Reducing toxic nitrate levels takes time, says unelected Environment Canterbury water commissioner David Caygill. What's a little infant mortality when you have an economy to run?
We are on the receiving end of the very same message down here in Southland right now. DairyNZ 'PR' Rick Pridmore is telling us the nitrates in the waterways aren't a concern, because the rivers are 'phosphorus limited' - that is, weed growth is restricted by the amount of phosphorus in the water and as there is little, nitrates can be discounted as a measure for water quality. Questions about human health, nitrates in the groundwater, bores providing drinking water to pregnant rural folk etc were studiously ignored.
We are on the receiving end of the very same message down here in Southland right now. DairyNZ 'PR' Rick Pridmore is telling us the nitrates in the waterways aren't a concern, because the rivers are 'phosphorus limited' - that is, weed growth is restricted by the amount of phosphorus in the water and as there is little, nitrates can be discounted as a measure for water quality.
ReplyDeleteQuestions about human health, nitrates in the groundwater, bores providing drinking water to pregnant rural folk etc were studiously ignored.