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Rural diffuse pollution

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Diffuse pollution of water is when potential pollutants including nutrients, sediment, pesticides and faecal bacteria from farming activities enter the water environment.

Agricultural diffuse pollution poses a significant risk to our water environment. Controlling land use management and regulating relevant agricultural activities helps reduce or prevent harm to the water environment.

SEPA works with Scottish Government and other regulators and stakeholders to characterise and manage diffuse pollution pressures associated with inorganic and organic fertilisers and pesticides. SEPA’s water monitoring helps inform decision-making. Our monitoring approach is regularly reviewed to make sure that it remains aligned with identified and emerging risks to the water environment. SEPA’s monitoring data also helps assess the effectiveness of particular measures in tackling diffuse pollution.

Priority catchments

A programme of rural diffuse pollution work started in March 2010, to help deliver the objectives outlined in the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for the Scotland and Solway-Tweed river basin districts.

Diffuse pollution priority catchments have been identified by SEPA as catchments failing to meet environmental standards. Each catchment has a dedicated coordinator who is responsible for liaising with local land managers, organising visits and ensuring measures are implemented where non-compliances are identified as detailed within the Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan for Scotland.

A total of 57 priority catchments have been identified for focused action within the first 3 RBMP cycles. See the updated Diffuse pollution plan published in 2017 for details.

Contact SEPA at nationalrural@sepa.org.uk for details of priority catchments and contact details for dedicated catchment coordinators.

Nitrates

Diffuse nitrate pollution is primarily related to fertiliser usage. Nitrate pollution can impact groundwater, which may pose a risk to drinking water supplies, and estuaries and transitional waters, where excess nutrients can result in algal blooms and eutrophication.

SEPA’s nitrate monitoring data informs the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) by the Scottish Government, based on the requirements of the EU Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). Action programmes are introduced within NVZs. These aim to reduce inputs of nitrate to the water environment by requiring land managers to follow a range of measures, such as controlling the timing and quantities of fertiliser applied to land.

The designation of NVZs is reviewed by the Scottish Government at least every 4 years. The NVZ review methodology uses data from SEPA’s nitrate monitoring together with other lines of evidence to assess the outcome. The method also aligns with our classification of water body status for nitrate in support of River Basin Management Planning.

General binding rules

There are general binding rules for rural land use activities in the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR).

All rural land users have a responsibility to ensure they are working in line with these GBR’s. You can find out about the GBRs on our EASR web pages.

The rural land use GBRs have been developed from already widely accepted good practice guidance, such as the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity code (PEPFAA). The GBRs present a statutory baseline which should provide a general level of environmental protection and contribute significantly to water quality improvements. There are no fees associated with the GBRs and no application forms. However, each GBR has rules which specify what be complied with.

Contact us

If you have any questions or require any further information or advice on any aspect of diffuse pollution priority catchments, please contact us.