Nitrate vulnerable zone (zranitelná oblast)

Under Section 33 of the Czech Water Act, nitrate vulnerable zones (zranitelné oblasti) are areas with surface or groundwater, especially drinking water sources, whose nitrate concentration exceeds 50 mg/l or may reach it, or surface water whose quality is or may be deteriorating because of nitrates from agriculture. They are based on the EU Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). Government Regulation No. 262/2012 Coll. sets them out by whole cadastral areas.

What applies in a vulnerable zone

The government regulation sets an action programme for vulnerable zones. It mainly covers:

• the use and storage of fertilisers and manure, such as closed periods for fertilising and storage capacity,
• crop rotation, such as limits on growing maize several years in a row,
• farming on sloping land and on land next to watercourses.

The action programme applies to farmers registered under the Agriculture Act who farm in the vulnerable zone. The zones and the action programme are reviewed at least every four years; the latest amendment of the regulation (No. 193/2024 Coll.) has applied since 1 July 2024.

What it means for a buyer

A vulnerable zone brings no obligations for the owner of a house or garden. It does signal that water in the area is burdened or threatened by nitrates from farming. For a plot with its own well it is worth having the water tested for nitrates too. Farmers can find the required farming practices for individual land blocks in the LPIS land parcel register.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fertilise my garden in a vulnerable zone?

Yes. The action programme applies to farmers registered under the Agriculture Act, not to an ordinary garden by a house.

Is a vulnerable zone the same as a water source protection zone?

No. A water source protection zone protects a specific drinking water source and its conditions may also concern buildings, wells or cesspits. A vulnerable zone covers whole cadastral areas and concerns only farming.