The following water bodies are known as sensitive areas:
freshwater bodies, estuaries and coastal waters which are eutrophic (meaning rich in nutrients, supporting a dense plant or algae population) or which may become eutrophic if protective action is not taken
nitrate sensitive areas – surface freshwaters meant for the abstraction of drinking water that contain or are likely to contain more than 50 mg/l of nitrates
areas where further treatment is necessary to comply with related EU directives such as the bathing water directive
The Environment Agency will tell you if your WWTW is within a sensitive area. We check discharges that contribute a significant load to eutrophic sensitive areas for compliance with annual average and percentage reduction for phosphorus or nitrogen. For discharges to other sensitive area water body types your permit may require optimised treatment processes to meet requirements of other regulations and the relevant water quality objectives. You must have nutrient removal in place within 7 years of a eutrophic sensitive area being designated. For discharges into existing sensitive areas, nutrient removal must be in place when the PE crosses the relevant threshold.