Spanish groundwater resources are dying. In Spain, 28.6% of analyzed groundwater was contaminated with nitrates, and according to Greenpeace the reason for this is “well known: industrial agriculture and animal husbandry“. However, when other pollution factors are taken into account, the percentage of waters affected is even higher.
The environmental organization has published a preview of the work it carried out in Spain, with the help of citizens to whom it sent 10,000 free nitrate measurement kits, as part of the ‘Stop Industrial Livestock’ Week 3 Challenge. detailed in a statement.
Now the results are in their hands 5,000 tests and as a result, it can be concluded that 7% of the drinking water examined is contaminated.
“Although it may seem like a low percentage, this means: Many people may be drinking contaminated water without realizing it.“According to Greenpeace.
Additionally, 11% of analyzed surface waters (rivers, streams, lakes or lagoons) also contain pollution.
The place where the most measurements were made is Catalonia, followed by Madrid and Castilla y León.
Most polluted areas
As for the results, The three regions with the highest pollution are the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León. 43%, 22% and 20% of the measurements gave negative results, respectively.
Greenpeace focused on the issue of industrial animal agriculture and stated: Almost 900 million animals were slaughtered in Spain in 2022; Of these, 56.3 million were pigs, “the biggest cause of the problem.”
Agriculture is also “unfortunately” increasingly producing food for these “large numbers of animals” in the service of industrial animal husbandry.
The government is taking precautions
“I am aware of this problem and I am facing this situation” Pressure is also coming from the European Commission “The Spanish Government seems to have taken action on this issue,” he said.
In particular, in 2022, Royal Decree 47/2022 was approved. Protect water from nitrate pollution and more recently RD 665/2023, which lists activities that have the potential to pollute soil and therefore water.
On the other hand, the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation presented the Nitrash Strategy at the beginning of 2023, No concessions or permits should be given to new intensive animal husbandry facilities or expansion of existing facilities. In areas overloaded with nitrates.
These measures “A good step, but still insufficient” All competent authorities should be involved in resolving this issue and act in a “coordinated” manner, they added.
More information at this link.
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