Water nitrate levels steady

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has welcomed Environmental Protection Agency results for 2008 which indicate nitrate levels in groundwater have begun to stabilise.

The data shows a marked decrease in wells with nitrate concentrations greater than 25 milligrams per litre. But it is too soon to conclude this marks the start of a downward trend, said the minister.

The EU’s recent summary report, based on returns from member states submitted every four years, had shown concentration declining at 23% of groundwater sampling points, but increasing at 46% of points, for 2004-2007.