This order establishes the legal framework for the designation of specific geographic areas as Nitrate Sensitive Areas to mitigate water pollution. The document, issued by the government of Great Britain, provides the regulatory mechanism for identifying land where agricultural practices must be restricted to prevent nitrate leaching into water sources. It serves as a foundational legislative instrument for environmental protection and water quality management in the United Kingdom.

Legal professionals and environmental policy researchers utilize this text as a primary source for understanding the historical development of UK water protection regulations. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is characteristic of statutory instruments from this period.