Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Scotland) Regulations 1996: implementation report 2020 to 2023
This implementation report, published every four years, summarises the status of water quality and the impact of action programmes on water quality and agricultural practices, in accordance with the Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Scotland) Regulations 1996.
3. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
3.1 Current NVZ areas
Five NVZs are currently designated in Scotland under the Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2015, and cover 10% of the Scottish land area:
- Aberdeenshire, Moray, Banff and Buchan.
- Strathmore and Fife.
- Lothians and Borders.
- Lower Nithsdale: and
- Stranraer Lowlands.
A review of the NVZ designated areas of Scotland, carried out in 2013, led to modifications that were made with effect from February 2015[1] and from January 2016[2], with some of the existing areas being reduced and the Stranraer Lowlands added, along with an addition to the Strathmore and Fife area.
Maps of the five NVZ areas are available here: Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: maps - gov.scot
Figure 3.1 Map showing the outline of the NVZs in Scotland (2020 - 2024)
3.2 Designation review
A review of the designations of NVZs was due to be delivered in 2021; however, monitoring data was significantly impacted by COVID from early 2020 due to the inability to take and analyse samples. This was compounded by SEPA's cyber-attack at the end of 2020 which meant essential monitoring data to support the NVZ review in 2021 could not be provided.
Access to monitoring data was restored in 2024 and the Scottish Ministers have undertaken a review of the NVZs designations in late 2024. This was the earliest that it was possible to complete a review once the data was available.
The results of a data analysis undertaken by SEPA to assist the Scottish Ministers with the review in 2024 did not show significant differences from analyses undertaken previously. Therefore, the conclusion of Scottish Ministers, following their review, is that there is no reason to revise the current NVZ designations nor to add any new designations.
In accordance with regulation 3 of the Regulations Scottish Ministers will review the NVZ designations on or before 31 December 2028.
Contact
Email: waterenvironment@gov.scot
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