"German gov't sued by NGO for excessive nitrate contamination of groundwater", 17 Jul 2018

NGO German Environmental Aid (DUH) filed a lawsuit against...government...for failing to combat the excessive nitrate contamination of Germany's groundwater.  DUH confirmed that it had filed a 75-page lawsuit at the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Regional Court aimed at achieving a better protection of domestic groundwater from nitrate pollution caused by the agricultural industry.  Berlin was already found guilty by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) of breaching groundwater protection legislation...but evaded being fined...Nitrate contamination of groundwater is largely caused by the use of manure to fertilize plants in agricultural production...[T]he excessive use thereof can lead to residues in groundwater which are damaging to human health...Regions in which intensive livestock farming take place were most-affected by the pollution...The DUH has announced that it may file further lawsuits on a regional and municipal level in a bid to pressure policymakers to support more sustainable forms of agriculture...