Parents worry about nitrate levels in drinking water

A Danish couple questions the safety of tap water after experts recommend lowering nitrate limits.

Tim Duus Jacobsen and Marie Holm Christensen, a young couple from the small village of Revn near Grenaa, have become increasingly concerned about the safety of their drinking water. Their worries stem from a December 2025 report by the Ministry of Environment, which suggested drastically reducing the acceptable nitrate levels in tap water from 50 milligrams per liter to 6 milligrams per liter. The report indicated that high nitrate levels could slightly increase the risk of colon cancer.

Despite assurances from experts like Jörg Schullehner, a lecturer at Aarhus University’s Institute of Public Health, that tap water is safe to drink, the couple remains anxious. They live in an area known as the “nitrate belt,” where the geology allows nitrates to seep into groundwater more easily. Their local water supplier, Vandcenter Djurs, confirmed that their water likely exceeds the new recommended limit but remains below the current legal limit.

The couple has taken measures to address their concerns, installing a water filter in their kitchen that reduces other contaminants like PFAS and pesticides. They acknowledge that authorities do not recommend such filters but feel it provides a sense of security. Marie Holm Christensen expresses her worry about the future, questioning whether tap water will remain safe to drink if no significant actions are taken.

As Denmark approaches its parliamentary elections in 11 days, the couple is clear that their vote will be influenced by parties’ commitments to improving water safety, particularly through regulating agricultural practices.

Source: DR