Water Trails & Water Pollution

Treating Water Pollution - Denitrification

Denitrification is an ecological approach that can be used to prevent the leaching of nitrates in soil, this in turn stops any ground water from being contaminated with nutrients.

• Fertilizers contain nitrogen, and are often applied to crops by farmers to help plant growth and increase the yield.

• Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen in the fertilizer to nitrates, making it easier for the plants to absorb.

• Immobilization is a process where the nitrates become part of the soil organic matter.

• When oxygen levels are low, another form of bacteria then turns the nitrates into gases such as nitrogen, nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide.

• The conversion of these nitrates into gas is called denitrification. This prevents nitrates from leaching into the soil and contaminating groundwater.