Forest & Bird is calling on the Government to reinstate a freshwater nitrogen limit of 1.0 mg/l into its proposed freshwater reforms, after the organisation obtained alarming readings of nitrate-nitrogen in public drinking water supplies.
See the ‘traffic light’ summary of the readings for each district here.
Forest & Bird Freshwater advocate Tom Kay says “We know these high readings are a result of intensive farming upstream, and they’re a significant concern for both human and ecosystem health.”
“The government’s new freshwater standards set the limit for nitrogens way too high for the health of our rivers, and that has implications for drinking water. Communities shouldn’t have to put up with dangerous pollution levels in their drinking water.”
Last year, the release of a Danish study linking nitrate-nitrogen levels as low as 0.88 mg/l with an increased risk of colorectal cancer prompted the New Zealand Government to initiate a review of nitrate-nitrogen levels in drinking water.
2020 data obtained by Forest & Bird through the Official Information Act shows multiple Canterbury councils have reported nitrate-nitrogen levels this year well above 0.88 mg/l, with Selwyn, Ashburton, Timaru, and Waitaki presenting especially concerning levels.
The supply for the Rangitata Huts reached a recent maximum of 11.43 mg/l in June last year, having since dropped back to 8.85 mg/l in April.
Ashburton’s Tinwald treatment plants recorded a nitrate-nitrogen level of 7.01 mg/l, well above the increased risk levels for colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer, and above the Ministry of Health level of 5.65 mg/l that prompts ongoing monitoring of the supply. Numerous other supplies across the wider Ashburton district recorded similar levels.
Forest & Bird says the results are a wakeup call for the government, which last month decided not to put a Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen limit of 1.0 mg/l (similar to nitrate-nitrogen) in the new freshwater reforms, ignoring the advice of its Science and Technical Advisory Group, as well as submissions from the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine (that called for a level “considerably lower than 1 mg/L of DIN”), and the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.
Forest & Bird is now calling on Minister Parker to reinstate the 1.0 mg/l nitrogen bottom line, ahead of the gazetting of the freshwater reforms within the next few months.
Impact on rivers and lakes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO4CBQXaM9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLR00eVMM3U
We have a crisis driven by agriculture, ignorance and greed.
https://smartwatermagazine.com/blogs/michael-mike-joy/freshwater-crisis-100-pure-new-zealand
Here is detail on what happened in Flint Miichigan about their water. We can see the progression of disaster from a lack of responsibility by the leaders of the state to help the city of Flint impoverished because of the closure of General Motors works and large unemployment. We could be seeing the same here if National gets in again and Labour dithers about where it wants to sit.
Flint, Michigan USA had been the canary down the coal mine for bad water and bad, careless administration. Since their 2014 debacle we have had the 2016 Havelock North disgraceful water quality collapse and the sickness that followed.
Flint has had an awful time, as shown on this timeline with details to accompany each date of the continuing problem. https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-water-crisis-fast-facts/index.html
The switch to a new water source occurs in April 2014. In October 2014 – The General Motors plant in Flint stops using the city’s water due to concerns about high levels of chlorine corroding engine parts. The company strikes a deal with a neighboring township to purchase water from Lake Huron in lieu of using water from the Flint River. The switch is anticipated to cost the city $400,000.
But still the residents get poor water for drinking, of a lesser quality than is used for machines. January 2, 2015 – The city warns residents the water contains byproducts of disinfectants that may cause health issues including an increased risk for cancer over time. The water is deemed safe for the general population, but the elderly and parents of young children are cautioned to consult with their doctors.
January 12, 2015 – The DWSD offers to reconnect the city with Lake Huron water, waiving a $4 million fee to restore service. City officials decline, citing concerns water rates could go up more than $12 million each year, even with the reconnection fee waiver.
In October 2014 there is a bad report from the state authority to the Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder about the water which is followed by flushing the system and increasing the chlorine. In February 2015 the Governor sees a report that refers to “hiccups” in the system, and fudges the bad quality and health effects. $2 million is granted to deal to the problems….But one sick resident’s water was tested. Testing revealed that her water had 104 parts per billion (ppb) of lead, nearly seven times greater than the EPA limit of 15 ppb.
June 5, 2015 – A group of clergymen and activists files a lawsuit against the city, charging that the river water is a health risk. The city attorney later says the lawsuit is baseless. The case is dismissed in September.
November 13, 2015 – Residents file a federal class action lawsuit claiming 14 state and city officials, including Snyder, knowingly exposed Flint residents to toxic water. ..
January 14, 2016 – Snyder writes President Barack Obama to request the declaration of an expedited major disaster in Flint, estimating it will cost $55 million to install lead-free pipes throughout the city.
January 16, 2016 – The president declines to declare a disaster in Flint. Instead, he authorizes $5 million in aid, declaring a state of emergency in the city. The state of emergency allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to step in…
June 22, 2016 – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette files civil lawsuits against two companies for their alleged role in the Flint water crisis. Veolia North America is charged with negligence, fraud and public nuisance. Lockwood, Andrews & Newman (LAN) is charged with negligence and public nuisance. …
October 18, 2016 – The ACLU of Michigan files a class action lawsuit against school districts in Flint for exposing students to tainted water and inadequately testing children for learning disabilities that may have been caused by ingesting lead…
February 17, 2017 – The Michigan Civil Rights Commission issues a report: “The Flint Water Crisis: Systemic Racism Through the Lens of Flint.” According to the 129-page report, “deeply embedded institutional, systemic and historical racism” indirectly contributed to the ill-fated decision to tap the Flint River for drinking water as a cost-saving measure.
March 17, 2017 – The EPA announces that it has awarded $100 million to Flint for drinking water infrastructure upgrades…
October 5, 2018 – Flint Community Schools announces that new ultraviolet water filtration systems for water fountains are being installed at schools throughout the city. Billionaire Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation funded the project with a $480,350 donation to the district.
Michigan took over Flint’s finances in 2011 and endeavoured to cut costs. General Motors was no longer employing as it used to causing a massive rise in unemployment and loss of earnings. The people were virtually abandoned to bean counters.
(When you get to 2019 you will notice that Governor Rick Snyder is dealt to. He is offered a Harvard senior research fellowship! But sadly had to turn it down after controversy.
Private for profit water companies should never be allowed.
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