The Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (England and Wales) Regulations 1996

Monitoring

4.—(1) For the purpose of the designation and revision of designations of nitrate vulnerable zones, the Agency—

(a) subject to paragraph (2) below, shall have monitored by 19th December 1997 and at least every four years thereafter shall monitor the nitrate concentration in freshwaters over a period of one year—

(i) at surface water sampling stations laid down in Article 5(4) of Directive 75/440/ EEC(1) or at other sampling stations which are representative of surface waters in England and Wales, or at both, at least monthly and more frequently during flood periods; and

(ii) at sampling stations which are representative of the groundwater aquifers in England and Wales, at regular intervals and taking into account the provisions of Directive 80/778/ EEC(2); and

(b) shall review the eutrophic state of fresh surface waters, estuarial and coastal waters by 19th December 1997 and every four years thereafter.

(2) Where the nitrate concentration in all previous samples taken in pursuance of the Directive at any sampling station has been below 25 mg/l and no new factor likely to increase the nitrate content has appeared, paragraph (1)(a) above shall have effect in relation to that sampling station as if the reference to 1997 and the reference to four years were references to 2001 and eight years respectively.

(3) Monitoring under this regulation shall be carried out using the reference methods of measurement set out in Schedule 3.

(1)

OJ No. L 194, 25.7.75, p. 26.

(2)

OJ No. L 229, 30.8.80, p. 11.