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Requisite Surveillance Monitoring for Agrochemicals

Legislative Framework

The Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC) aims to protect groundwater from pollution by certain dangerous substances. These are grouped into List I substances which must be prevented from entering groundwater and List II substances which must be limited from entering groundwater.

Any disposal on land or in groundwater of either List I or List II substances, which might lead to a direct or indirect discharge (i.e. having percolated through the ground) must be subject to prior investigation. Based on the findings of this investigation, authorisation to dispose these substances may or may not be granted. The Directive requires that requisite surveillance of groundwater is carried out to ensure compliance. The Directive is due to be repealed in December 2013.

The requirements of the Directive are incorporated into Scottish legislation through the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

Establishing and Developing the Network 

In 2000, the programme for requisite surveillance, carried out nationally by SEPA, comprised sampling of the 150 Nitrate Directive sampling locations, sampling of all the remaining current public water supply abstractions from groundwater and sampling from water supplies in the vicinity of 1998 Groundwater Regulations authorised disposal sites.

The samples were analysed for the following active ingredients:

In 2002 a review of the strategy and subsequent implementation resulted in the selection of 78 sampling sites across Scotland to be sampled twice a year. 

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 a total of 76 sites were sampled twice a year, of which 15 sites were identified as being located in arable farming areas and analysed for an additional Agrochemical suite. The analysis included the following active ingredients:

In 2006 the number of sites dropped to 65 of which 19 were sampled twice a year and the remaining sampled quarterly. 32 sites were sampled for an additional Agrochemical suite and Urea and Acid Herbicides suites.

In 2007 the number of sites sampled was 95 of which 27 were sampled twice a year and the remaining sampled quarterly. 49 sites were sampled for an additional Agrochemical suite and 65 for Urea and Acid Herbicides suites.

In 2008 the number of sites sampled was 73 of which 28 were sampled twice a year and the remaining sampled quarterly. 42 sites were sampled for an additional Agrochemical suite and 61 for Urea and Acid Herbicides suites.

In 2009 the number of sites sampled was 81 of which 21 were sampled twice a year and the remainder quarterly. 58 sites were sampled for an additional Agrochemical suite and 75 for Urea and Acid Herbicides suites. Methaldehyde was added to the Agrochemical suite and 24 sites were sampled for this ingredient.

Requisite Surveillance Monitoring Programme 2010

At present in 2010 the sampling network consists of a total of 86 sites samples quarterly. An Agrochemical suite is analysed in 61 sites, Methaldehyde is analysed in 80 sites and Urea and Acid Herbicides suites is analysed in 78 sites. Currently the analysis consists of a wide range of active ingredients as follow: