Groundwater needs stronger protection from nitrates, says NGO

EU law on groundwater pollution must be strengthened to protect Europeans from nitrate pollution caused by intensive animal farming, according to an an environmental group. The warning comes ahead of discussions of the EU Groundwater Directive in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg on 12 June. In its current form, the directive puts a 50mg limit on nitrates per litre, and obliges EU member states to monitor and counter pollution of groundwater by toxic chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals and pharmaceutical residues. Friends of the Earth criticised the directive for its numerous exceptions that they say allow nitrates to penetrate into drinking water supplies. The NGO urged MEPs to vote against changes that would weaken the directive, which it said is already "inadequate" because of the loopholes included in it. See Edie News Centre website for full details.