Vulnerable area

According to the Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 called "nitrates", it means an area designated as vulnerable especially considering the characteristics of land and water as well as all available data on the nitrate concentration in water. Areas that feed waters are defined as: either affected by pollution (groundwater and surface freshwaters, especially those used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption, whose nitrate concentration exceeds 50 milligrams per litre, and estuarine, coastal and marine waters and surface freshwaters which have undergone eutrophication that can be countered effectively by reducing nitrogen inputs); or threatened by pollution (groundwater and surface freshwaters, in particular those used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption, whose nitrate concentration is between 40 and 50 milligrams per litre and shows a rising trend, and estuarine, coastal and marine waters and surface freshwaters whose main characteristics show a tendency to eutrophication that can be countered effectively by reducing nitrogen inputs). After consultation with the Basin * Committee, the basin * coordinator prefect decides the delimitation of vulnerable areas.