Water and dairy in New Zealand By Harry Dennison

Dairy farming is not the only cause of water pollution in New Zealand but it is one of the large contributors. The problem with dairy is not just the dumping of effluent into our rivers, but the leaching of the nitrate and urine of the soil and into rivers. Although Fonterra does dump large amounts of effluent into the Manawatu River it is still being allowed, they argued that it would cost too much to dispose of it through pipes on land, even though it would only be a small percentage of their multimillion dollar profit. Not all dairy farming causes pollution; if the effluent is spread back onto the paddocks or stored in ponds then it will not pollute the rivers and streams. If you spread urea or even the urine from the cows can leach into rivers or streams if they are close. Unfortunately more and more dairy farmers are discharging their effluent into rivers as shown on the graph below.

Link:

http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/submissions-and-advice/briefing-on-dairy-farming-impact-on-water-quantity-and-quality

Link for Picture:

http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=picture+of+how+dairy+farming+effects+new+zealand+rivers&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=xBOUUY1XhoKJB8PHgPAD&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=963#imgrc=uv1OL7WDxrKG4M%3A%3B60cr2JGdY_Iz8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.waikatoregion.govt.nz%252FPageFiles%252F2573%252Findex1.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.waikatoregion.govt.nz%252FEnvironment%252FNatural-resources%252FLand-and-soil%252FApplying-effluent-to-land%252F%3B348%3B299