The article deals with the problem of natural water pollution by nitrate ions, their sources, and the impact on human health and the environment. The main problems of nitrate pollution of natural waters are identified, which indicate the urgent need to monitor natural waters for the presence and content of nitrate ions. The possibilities of instrumental methods, namely electrochemical, chromatographic, and spectrophotometric methods, as well as biosensors, and their success in determining nitrate ions in aqueous solutions are considered in detail. It is noted that instrumental methods are highly effective and rational for use in the laboratory for the determination of nitrate ions in water samples of varying complexity, but they require a long procedure, expensive equipment, and the involvement of highly qualified specialists. As a result, nanostructured ceramic membranes have been proposed to create indicator or adsorption-storage systems for the detection of nitrate ions on their basis, the features of which are discussed.