Water with nitrate levels over 100 mg./l. should not be used domestically

Reducing the nitrate level in drinking water will take years

Turo. Mao´s water supply is also very high in nitrates

The Director General of Water Resources said that the Government needs to know the cause of the contamination before corrective measures can be taken

C.M.W..Maó

The Director General of Water Resources, Joan Crespí, last week admitted that the high concentration of nitrates in Es Migjorn´s water supply posed a serious problem and promised to do everything within his power to improve Menorca´s drinking water supply. However, he added that the Balearic Government did not know exactly what had caused the contamination and said that "it will take many years" to reduce the nitrate levels.

A report entitled "State of underground water in the Balearic archipelago. Island of Menorca. Year 2004" revealed that the wells that feed Es Castell, Sant Lluís, Maó and Sant Climent show maximum readings of 130 milligrams of nitrates per litre of water. The highest concentrations are to be found in Es Migjorn and in the Ciutadella district where readings of up to 140 mg./l. have been recorded. Under European guidelines, concentrations in excess of 50 milligrams per litre are considered to be a public health risk.

Crespí commented that the Government is continually spending money on improving the island´s water supply but was unable to specify the measures which would be employed to solve this problem. He confined his comments to comparing the presence of nitrates in the water to an illness. "In medical terms, until one knows the concrete cause of an illness it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis and treat it, so before anything, we have to know the cause of this contamination", he said.

He explained that various factors, or combinations of factors, can cause high levels of nitrates in underground water supplies, such as: the use of chemical or natural fertilisers; filtrations from septic tanks; or an accumulation of animal waste products.

According to the Director General, nitrate contamination is something that has built up gradually over the years and cannot be reversed in a short period of time. He referred to the various projects that have been carried out over the last few years to improve the sewer system and the construction of sewage farms, to gradually reduce the level of nitrates. He also pointed out that it was necessary that farmers be aware of the problem when using fertilisers.

The health authorities advise that drinking water should contain less than 50 milligrams of nitrates per litre; and that water with more than 100 mg. per litre should not be used for domestic purposes, especially for elderly people, babies and infants, and people with high blood pressure.

Crespí went on to explain that the habitual drinking of water containing high levels of nitrate could result in anaemia, although he added that, until now, no doctor had diagnosed anaemia as a result of this problem.

However, according to health sites on the internet, "nitrates cause a health threat in very young infants called "blue baby" syndrome. This condition disrupts oxygen flow in the blood.