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The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reviewing its Groundwater Protection Policy and is looking for views from interested parties during September.
Groundwater is an invaluable resource which must be managed in a sustainable way to maintain and enhance its contribution to social, economic and environmental welfare. However, it is a resource which can be damaged, sometimes irreversibly, by pollution and over-abstraction.
Fast facts, on groundwater:
- It is not visible, and therefore its value is often poorly understood and underestimated.
- It provides around 30,000 private water supplies
- It is used as a source for public water supply and is used by many industries in Scotland
- It is essential for irrigation in some highly productive agricultural areas
- It maintains wetlands and river flow during dry spells and is vital to the maintenance of their rich ecology and biodiversity.
SEPA’s Jean Clews said: “The Groundwater Policy is intended to provide a framework for groundwater management and protection and this consultation is a valuable opportunity to contribute comment and be part of SEPA’s improvement and protection of Scotland’s environment.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The consultation period runs until 30 September and the consultation document is available on the SEPA website at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/consultation/closed/groundwater.pdf
Media Contact:
Stewart Prodger, 01786 457724
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