Total  Nitrogen
 Total  Nitrogen  is  an  essential
 nutrient  for  plants  and  animals.
 However,  an  excess  amount  of
 nitrogen in a waterway can lead to
 low levels of dissolved oxygen and
 negatively alter various plant life and
 organisms.    Sources of  nitrogen
 include:   wastewater   treatment
 plants, runoff from fertilized lawns
 and    croplands,   failing   septic
 systems, runoff from animal manure
 and  storage areas,  and industrial
 discharges  that  contain  corrosion
 inhibitors.
                                       Storm runoff from a cattle operation can increase Total Nitrogen
                                                     levels in a water body.
 Understanding  Total Nitrogen:  There are three  forms  of nitrogen  that are commonly
 measured in water bodies:  ammonia, nitrates and nitrites.  Total nitrogen is the sum of total
 kjeldahl nitrogen (organic and reduced nitrogen), ammonia, and nitrate-nitrite. It can be derived by
 monitoring for total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia and nitrate-nitrite individually and adding
 the components together. An acceptable range of total nitrogen is 2 mg/L to 6 mg/L, though it is
 recommended to check tribal, state, or federal standards for an adequate comparison of your data.

                                             Monitoring Equipment:  Depending upon
                                             monitoring  objectives  set  forth   in  an
                                             environmental   program,   the   following
                                             equipment  options are  commonly used to
                                             collect total nitrogen data from the field.

                                             Readily available and economically priced:
                                                •  Total Nitrogen Kits

                                             For  each component  of total  nitrogen,  the
                                             following  can  be used and are of  greater
                                             precision and higher cost:
                                                •  Meters
                                                •  Multiparameter Probes
                                                •  Contract Laboratories (if necessary)

                                             For additional information:
 Trash areas like this may leach chemicals that can increase Total  www.epa.gov/OWOW/monitoring/Volunteer/Stream
      Nitrogen during a storm event into a water body.
For more information, please contact your CWA Project Officer or Kristin Gullatt, Manager of the Water Division, Tribal Office at (415) 972-3432.

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