Regulation prescribing the criteria for determining the nitrate sensitive zones.

This Regulation, based on the provisions of the Law on waters, prescribes the criteria for determination of nitrate sensitive zones. The purpose of this Regulation is to prevent the pollution of water, caused by agricultural sources and/or to prevent further pollution from these sources. Nitrogen compounds means all nitrogen-containing substances, except gaseous molecular nitrogen. Nitrate pollution is the direct or indirect introduction into waters of nitrogen compounds from agricultural resources with the result of creating danger to human health, damage for natural resources and aquatic ecosystems and damage for normal use of water and other legally acquired right to use water and water bodies. Agricultural source means any source originating from the performance of an agricultural activity, as a result of which water is polluted with nitrates or other pollutants and substances, unless programmes of restraint and prevention measures are implemented. Sensitive zones are all zones that are categorized as sensitive in accordance with the regulations in the field of water management. Polluted water means water containing nitrates above 50 mg/l. The determination of protection zones that are sensitive to nitrates is done based on the following criteria: 1) physico-chemical and natural characteristics of water and soil; 2) modern knowledge about the action of nitrogen compounds in water and soil; 3) the expected results from the fulfillment of operational plans for protection of water from pollution caused by nitrates from agriculture. This text is harmonized with the provisions of the Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.