Farmers Putting Plans into Action for Water Quality

The quality of water in the environment is something that affects us all. Freshwater is one of our most important natural resources for drinking, farming, commerce, leisure and biodiversity.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) was introduced by the European Union. It is designed to promote the improvement of water quality in the environment to ‘good status’ across the whole European Community.

In Northern Ireland three main river systems have been identified for improvement. These are the Neagh Bann, North Western and North Eastern, known as River Basin Districts.  Plans have been developed for each of these districts to address and improve their water quality.  

Involvement at a local level is considered the key to addressing the water quality issues highlighted in each River Basin District and to implementing the improvements identified in the Plans.  To provide this local focus the River Basin Districts have been subdivided into 26 Local Management Areas (LMAs).  Each LMA will have an action plan identifying local problems affecting the water environment. The plan will also encourage local participation in developing and delivering solutions.  

Nine of the LMAs have been selected to be addressed in 2010, a further 9 in 2011 and the remainder in 2012, as shown in the adjacent map. The LMAs to be addressed in 2010 are the Owenkillew, Burndennet and Foyle, Lower Lough Erne, Bush, Lagan, Strangford, South Down, Ballinderry and Lough Neagh.

Some of the environmental pressures that adversely affect the quality of the water environment are common to all the LMAs and include diffuse and point source pollution.  In others, for example the Burndennet and Foyle, the presence of pesticide in water is highlighted as an issue, this can affect insect life in the rivers, such as mayfly.  Another common pressure is the presence of non-native plants such as Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, which can lead to river bank erosion.

Farm Nutrient and Waste Management Plans are an important way to deliver improvements in the water environment. These plans are a condition of entry to DARD’s agri-environment schemes.  Farmers have found that preparing these plans has been a useful exercise. The plans help them to focus their attention on issues requiring immediate action as well as recording areas for improvement in the medium to longer term.  Part of the plan also involves drawing up an application plan for slurry, manure and farm effluents.

Plans in themselves will achieve nothing and it is only through their practical implementation that a real improvement in the water environment will result.  Some items on plans, for example providing additional slurry storage capacity or rebuilding a silo, can involve a significant financial outlay.  Others such as dirty water reduction by preventing clean water from becoming contaminated cost less.

Examples of how the plan is already being put into action are shown on the adjacent map. This shows the practical steps that farmers are taking that will help improve water quality in the LMAs being addressed in 2010.

There are College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) environmental training workshops which include ‘Dealing with Farm Wastes’, ‘Nitrates Information’ and ‘Nutrient Management Planning’.  Further details on available workshops may be accessed online at www.cafre.ac.uk or telephone (028) 9442 6879.

More information on protecting and improving the water environment on farms can be found in the DARD Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil or from Countryside Management staff at your local DARD office.  NIEA also provides information on agricultural practice and the state of the environment in your area on their website at: http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/pom_agriculture.pdf.

You can assist in developing the action plans to improve the water environment in your nearest LMA by supporting your local Catchment Stakeholder Group (CSG). The timetable and point of contact for the next of CSG meeting is available on the NIEA website at: http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/water-home/wfd/public_partic_3.htm.

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