Agricultural pollution in drinking water

Farmers and environmentalists often have a hard time being friends.  This is especially true when agricultural fertilizers and pesticides are leaching into groundwater systems and drinking water supplies.  Another instance of this was recently reported in the French department of the Vienne just south of the Loire Valley.
 
A biennial report from the Agence régionale santé (ASR) for the Poitou-Charente Region found dangerous levels of nitrates in several local drinking water supplies.  As a result, some drinking water agencies are considering investing in special treatment systems to remove the contaminants.  The ARS found similar contimination from pesticides.

© La Nouvelle République

The article in La Nouvelle Republique (published in Tours) only reported on the release of the ARS study, not on any corrective measures.  So, absent any action, this appears to be where things will remain.  Farmers will continue current practices and drinking water customers will pay higher rates to cover costs of decontamination, effectively providing another form of agricultural subsidy.

The national consumer organization UFC Que Choisir is reported to have initiated some form of legal action, but the article didn’t provide details.