The Power of Community Science: Nitrate Watch
Written by: Heather Wilson, Midwest Save Our Streams Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America
In the past few years, the topic of nitrate pollution has elevated from an obscure environmental issue to a topic of dinner table conversation for many Iowans. High profile events like the lawn-watering ban issued by Central Iowa Water Works, catastrophic fish kills, and the release of the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment have made it harder to ignore the impact of nitrate pollution on the lives of Iowans. When Central Iowa Water Works was forced to begin operating their nitrate removal facility this January – a rare event this early in the year – nitrate pollution was thrust into the headlines once again. The topic has become almost inescapable.
Nitrates
When high levels of nitrate enter waterways, this sets in motion a cascade of ecosystem effects, causing algae blooms, fish kills, and hypoxic dead zones. The human health impact of nitrate pollution is perhaps less visible but no less important. The consumption of drinking water that contains excess nitrate is linked to conditions like blue baby syndrome, thyroid disease, neural tube birth defects, and cancers including colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, and more. Nitrate is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless contaminant. The only way to know for sure if it is present in water is with testing.
Public water systems are required to remove nitrate in excess of the 10 mg/L drinking water standard*, but this protection is not in place for those with private groundwater wells. Well owners are responsible for their own water quality monitoring and treatment. *While the EPA currently treats 10 ppm as a safe standard for acute risks, studies from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and others suggest that this limit might not be sufficient to eliminate the long-term cancer risk.
Nitrate Watch
Nitrate pollution is a sprawling, complex issue with its roots in major industries. It can be difficult to feel that we as individuals can affect change when an issue looms so large. This is one of the reasons that the Izaak Walton League is excited to invite volunteers to participate in the Nitrate Watch program, which takes a hands-on approach to combatting nitrate pollution.
Nitrate Watch is a community science program that engages volunteers from across the country in monitoring nitrate pollution. Volunteers request test kits, including nitrate test strips and instructions, at www.nitratewatch.org. These kits are free (as supplies allow) and include simple instructions that explain how to use the nitrate test strips and report results. Volunteers can monitor nitrate levels in surface water (including streams, rivers, lakes, and more) as well as drinking water (including water from public drinking water systems and private wells).
Data from Nitrate Watch volunteers is shared on the Clean Water Hub, where it is visualized in interactive, color-coded maps and graphs. This data is publicly accessible and can be used by anyone who wants to explore and communicate about nitrate pollution with members of their community.
You can find more information about last year’s volunteer-reported nitrate data in the 2025 Nitrate Watch Annual Report.
How to Get Involved
Nitrate Watch puts meaningful water quality information directly in the hands of concerned citizens. This turns a water quality issue that may seem abstract or distant into something that is tangible, visible, and locally relevant.
Joining Nitrate Watch is easy – visit www.NitrateWatch.org to request a free Nitrate Watch test kit. While you’re there, you can find educational resources exploring the impacts of nitrate pollution on environmental quality and human health and advocacy tools to help you speak up about harmful nutrient pollution.
Bio:
Heather Wilson is the Midwest Save Our Streams Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America. In this role, she supports water quality monitoring volunteers across the Midwest and manages the Nitrate Watch program. Heather received her M.S. in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University and her B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University.