Mean annual nitrate in rivers for 2005 by National River Basin District

The run-off of water from farmlands where nitrogen-rich fertilisers and manure are used or intense livestock farming takes place causes excessive levels of nitrate in our water. High concentrations of nitrate are both a risk to aquatic ecosystems and our health. They cause eutrophication in water, as an ecological imbalance occurs due to excessive algal growth, and can also pollute drinking water.

This map shows the average mean annual concentrations of nitrate measured at Eionet-Water River monitoring stations located within National River Basin Districts (RBDs) during 2005.