It is common to read statements like this: “… EPA found that 20 percent of 331 wells tested had nitrate levels above federal drinking water standards …” Such statements contain no useful information because they lack context. To put this statement in context we need much more information. For example: where are these 20% located in relation to all 331 wells, what time of year were these high nitrate concentrations observed, and how frequently did they occur? This would be a start, yet still not complete enough to support sound regulatory or judicial decisions.