It took decades to raise nitrate levels in P.E.I.'s groundwater to serious levels, and it will take decades to fix the problem, says a commission study.

Premier Robert Ghiz said his government would act on the commission's six key recommendations. (CBC)

The report released Tuesday shows how nitrate levels have risen in recent years, and lays out a detailed plan for reducing them.

The issue of groundwater quality was raised a decade ago by a committee asked by the government to look at land use. Testing from 2000 shows 3.5 per cent of Island wells had nitrate levels higher than nationally accepted standards. Now that number has almost doubled.

The report delivers 30 recommendations, six that should be implemented immediately.

A major source of nitrate pollution is fertilizers used in agriculture. One of the more contentious recommendations is likely to be a mandatory three-year crop rotation for potato farmers designed to reduce the need for fertilizers.

Premier Robert Ghiz told CBC News on Tuesday that the six key recommendations will be implemented.

"There's going to be some recommendations in here that won't be as popular as others, but at the end of the day, you have to take politics out of it and say we have to make sure that this is a problem that is addressed," said Ghiz.

The stricter rules on crop rotations could be in place as early as next year's planting season.

A 25-year solution

UPEI biologist Mike Van Den Heuval read the nitrate report, and said it does a good job of highlighting the gravity of the situation.

"It was interesting that the report cited that even if we do do something, it's going to take 25 years to solve the problem," said Van Den Heuval.

Nitrate levels are expected to rise because the chemical is already in the soil, trickling down into the groundwater.

Ghiz is urging Islanders to be patient, and said legislative changes will come this fall.

Nitrates in drinking water have been linked to illnesses, including cancer and birth defects, but studies have been inconclusive.

Another concern is the effect on rivers and streams, where excess nitrates can lead to algal blooms that consume the oxygen in the water, suffocating fish and shellfish.