Greenpeace Aotearoa has written to Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health again following testing that revealed high levels of nitrate contamination in Ashburton District drinking water.

Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, "Safe, healthy drinking water is a fundamental human right, but many people in Canterbury cannot drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap without risking getting sick. This is a public health crisis, and the Ministry of Health must take action."

Greenpeace is calling on the Ministry of Health to step in and require Environment Canterbury to protect drinking water from nitrate contamination caused by the intensive dairy industry.

Greenpeace’s most recent round of water testing found that close to one in five private bores tested in the Ashburton District were above the Government’s maximum allowable value of nitrate in drinking water (11.3 mg/L NO3-N) - a level associated with potentially-fatal Blue Baby Syndrome. It also found that nearly half of the private bores tested were above 5 mg/L. This level of nitrate in drinking water has been linked to elevated risks of preterm birth if consumed by pregnant people.

One public supply - the Hinds town supply - tested at 6.55 mg/L for nitrate. Greenpeace says this is not the first town supply in Canterbury to reach potentially unsafe levels of nitrate contamination - last year, the organisation also found public water supplies in Darfield and Oxford were testing at levels above 5 mg/L of nitrate.

"It is unacceptable that no action has been taken yet to stop contamination of drinking water at the source," says Appelbe.

"The source of nitrate pollution is clear: it is the intensive dairy industry. Too many cows, and too much synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, lead to nitrate leaching into groundwater, which is where most communities in Canterbury draw their water from. And so the solution is also clear. We need to reduce the dairy herd size, and phase out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in Aotearoa.

"Ultimately, we need to transition towards more plant-based, ecological farming practices that work with, instead of against, nature.

"It’s time for our Government to take accountability for the public health crisis that is looming as a result of unchecked dairying and water pollution. We’re calling on the Ministry of Health to ensure that drinking water in Canterbury is protected at the source - so that everyone, no matter where they live, can safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap."

Greenpeace’s letter to the Ministry of Health is here: Greenpeace Aotearoa

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