The Importance of Ammonia Testing in Water

Ammonia is naturally found in water, as it is produced through the decay of organic matter as well as by humans through the production of fertilisers, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals.

Ammonia at low concentrations is mostly harmless to humans, however, it is an irritant to the eyes and nose. The taste and odour of the water can be affected by the presence of ammonia.

Ammonia is toxic to aquatic life and has been reportedly toxic at levels as low as 0.5 mg/L. High ammonia levels in natural waters can result in an excess of algae growth, which prevents sunlight from reaching the aquatic life and plants eventually causing death. This can cause imbalance in the ecosystems.

Ammonia in Drinking Water

In drinking water, ammonia needs to be monitored to safeguard human health. It may be present after disinfection using monochloramines, or because of leaching from materials used in the pipework construction. Chlorine is known to react with ammonia and therefore decreased disinfection efficiency can be expected if the drinking water has more than 0.2 mg/L of ammonia.

Ammonia in Wastewater

In wastewater, ammonia can reach elevated levels due to bacterial action. Monitoring of ammonia in wastewater plants is crucial before the effluent is released to prevent the damage to the local aquatic life. Wastewater treatment plants measure ammonia to assess the efficiency of treatment processes.

How ammonia exists in water

When ammonia (NH3) is dissolved in water, some of the ammonia molecules will gain a hydrogen ion and this positively charged species is called ammonium (NH4+). The ratio of NH3 to NH4+ is dependent on the pH and temperature of the water. The lower the pH and the warmer the water; the higher the concentration of ammonium due to the increase of H+ ions.

Palintest offers a variety of methods for testing ammonia. For more information about ammonia testing or any of our testing solutions contact our team.