Greenpeace has announced that it will be holding a public meeting in Rangiora on the 19th of October to discuss nitrate contamination of drinking water. The organisation says after its last round of drinking water testing in North Canterbury, it was clear that the problems around nitrate contamination are getting worse – with town water supplies in nearby Darfield, Kirwee, and Oxford testing at levels near those associated with reproductive risk.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Everyone should be able to safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap, but what we’re seeing in Canterbury is that more and more public water supplies are reaching levels of nitrate that have been linked to adverse health impacts from long-term exposure.
Long-term exposure to nitrate contamination of drinking water at levels as low as 1 mg/L has been linked to increased risk of bowel cancer, and the New Zealand College of Midwives advises that pregnant women should avoid water with nitrate levels over 5 mg/L, due to an increased risk of pre-term birth.
“We’ve brought together a panel of local and national experts to help people across Canterbury understand what the impacts of nitrate contamination are – and how they can take action to stop the pollution of drinking water at the source.”
The meeting is scheduled for 6.30pm at The Skurr Centre, Rangiora Showgrounds on 19th October. Speakers will include:
- Karyne Rogers, Senior Environmental Scientist at GNS Science
- Tim Chambers, Associate Professor in the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, University of Canterbury
- Nicky Snoyink, Regional Manager for Canterbury at Forest & Bird
- Will Appelbe, Freshwater Campaigner, Greenpeace Aotearoa
Attendees will hear a presentation from each speaker, followed by a panel discussion and a Q&A session with the audience.
Greenpeace will also be holding two more free water testing events in Canterbury on the 18th and 20th October. These will be held in Amberley and Oxford, and more details are available here.
