Sensitive Areas - Nitrates

This record is for Approval for Access product AfA251. This dataset is a shapefile showing the extent of UWWTD sensitive areas (nitrate). The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) regulates the collection and treatment of waste water from homes and from industry. In the UK, the directive is implemented through the Urban Wastewater Treatment regulations 1994. Under these regulations, water bodies that are used as sources for drinking water and which have high nitrate concentrations (as defined by Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16th June 1975) should be designated as sensitive areas by Defra. This dataset consists of: • Rivers currently designated as UWWTD nitrate sensitive areas. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.

Data and Resources

Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.gdb.zipZIP

Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.gdb.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.geojson.zipZIP

Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.geojson.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.gpkg.zipZIP

Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.gpkg.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.shp.zipZIP

Sensitive_Areas_Nitrates.shp.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
SensitiveAreasNitratesRivers_Download

Download data by area of interest
SensitiveAreasNitratesRivers_WMS

Sensitive Areas - Nitrates Rivers WMS
SensitiveAreasNitratesRivers_WFS

Sensitive Areas - Nitrates Rivers WFS
OGC API - Features service

OGC API - Features service

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	September 18, 2026, 14:48 (UTC)
Created	September 30, 2015, 10:35 (UTC)