams.
The village notice says infants, pregnant women, or nursing mothers should not drink the water. It should also not be used to prepare water, juice or formula for infants under six months. Bottled water should be used until further notice, village officials said.
The notice mentions that infants younger than the age of six months who drink the water in excess may experience shortness of breath and have a blue tint to their lips and skin due to lack of oxygen.
"This is referred to as, 'blue baby syndrome,'" the statement read.
The notice pointed out that boiling the water will not reduce nitrate levels, and neither will freezing or letting the water stand. Village officials noted that boiling the water can make the nitrates even more concentrated.
The Thurston County village says it is investigating the current operations status of the water treatment plant.