Controlling Diffuse Pollution of Groundwater from Agriculture and Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT The greatest threat of contamination to groundwater resources is posed by pollutants from diffuse sources, yet legislation in the UK has until recently been focused on point sources. The problem of widespread pollution from industrial sources is described and compared with that from agriculture. The legislative controls available under the Water Resources Act 1991 are outlined, and the approach adopted by the National Rivers Authority in its Groundwater Protection Policy is discussed with respect to the concept of groundwater vulnerability.