2017 vulnerable zones to agricultural nitrate pollution of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Areas vulnerable to nitrates stopped 2017 Regulatory zoning order of the prefect coordinator of the RMC basin on the delimitation of areas vulnerable to pollution by nitrates of agricultural origin on the Rhône-Mediterranean Corsica; order of the prefect coordinator of the LB basin on the delimitation of vulnerable areas in the Loire Bretagne basin. order of the prefect coordinator of the AG basin on the delimitation of vulnerable areas in the Adour-Garonne basin. Vulnerable areas are the lands designated in accordance with Article 3(2) of European Directive 91-676 whose objectives set out in its first article are to reduce the pollution of water caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources, and to prevent any further pollution of this type. A vulnerable zone is a part of the territory where pollution of water by the direct or indirect discharge of nitrates of agricultural origin or other nitrogen compounds likely to turn into nitrates threatens in the short term the quality of aquatic environments and in particular the supply of drinking water. Vulnerable areas shall be regarded as areas where: — Groundwater and surface fresh water, in particular those used or intended for water abstraction for human consumption, with a nitrate content exceeding 50 milligrams per litre, — Estuary waters, coastal and marine waters and surface fresh waters which undergo eutrophication to which the enrichment of water with nitrogen compounds from agricultural sources contributes. An action programme shall be implemented in each department concerned, setting out the requirements to be complied with by all farmers in the corresponding vulnerable zone. They are built in consultation with all the actors involved, on the basis of a local diagnosis. They aim to correct the most polluting practices. Outside vulnerable areas, a code of good agricultural practice, established at national level, is voluntary. Each vulnerable zone corresponds to a prefectural decree (prefect coordinator of the basin) after consulting the departmental council of Hygiene, the general and regional council and the basin committee. Vulnerable areas shall be reviewed at least every 4 years. This decree is the founding regulatory text of the vulnerable zone.