Nitrates
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In 2008, there was a nitrate clinic where residents could bring along a sample of their well-water for testing. As a result of these tests, and others that have been done since 2004, we gathered a total of 233 tests and mapped the results by community. Nitrate level is measured in milligrams per litre and a reading of 10 is considered as a problem. Out of the 78 tests done at the clinic in 2008, there were 2 samples with readings of over 10, the average being 3.3. Out of the 233 tests done since 2004, the average reading was 2.8. In the map below, the green areas are communities where the average well-water nitrate level is less than 3 mg per litre, the brown areas where it is between 3 and 5 mg per litre. The red numbers show the number of samples taken in each community, which shows that the higher, brown, areas are based on a larger sample than the lower, green areas. It would be a stretch to conclude that people living in problem areas are more likely to have their water tested, but that could well be true! |
| This map, put together by the Provincial Government, shows other watersheds, so we are actually doing quite well compared to some other areas of the Island. |
