Following the amendments of 2026 04 04, the establishment of groundwater VAZ is differentiated according to water abstraction rates and purpose. A simplified model may be applied to small abstractions, consisting only of VAZ belt 1 or belt 1 together with a pollution restriction zone, while larger abstractions remain subject to the requirement for a detailed hydrogeological justification. A clear rule has also been introduced that a VAZ is not reviewed periodically, but must be amended when it no longer meets the conditions under which it was established or when the abstraction parameters change. It may also be optimised by reducing the applicable requirements.