8Article 6(1) of that directive states:‘For the purpose of designating and revising the designation of vulnerable zones, Member States shall:(a) within two years of notification of the Directive, monitor the nitrate concentration in freshwaters over a period of one year:(i) at surface water sampling stations, laid down in Article 5(4) of [Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States (OJ 1975 L 194, p. 26)] and/or at other sampling stations which are representative of surface waters of Member States, at least monthly and more frequently during flood periods;(ii) at sampling stations which are representative of the groundwater aquifers of Member States, at regular intervals and taking into account the provisions of [Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ 1980 L 229, p. 11)];(b) repeat the monitoring programme outlined in (a) at least every four years, except for those sampling stations where the nitrate concentration in all previous samples has been below 25 mg/l and no new factor likely to increase the nitrage content has appeared, in which case the monitoring programme need be repeated only every eight years;(c) review the eutrophic state of their fresh surface waters, estuarial and coastal waters every four years.…’
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