NITROGEN REMOVAL FROM THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

On January 2/21 the Waterloo Region Record published a story titled "Restoration could reduce pollution" written by Leah Gerber. The article advises that "...targeted wetland restoration dramatically reduces nitrogen pollution.". Most nitrogen soil and water contamination is related to agriculture, both crops and livestock. The nitrogen is put on the fields as a fertilzer and the livestock "deposit" the nitrogen as manure. This study by two University of Waterloo grad students is extremely important as it proves that wetland restoration needs to occur near high nitrogen input areas such as rural agricultural areas or even farms on the edge of urban areas. Here the nitrates and nitrites degrade both groundwater and surface water quality. Examples are the higher concentrations of these compounds in North Dumphries and Wilmot Townships due to their high agricultural presence. .............................................................................................................. Locally here in Elmira, we have learned the hard way that nitrogen in the soils and groundwater can assist in ruining our water supply. Both Nutrite (later known as Yara) and Uniroyal contributed nitrogen and ammonia to the natural environment. Even the Varnicolor Chemical site also likely increased the concentration of NDMA in the groundwater via the prior extensive pig farms in the area. Dimethylamine came from Nutrite, Uniroyal and Varnicolor and it was a precurser to NDMA formation. The dimethylamine combined with nitrogen in the ground, especially under acidic conditions (read Uniroyal) to produce N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Varnicolor also had acidic conditions due to sulphuric acid and other discharges to their property on Union St. This of course has continued to be kept covered up as our authorities "sweetheart" deal with Uniroyal originally had that company accepting 100% of the blame for NDMA in groundwater and drinking water in Elmira.