Nitrates - reducing water pollution from agriculture
Nitrate levels in many English waters, both ground and surface waters, either remain high or are increasing. Nitrate pollution is of concern because it has to be removed before water can be supplied to consumers, and it can harm the water environment. Over 60% of nitrate enters water from agricultural land.
The following pages provide details of action to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution, which is one aspect of the broader problem of diffuse pollution from agriculture.
News
21 July 2008 – Government Response to the consultation on how we implement the Nitrates Directive in England
In 2006, the Department completed a review of action taken to date to implement the Nitrates Directive in England. This review highlighted the need for further action if we are to tackle water pollution caused by nitrogen from agricultural sources. A consultation (now closed) was launched on 21 August 2007 and invited views on:
- proposals for revised Action Programme measures.
- whether to apply these measures within discrete Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (as revised) or throughout the whole of England.
The Government Response to the consultation provides a summary of what the Department plans to do as a result of the comments received in response to the consultation (e.g. refine / uphold the proposals and the reasons why) and the timetable for implementation. Regulations implementing the refined proposals are likely to be laid before Parliament in September 2008. These webpages will be updated at that time.
Two other consultations on tackling diffuse water pollution from agriculture were also concluded recently:
- Revised Code of Good Agricultural Practice to protect water, soil and air quality
- Protection against water pollution from agriculture, diffuse sources
Implementating the Nitrates Directive
Information on action taken to date to implement the Nitrates Directive in England is provided in the following pages:
- Diffuse water pollution from agriculture
The Nitrates Directive in England
- Nitrates Directive requirements and future implementation in England
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England
- Maps - Summary and detailed field boundary maps of NVZs.
- Methodology - Description of the methodology used to identify NVZs
Action Programmes measures in England
- What are farmers in NVZs required to do?
- Enforcement
- Guidance, advice and support available to farmers in NVZs
- Helplines - who to contact for further information
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- A range of guidance, advice and other relevant material
Page last modified: 21 July 2008
Page published: 27 June 2002