Wider nitrate control planned

6 December 1999



Wider nitrate control planned

Bby Alistair Driver

THE area of land covered by Nitrate Vulnerable Zones is set to be extended in an effort to reduce nitrates draining from agricultural land into surface and groundwater.

Nitrate levels will now be monitored in all fresh waters, not just in drinking waters, in line with a wider interpretation of the European Union Nitrates directive.

Proposals to add to the existing 66 NVZs in England will be put out to consultation next year, according to the Department of the Environment.

The majority of proposed new designations is expected to increase the number of designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in central and eastern England.

NVZs are water catchment areas where nitrate levels in water exceed or are likely to exceed the legal limit set out in the directive.

The move will require farmers within the new designations to implement Action Programmes to reduce nitrate levels.

Nitrate levels in non-drinking surface waters are already being monitored by the Environment Agency.

Parallel work will be undertaken to establish levels in groundwater not used as a source of drinking water.

Technical assessment of the extended monitoring is already underway and completion of the mapping of areas proposed for designation is expected next year.