A new analysis conducted by the Environmental Working Group says high nitrate levels in drinking water is largely a rural problem. They want farmers to be required to implement conservation practices to reduce nutrient runoff. In their study, EWG also said about 70 percent of communities in ten states including Nebraska have nitrate levels of 5 parts per million or higher. Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux says that 5ppm is much less than the federal requirement of 10 ppm.
He says more science based study needs to be done on the nitrate issue and the EWG analysis is only focused on the problem not on any possible solutions.
Dux says by just pointing fingers at the problem without any possible suggestions for solutions is not helpful.
The EWG report claims that an estimated 17 percent of the groundwater area in Nebraska has nitrate levels of above 5 parts per million.
