Agriculture

There are a large variety of threats that agricultural practices – such as slurry spreading, chemical and waste storage, silage making and waste pesticide disposal - can pose to groundwater, although the degree of risk will vary with the vulnerability of the groundwater to pollution and the nature of the activity.

This page provides links to the main legislation and policy guidance relating to groundwater and agriculture.

• Nitrates Directive 
  
• The Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Scotland) Regulations 1996 
  
• The Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 
  
• The Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008 
  
• Water Framework Directive
  
• Environmental Protection Act 1990 
  
• Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999  (as amended)
  
• Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 
  
• Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 
  
• Control of Pollution (silage, slurry and agricultural fuel oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 
  
• The Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations 1989 (as amended) 
  
• The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 

Guidance

• Groundwater Protection Policy for Scotland V3, November 2009 (1mb)
  
• Prevention of Environmental Pollution From Agricultural Activities (PEPFAA) Code 
  
• Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity: Code of Good Practice. Dos and Don’ts Guide 
  
• 4 Point Plan 
  
• Sheep Dipping Code of Practice for Scottish Farmers, Crofters and Contractors  (264k)
  
• Regulatory methods related to the disposal of waste sheep dip