Croplands accounted for 60 percent of anthropogenic nitrate contamination in groundwater in 2018. This was mainly caused by the overuse and improper timing of fertilizer applications. The second main source of nitrate contamination in groundwater was domestic wastewater and septic tanks.
Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018
Characteristic
Share of groundwater contamination
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Cropland: Overuse and improper timing of fertilizer applications are the source
of most nitrates in groundwater.
Deforestation: Deforestation reduces the ability of soils to retain nitrogen in rainfall.
Domestic wastewater and septic tanks: In areas with large numbers of people, faecal waste is the major source of nitrate pollution.
Industrial waste: Several industries use various nitrogen-containing compounds.
Improper disposal of waste material may add to nitrate concentration in groundwater.
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Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, & Friends of the Earth. (August 31, 2021). Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, und Friends of the Earth. "Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018." Chart. August 31, 2021. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Friends of the Earth. (2021). Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, and Friends of the Earth. "Distribution of Anthropogenic Sources of Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater Worldwide in 2018." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Aug 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung & Friends of the Earth, Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Distribution of anthropogenic sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater worldwide in 2018 [Graph], Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, & Friends of the Earth, August 31, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1262080/groundwater-nitrate-pollution-worldwide/
