Research to support the Review of Groundwater Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) des

Tender description

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. They include about 55% of land in England. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reviews NVZs every 4 years to account for changes in nitrate concentrations. This project will feed into the review of NVZs in 2020 by setting out a procedure for reviewing and amending existing groundwater NVZs. Final published versions of the NVZ designations are due on the 1st January 2021. It is proposed that the project should be delivered in 2 Phases. Phase 1 should cover 4 main aspects: 1. Assessment of currently available groundwater monitoring data 2. Assessment of currently available loading data and use to assess leaching into groundwater 3. Options for updating NVZ methodology 4. Comparison of NVZ designated areas with Drinking Water Protected Areas Phase 2 should produce and apply an updated groundwater NVZ methodology.