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Nitrates - reducing water pollution from agriculture

Description of the methodology applied by the Secretary of State in identifying additional Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England (2002)

The 2002 methodology was updated during the recent review of NVZs in light of improvements in scientific knowledge.  A summary of the revised method was published alongside the 2007 consultation.

A detailed description of the steps taken to identify the 2002 NVZs in England is provided in this document.

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Section 1: Summary
Section 2: Introduction
(PDF 160 KB)

Identification of waters under Article 3(1)

Section 3: Identification of surface freshwaters which are affected by nitrate pollution or which could be so affected (PDF 700 KB )

Section 4: Identification of groundwaters which are affected by nitrate pollution or which could become so affected. Identification of all known areas of land draining into groundwaters identified. (PDF 1.1 MB)

Section 5: Identification of waters which are eutrophic, or which may become eutrophic - included with Section 6 and Section 7 (see below)

Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones under Article 3(2)

Section 6: Identification of land draining into waters identified as affected by pollution or which could be affected by pollution.
Section 7: Establishing the final boundaries of the additional Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
(PDF 2.0 MB)

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Page last modified: 21 August 2007
Page published: 27 June 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs