“The grey water footprint of milk due to nitrate leaching from dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand,” published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, also finds that there are not sufficient volumes of rain and river water to dilute nitrate pollution in Canterbury to acceptable drinking standards. Nitrate in drinking water is linked to Blue Baby Syndrome, preterm birth and colorectal cancer. Rural communities on household bore supplies are most at risk from nitrate in water. “The large footprint for milk in Canterbury indicates just how far the capacity of the environment has been overshot. “Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right – yet for an increasing number of New Zealanders this right is being denied,” says Abel.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 30, 2022 10:55 UTC