Government Sampling of Nitrite in Douglas County Aquifer 112SDGVD
The U.S. Geological Survey has collected and analyzed 212 groundwater samples from 24 wells in Douglas County’s aquifer 112SDGVD, between May 2010 and June 2026. These wells range from 22 to 246 feet deep. Their findings show nitrite detected in 56 results, with a median value of 0.007 mg/L and a maximum of 0.295 mg/L, all below federal thresholds for health and safety.
How Nitrite and Nitrate Vary Seasonally and Over Multiple Years
The data spans more than a decade, capturing seasonal and multi-year fluctuations in nitrite levels. Variation reflects changes in rainfall, agricultural activity, and groundwater movement, which can influence how much nitrate and nitrite enter the aquifer. The range from 0.001 to 0.295 mg/L suggests occasional increases but no sustained or extreme spikes beyond detection limits.
Entry of Nitrate and Nitrite into Douglas County’s Groundwater
Nitrate and nitrite typically enter groundwater through natural nitrogen cycle processes and human activities such as fertilizer use on crops, septic systems, and wastewater. In this region’s aquifer, these substances can leach downward through soil layers into wells. Depth and local land use affect concentrations, but government sampling shows consistent low levels overall in this area.
Reading the Median and Range: A Homeowner’s Perspective
The median nitrite value in Douglas County’s aquifer is quite low at 0.007 mg/L, meaning half of the samples measured below this figure and half above. The maximum reading was 0.295 mg/L, which is still well beneath any health-based federal limit. This range means occasional presence but at low concentrations, and individual well tests are necessary to confirm specific household water status.
Understanding Detected, Median, and Range in the USGS Record
“Detected” means the sample contained measurable nitrite; it does not imply a violation or unsafe condition. The “median” is the middle value in all detections, reflecting typical conditions, while the “range” shows the lowest to highest measured values. In this sampling set, many results were below the reporting limit, indicating nitrite was often too low to quantify reliably in groundwater.
Residential Water Symptoms Related to Nitrate and Nitrite
Elevated nitrate or nitrite can cause water taste, staining, or minor corrosion issues when above aesthetic levels, but such occurrences are not shown by this data. Health concerns arise only if levels exceed federal thresholds, which this regional sampling did not detect. Symptoms like discoloration or strange tastes usually have other causes. Testing your own water is essential to identify nitrate presence definitively.
Conclusion and What to Do Next
This assessment is based on U.S. Geological Survey sampling of 24 wells from May 2010 through June 2026 in Douglas County’s aquifer 112SDGVD. While nitrite is detected occasionally at low levels, none exceed federal health limits in these regional data. For assurance about your household’s water, individual testing is necessary. Should filtering be considered, the C-Series Nitrate & Nitrite (Well) Filter ships ready to configure and is designed specifically to reduce these compounds effectively.
For further details, refer to the original U.S. Geological Survey water data source.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2026-06-15. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Nitrite in the 112SDGVD aquifer (Douglas County): 212 results from 24 wells, median 0.007 mg/L, range 0.001-0.295 mg/L; none above any federal threshold