Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Bucharest
CONTENTS
European Legislation to control N pollution and Measures under Nitrates Directive
Control Activities and Action Programs Cyprus Code of Good Agricultural Practice Measures to control Nitrogen Pollution from Point Sources Monitoring Conclusions
Conclusions
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 2
Main requirements
Identification of vulnerable zones to nitrogen (NVZ) Drawn up actions programs which contain mandatory measures concerning agricultural practices including stipulation of max amounts of manure that can be applied on land every year (max level 170Kg N/ha /year) Establish a Code of good agricultural practice which is implemented on a mandatory bases inside the vulnerable zones and voluntary outside Monitoring of nitrates concentration of water to asses the impacts of measures put in place
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 4
Protection against pollution by nitrates Pollution means the discharges, directly or indirectly, of nitrogen compounds from agricultural sources into aquatic environment which result to: Hazards to human health Eutrophication (accelerated growth of algal and higher form of plant life, produce undesirable disturbance to organisms and to the quality of the water (surface waters) Harm of living resources and to the aquatic ecosystem Damage amenities Interference with legitimate uses of water Measures Nitrogen pollution under to Limit Nitrates Directive Vulnerable zones to nitrogen (NVZ) areas of land which drain directly or indirectly into waters, which are affected, or could be affected by pollution (surface and ground waters
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 5
Fresh waters, particular those used for abstraction of drinking water contain or could contain more than 50 mg/l of nitrates Groundwater containing or could containing more than 50 mg/l nitrates Fresh water bodies, lakes, estuaries coastal and marine waters found or likely to become eutrophic
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 6
Identification of all water bodies being at risk to nitrogen pollution Identify activities and sources of nitrogen pollution (natural or due to human activities)
Assess nitrogen pollution from agriculture activities to surface waters and associated groundwater bodies, ecosystems, coastal and marine waters Identification of the Land drain to the polluted waters (directly or indirectly)
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 7
Designation of NVZ Ground Water Protection Area directly over the aquifer which contribute to pollution of N Recharge area of aquifer Designation of NVZ Surface waters protection Areas drain to the surface waters polluted or at risk (rivers, lakes, estuaries or coastal waters)
NVZ under Nitrates Directive should also be consider as SA (catchement) under UWWTD and Less than Good Status under WFD
Sensitive area (SA) (=sensitive water body) Catchment area of SA water body
Nitrates concentration of coastal waters in Cyprus was found to be in general is less than 0.01 mg/L Nevertheless episodic eutrophication events of macroalgal cladophora has been observed in several years causing problem to the shore. The outbreaks was associated with excess nitrates deriving from several sources including agriculture activities on land (groundwater seepage and runoff and also aquaculture)
For this reason areas drain to these coastal waters was designated as NVZ
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 10
Map 2. Map of the land uses in Cyprus Modified from the Department of Forests (DoF)
Map 2. Map of the land uses in Cyprus Modified from the Department of Forests (DoF)
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Map 4. Characterization status of the groundwater bodies of Cyprus. Groundwater bodies identified as Further are considered to be at risk or are of great importance for drinking water abstraction and therefore further characterisation is required. Mod ified mainly from The map of Aquifers of Cyprus. (Assessment of Groundwater Resources WDD/FAO A.Georgiou 2002 and from G.S.D. data)
Further
bodies
18
Map of the vulnerability degree (low, medium, high) of the groundwater bodies of Cyprus (WDD, G.S.D.)
19
20
21
22
23
MEASURES TO LIMIT NITROGEN POLLUTION Nitrates Directive Actions to control nitrates pollution from agriculture activities (defuse source) Enforcement of Codes of Good Agriculture Practices
Such measures have to be applied on a large scale compare with those of a point source
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 24
Balance fertilization to limit Nitrogen input both from manure and chemical fertilizers to crop requirements, taking into account soil content of N
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 27
Establishment of Protection Zones (min distance from fertilizer application) Prohibition for application of fertilizers to steepy slopes at periods of heavy rains which results to surface flows Prohibition of fertilizer application when soil conditions are unsuitable (Water saturated, snow covered, etc)
28
29
Measures for the use of fertilizers The quantities, type and timing of fertilization should take into consideration:
30
Quantities and timing of fertilization based on the principle to supply the crops when they need it (5 categories of
crops).
Appropriate measures to avoid leakages from storage facilities (slope, protection walls, drainage etc).
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 32
Manure digested period 90-180 days Non Digested manure may be used three months before planting or sowing
Estimation of the extend of the area to be applied in relation to the crop requirements for N (no more than 17kg /1000m2 /year Risk Assessment for polluting surface of groundwaters. Where high risk -> precautions -> restricted periods of application, small quantities for more times Manure may be applied in liquid or solid form
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 34
Prohibition for application in steepy grounds. Application should ensure no runoff and should not be practiced in one doze Prohibition of application during raining periods Prohibition of application within 300m from WS boreholes, in relation to the requirements for the protection zones and 50m from other surface waters
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 35
Application is allowed only for grain crops (e.g. corn) after cutting period or before sowing Should be mixed with soil to avoid nuisance and ammonia emissions (use special equipment) Essential to apply mechanical separation of solids liquids Liquid should be appropriately treated and may be used for irrigation
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 36
Monitoring Measures Essential to keep records (quantities of fertilizers and manure, periods of application and techniques used Produce evidence (receipts etc) Chemical analyses (leaves and soil. once per year) Period of analyses (soil-before sowing, shed leaves trees: June-July citrus: JulySept)
37
38
Additional measures to safeguard water quality for the production of drinking water from diffuse sources Protection zones (no activity or controlled
activities)
40
Additional measures to safeguard water quality for the production of drinking water from point sources
42
Review eutrophic state of fresh surface waters, estuarial and coastal waters every four years Repeat monitoring every four years for fresh waters with Nitrates conc. >25 mg/l and every eight years for the rest
45
CONCLUSIONS
Some 30-40% of rivers and lakes in EU show eutrophication symptoms or contribute to high nitrogen fluxes to coastal waters and sea. The agriculture accounts to 56-86% of the total N inputs to EU waters. Urban Wastewaters and Nitrates Directives are the main legislative instruments of EU for control Nitrogen pollution (discharges) from urban and agricultural activities Nitrates Directive require designation of NVZ and establishment of actions programs
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 46
NVZ are subject to revision or addition based on scientific evidence and taking into account charges and unforeseen factors No need to designate NVZ if apply action programs throughout the territory Although all new MS have now transposed the Nitrates directive and designated, at least primarily, their vulnerable zones, the impacts of action programs and the significant effects of the improvement will be realized after some years, as a result a considerable time lap to achieve respond in the quality of the water bodies
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 47
Besides financial support to encourage preventing measures and implementation of action programs to control Nitrogen pollution, a more environmental friendly agriculture it is necessary in order to implement fully the Directive. Investments dedicated to other Directives will be inefficient regarding nutrientscontrol, if a parallel effort is not devoted to an effective reduction of nitrates from agricultural activities, which are the main contributors.
TAIEX Bucharest-Nitrates Sep. 2007 48
49