Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is calling on Environment Canterbury to be upfront about health risks of nitrate contamination, following ECanâs release of new data that shows nitrate contamination in drinking water is rising. ECan has released the results of its annual groundwater quality survey for 2020. 322 wells were tested, with the highest nitrate reading of 22mg/L being almost double the current health limit for drinking water (11.3mg/L). Greenpeace says ECanâs data is consistent with Greenpeaceâs own results from free nitrate water testing days across Canterbury, with both datasets showing concerningly high and worsening levels of nitrate. Greenpeace senior campaigner Steve Abel says ECanâs comments on the data do not tell the whole story about the risks of nitrate contamination.