Areas vulnerable to nitrates of agricultural origin in Languedoc-Roussillon (2012)

The delimitation of areas vulnerable to pollution by nitrates of agricultural origin was made in the context of Decree No 93-1038 of 27 August 1993, which transposes Directive 91/676/EEC into French law. This delimitation, prepared in each department and in each region by working groups, involving various departments and bodies concerned as well as representatives of the agricultural profession, is based on the knowledge acquired of nitrate levels in the aquifers and rivers and on the levels observed during various monitoring campaigns on a monitoring network set up for that purpose. The area vulnerable to pollution of nitrates of agricultural origin, was updated at the end of 2012 for Languedoc-Roussillon with the signing by the Prefects of the Rhône Méditerranée Corse and Adour Garonne basins at the end of 2012 of the delimitation orders. ‘Areas designated as vulnerable’ to diffuse pollution by nitrates of agricultural origin, taking into account in particular land and water characteristics and all available data on nitrate content in waters and their feeding zone, concern: — water affected by pollution: groundwater and surface fresh water, in particular those used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption, with a nitrate content exceeding 50 milligrams per litre; estuary, coastal and marine waters and surface fresh waters that have undergone eutrophication that can be effectively combated by reducing nitrogen inputs. — waters threatened by pollution: groundwater and surface fresh water, in particular those used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption, with nitrate content of between 40 and 50 milligrams per litre and showing an upward trend; estuary, coastal, marine and surface fresh waters, the main characteristics of which show a tendency towards eutrophication that can be effectively combated by reducing nitrogen inputs.