What should the nitrate limit for drinking water be?

The Green Party supports an evidence-based review of the nitrate limit in drinking water. We also support taking a precautionary approach to protect people’s health.

The health of our communities and our environment must come before corporate profits. Emerging evidence shows a link between nitrate contamination of drinking water and bowel cancer and preterm births. This has prompted the Danish Government to commit to lowering their nitrate limit in drinking water by almost 90%.

In Aotearoa, recent research on more than 750,000 births nationwide found an average of 120 premature births each year could be attributed to nitrate in drinking water.