Indiana town may drill new drill to combat nitrate levels

OWENSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A southwestern Indiana town dealing with high levels of a potentially dangerous chemical compound in its water supply plans to install a drainage pipe in a farm field to help address its water woes.

The Owensville Town Council will buy a 12-inch pipe to channel standing water from that field and divert it away from the Gibson County town's well-fed drinking water plant.

The Princeton Daily Clarion reports (http://bit.ly/1POb3FS ) state officials have advised the town that nitrates can get into water from standing water from agriculture fields.

Nitrate levels above 10 milligrams per liter can sicken or kill infants younger than 6 months by reducing oxygen levels in their blood.

Owensville's nitrate levels in its water supply are below that but the town has been working to bring those down.

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Information from: Princeton Daily Clarion, http://www.tristate-media.com/pdclarion