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Annex 6
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Abstraction - Removal of water from a source of supply
Aquifer - Layers of underground rock through which water flows
Artificial Water Bodies - Body of surface water created by human activity
Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) - Directive setting water quality standards at identified bathing areas
BAT - Best Available Technology
Biodiversity - The variety of all living things
Carrying Capacity - Capacity of a particular water body to assimilate pollution
Catchment Management Plan - A plan that considers all activities within a loch or river catchment in relation to their impact to each other and their impact on the water environment
Chemical Therapeutants - Medicines used by the fish-farming industry to control parasites such as sea lice
COPA - The Control of Pollution Act 1974
Cross-Border River Basin District - River Basin area that straddles both the English and Scottish borders
Dangerous Substances Directive (76/464/EEC) - Directive to provide controls on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances to the aquatic environment
Derogation - Departure from the normal rules and standards under specific circumstances. For example, the opportunity to work towards alternative standards or timescales, subject to certain conditions specified in the Directive concerned
DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DETR - Department of Environment, Transport and Regions
Diffuse Pollution - Pollution which originates from various activities and which cannot be traced to a single source, e.g. contaminated run off from built up areas
DSFB - District Salmon Fishery Board
Ecosystem - A community of interdependent organisms and the environment in which they inhabit
FAG - Flood Appraisal Groups - National Planning Policy Guideline 7 suggests that Local Authorities convene these groups to advise them on measures to reduce flood damage within their area. They provide a forum for the various private and public sector stakeholders involved to reach a consensus on flood risks and appropriate mitigating measures
Freshwater Fish Waters Directive (78/659/EEC) - Directive setting environmental quality and physical standards on fresh waters for the purpose of supporting fish life
General Binding Rules - General rules that apply to particular activities. Can be a statutory Code of Practice or a regulation
Groundwater - All water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil
Heavily Modified Water Body - Body of surface water which as a result of physical alterations by human activity has substantially changed in character
ICZM - Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Impoundment - The storage of water behind a dam or other barrier
IPPC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
LEAP - Local Environment Action Plan
'Natura' Directives - EC Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds, providing for the protection, management and control of all species of naturally occurring wild birds; and EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC), providing for the maintenance or restoration of natural habitats and wild species
NGO - Non-Governmental Organisations
Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) - Directive to prevent or reduce pollution of the aquatic environment from agricultural nitrates
Priority List - List of substances identified in the Water Framework Directive that present a risk to the aquatic environment
PHS - Priority Hazardous Substance - substance identified in the Priority list over which measures must be introduced to aim to cease emissions within a specific timescale
PS - Priority Substance - substance identified in the Priority list over which measures must be introduced to aim to progressively reduce emissions
PEPFAA - Code of Practice for the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity. Provides advice to farmers on preventing or minimising pollution of water, soil and air
Point Source Pollution - Pollution traceable to a specific source e.g. an end of pipe discharge
RBD - River Basin District - area of land and sea, made up of one or more neighbouring river basins identified in the Directive as the unit of management of river basins
RBMP - River Basin Management Plan - Plan that must be produced for each River Basin District within a Member State, setting out conditions of waterbodies and programmes of measures required to achieve good status
Riparian Zone - The area of land relating to the river bank
SAC - Special Area of Conservation
SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Shellfish Water Directive (79/923/EEC) - Directive setting water quality standards at designated waters used for shellfish production
SNH - Scottish Natural Heritage
SPA - Special Protection Area designated under the EC Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC)
SSSI - Sites of Special Scientific Interest
SUDS - Sustainable Urban Drainage System
Surface Water - An inland burn, river or loch etc
Terrestrial Ecosystems - Land types such as wetlands that have terrestrial characteristics but are intimately connected with water e.g. groundwaters
Territorial Baseline - Line from which territorial controlled waters defined under s23 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 are measured. The baseline follows the low water mark except in certain places where it cuts across open water at the mouth of firths and sea lochs or encloses islands. See Map 2
Transitional Water - Bodies of surface water in the vicinity of river mouths which are partly saline in character as a result of their proximity to coastal waters but which are substantially influenced by freshwater flows
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) - Directive to prevent or reduce pollution of water from urban waste water
WFD - Water Framework Directive (Directive (2000/60/EC) establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy.)
WRc - Water Research Council
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