Greenpeace warns of high costs from nitrate-contaminated drinking water

A study commissioned by Greenpeace and conducted by the Forum Ökologisch-Soziale Marktwirtschaft (FÖS) indicates that nitrate-contaminated drinking water in Germany could lead to significant economic and health costs. The findings suggest that treating colorectal cancer caused by such water could cost approximately 75 million euros annually, with an additional 66 million euros in indirect economic losses. When accounting for the loss of healthy life years, the total societal cost is estimated at roughly 1.16 billion euros per year.

Currently, 62 percent of drinking water testing sites in Germany report nitrate levels at or above 10 milligrams per liter, well below the official limit of 50 milligrams per liter. However, Greenpeace warns that international studies show increased cancer risks even at concentrations significantly lower than the German threshold. The primary cause of this groundwater contamination is high nutrient input from agricultural activities.

In response to these risks, Denmark is planning to implement stricter fertilization regulations and lower its nitrate limit in drinking water to six milligrams per liter. Experts suggest that reducing nitrogen surpluses through stricter fertilization rules and area-based livestock farming is more sustainable and cost-effective than the complex process of treating contaminated water.