Editing Nitrate vulnerable zone

{{Short description|Conservation designation  in the UK}}
{{see also|Agriculture in the United Kingdom#Manure, nitrogen and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ)}}
[[File:The Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI 2002-276).pdf|thumb|Printed Regulation of a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone]]
A '''nitrate vulnerable zone''' is a [[conservation designation]] of the [[Environment Agency]] for areas of land that drain into [[nitrate]] [[Polluted soil|polluted]] waters, or [[waterway]]s that could become polluted by [[nitrate]]s due to environmental and health threats. A nitrate vulnerable zone can be designated as a response to an increase in [[Leaching (agriculture)|nitrate leaching]] or increased use of nitrate [[fertilizer]]s.

== Nitrate pollution ==

=== Sources of nitrate pollution ===
One of the primary causes of nitrate pollution is the use of nitrogen [[fertilizer]]s and application of [[manure]] to agricultural fields, which stimulates [[crop]] production but also contributes to [[nutrient pollution]] due to nitrate [[Leaching (agriculture)|leaches]] from soil during heavy [[precipitation]] events.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Osborn S, Cook HF|date=1997|title=Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and Nitrate Sensitive Areas: A Policy and Technical Analysis of Groundwater Source Protection in England and Wales|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09640569712191|journal=Journal of Environmental Planning and Management|volume=40|issue=2|pages=217–234|doi=10.1080/09640569712191|issn=0964-0568}}</ref>

=== Environmental impacts ===
Nitrate runoff can lead to [[eutrophication]] of waterways, leading to excessive algal growth and [[Hypoxia (environmental)|oxygen depletion]].

=== Health effects ===
High levels of nitrate in drinking water used to prepare [[infant formula]] can negatively affect infant health.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Knobeloch L, Salna B, Hogan A, Postle J, Anderson H|date=2000|title=Blue babies and nitrate-contaminated well water|journal=Environmental Health Perspectives|volume=108|issue=7|pages=675–8|doi=10.1289/ehp.00108675|pmc=1638204|pmid=10903623}}</ref> With continued use of contaminated water, infants can develop [[Blue baby syndrome|Blue Baby Syndrome]], which can be fatal.

== Regulations ==
Nitrate vulnerable zones are designated when the [[concentration]] of nitrate in a given area reaches or surpasses 50 NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> mg/L. Regulations include:

* Reducing the amount of fertilizer applied;
* Prohibiting application of fertilizer during the winter when [[Surface runoff|runoff]] is greatest and uptake by plants at a minimum;
* Changing the times when [[Manure|animal waste]] is applied to the land and holding the waste in tanks until application.

The restrictions are within [[Good Agricultural Practice]] guidelines, meaning that farmers are expected to adhere to the given regulations without receiving any [[Subsidy|subsidies]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Encouraging low-input farming in the EU|url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/sustainability/environmental-sustainability/low-input-farming_en|access-date=2021-04-15|website=European Commission - European Commission|language=en}}</ref> Farmers who do not adhere to these restrictions can be fined by the government.

== Locations ==
[[File:Descobreix Penedès, Torrelles de Foix.jpg|thumb|Farm in Europe.]]Nitrate vulnerable zones were introduced by the [[United Kingdom]] government in response to the [[European Union]] mandate that all countries in the EU must reduce the nitrate in drinking water to a maximum of 50 NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> mg/L to protect public health and environmental health.<ref name=":0" />

=== United Kingdom ===
The [[United Kingdom]] identifies nitrate vulnerable zones as discrete zones in specific agricultural regions. There are at least 70 nitrate vulnerable zones in England and several in Wales, covering 600,000 [[hectare]]s of [[surface water]] and [[Groundwater|ground water]].<ref name=":0" /> 

==== Wales ====
The Welsh Government introduced an all Wales NVZ in 2021, previously, 2.4% of Wales' land was designated as a NVZ. Environmental and fishing groups welcomed the new rules. It will be rolled out, pending a review by the [[Senedd]], over the next three years. The review came after major political backlash from opposition parties and farmers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-09|title=River pollution Wales: Farmers face 'six-figure sum' to comply|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57417359|access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref>

=== Northern Europe ===
[[Belgium]], [[Germany]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[Denmark]] have established their entire nations as nitrate vulnerable zones. These countries take a broader approach to designating nation-wide nitrate vulnerable zones because of the quality of the groundwater<ref>{{cite journal|last=Arauzo|first=M|date=2017|title=Vulnerability of groundwater resources to nitrate pollution: A simple and effective procedure for delimiting Nitrate Vulnerable Zones|journal=The Science of the Total Environment|volume=575|pages=799–812|bibcode=2017ScTEn.575..799A|doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.139|pmid=27707576|hdl=10261/205492|hdl-access=free}}</ref> as well as marine [[eutrophication]].<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Environmental policy in the United Kingdom]]


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