What is the Minister's response, if any, to the Environment Southland report on nitrate contamination in groundwater which shows that "approximately 1,530 people on private supplies and 13,632 on public groundwater supplies are served by drinking-water supplies located within mapped areas of high vulnerability" to nitrate contamination?

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Health actively reviews the body of evidence relating to the health effects of nitrates in drinking water and provides public health advice to the Water Services Authority relating to the drinking water standards. I am further advised that the Ministry for the Environment sets the national environmental standard for sources of human drinking water that specifies requirements for local authorities to protect sources of human drinking water from being contaminated, including from nitrates.