...causing 'dead zones', toxic algal blooms, a loss of biodiversity and increased health risks for the plants, animals and humans that come in contact with polluted waters. This threatens the loss of economic and social benefits from freshwaters upon which society relies...
warns a recent article on "Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes".
It's why the approved restoration scheme for Aggregate Industries' Blackhill Quarry says:
...all soils will be tested for pH and nutrient content to ensure they are suitable for heathland restoration i.e. phosphorous is less than 10mg/kg and that the pH is between 3 and 5 3.6.1
Phosphorus acts as a plant nutrient. Blackhill abuts a Natura 2000 site, a protected European wildlife area on Woodbury Common. Natural England has already warned AI:
This habitat is more sensitive than any other wetland habitats and is very sensitive to any nutrient change.
After all, the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths, which "represents one of the most important conservation sites in Europe", have been battling against nutrients for years.
And yet, despite material from Houndaller having phosphorous levels up to 17x the level required, amazingly AI has still not given up on its madcap planning application to process Hillhead material at Blackhill - each round trip 52.8 miles - according to last week's Extension of Time letter:
It is hoped this will allow sufficient time for Natural England to be consulted on the additional information to be provided.
Quite what additional information AI can concoct to persuade Natural England that environmentally it’s a good idea to import tens of thousands of tonnes of material from agricultural land at Houndaller - potentially hundreds of thousands from Straitgate - (land that's nutrient-rich, high-yielding, good for growing grass for dairy farming) to "a heathland area which requires negligible or preferably no nutrients" (when these nutrients can leach into groundwater for decades) remains to be seen.
But it’s not rocket science:
Even modest increases in #groundwater pollution can cause extermination of some species- @iahgroundwater https://t.co/8tLf2kTOjX— Securing Water (@securingwater) June 9, 2016
So, since we're persistently being told how much @AggregateUK cares for wildlife and the environment, it's about time the company walked the walk - right out of Blackhill.
Blackhill Quarry tour for @RSPBSouthWest #heathweek reveals a flourishing habitat for #wildlife pic.twitter.com/5vBpTkNHzJ— Aggregate Industries (@AggregateUK) July 31, 2015
