Water & Wastewater Treatment

Project focus: catchment management highlighted potential risks to water, taking into account factors such as farming operation, soil type, pesticide usage and yard buildings/ tracks. A five-year partnership was formed with Natural England Catchment Sensitive Farming in December 2014. The partnership took these reports and followed up with farm visits and recommendations from a dedicated catchment officer who identified priorities for work on each holding. These were translated into a capital grants scheme which offered up to £10,000 per farm for investments which would have a positive impact on water quality. These included items such as 'bio-beds' which contain and treat pesticide residues from sprayer filling areas, replacement gutters and downpipes to help minimise the creation of contaminated water from livestock yards, and farm track improvements to help minimise soil erosion. In one example, work has been commissioned on a dairy farm where a problem with soil erosion had been identified on a track which led directly to a tributary of the River Ouse. This track was used regularly to access the surrounding pastures and it was apparent that suspended soil particles could enter the stream via the track, causing siltation and affecting the ecology of the watercourse. AŒer a visit from the catchment officer a specification of works was agreed in order to improve the stability of the track and prevent run-off to the stream. This included track resurfacing, the installation of cross drains and the creation of a 'blind ditch' to intercept water before it • Innovations ● Pilot project initiated with 10 farms receiving full appraisals ● Capital grants of up to £10,000 offered for water quality investments ● Solutions include bio-beds for collecting pesticides and track improvements to combat soil erosion on reducing metaldehyde levels in the Rivers Ouse, Cuckmere and Waller's Haven, with four discussion groups held with local farmers to discuss effective management of the chemical. As a result of these meetings, agreements are already in place to improve the efficiency of application through machinery calibration and training of farm staff. Importantly also, local trials have been set up to test the effectiveness of the only approved alternative to metaldehyde, ferric phosphate. This will be reinforced with a fund to supplement the additional costs to farms for the use of ferric phosphate products. Longer-term, the programme will deliver a comprehensive range of support to help minimise the risk of water pollution from farms. This will include advice on soil husbandry, pesticide use, nutrient management and the handling of manures and slurries and will be supported by a capital grant scheme. The benefits will not be confined to the water industry alone: minimising agricultural inputs entering rivers and streams has an impact on farming efficiency and will help ensure clean water for all users. This is in line with the need to secure food production while reducing the impact on the environment. As the project strap-line states: 'protecting water and efficient farming go hand in hand'. entered the stream, thereby allowing any soil particles to 'settle-out'. Catchment management roll-out Following the success of the Ouse Upstream Thinking project, South East Water has rolled out a Catchment Management Programme to four drinking water catchments in its service area. This will be funded by South East Water and delivered by Catchment Sensitive Farming in an innovative partnership which brings the expertise of two experienced catchment officers to meet the water company's needs. This has enabled a catchment programme to be devised quickly, with delivery on the ground starting in April 2015. This initiative is further supported by three 'in-house' catchment scientists who, through continuous water quality sampling and analysis will work alongside the catchment officers to provide data and evidence that is required in order to test the effectiveness of the programme. In the early stages of the new five year programme, work has focused Example of bunded concrete filling pad for agricultural sprayers. Liquid from the pad drains to a bio-bed beneath which breaks-down any pesticides The water intake at Barcombe Water Treatment Works. 22 | sEpTEmBEr 2015 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk

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