Water Pollution Consultation Opens

DEFRA has published a consultation on tackling diffuse water pollution from agriculture.  Diffuse pollution is generally seepage and run-off from farmland.  Because it is a result of agricultural practices and occurs over a wide area, it is harder to deal with than ‘point source’ pollution – for example leaks from slurry systems.  It is claimed that agriculture is responsible for 25% of the failures of water bodies to reach the required quality standard. 

A number of basic rules are propose, focusing on phosphorus (nitrogen is already covered by the NVZ rules).  The rules would not be part of cross compliance although a number overlap.  The aim is for the new regulations to be introduced during 2016/17. The consultations splits into two options. Option 1 includes 7 rules;

1. Locate field manure storage at least 10m from a watercourse. This currently need to be done within NVZ areas anyway.

2. Use a fertiliser recommendation system (e.g. PLANET, RB209 etc.) taking into account soil reserves and organic manure supply.

3. Spread fertiliser and manure accurately e.g. by calibrated and maintained machine. This also is with NVZ regulations.

4. Use a feed planning system to match nutrient content of a diet to livestock feeding requirements.  This is currently completed by many farms; those without a system in place may require capital expenditure.  However, this could be quickly recouped through more efficient use of feed.

5. Livestock feeders must be located at least 10m away from surface water and wetland.

6. Avoid severe poaching where likely to pollute a watercourse. 

7. Take action to prevent soil erosion and run off from areas where pollutants quickly reach a watercourse e.g. tramlines. Rules 6 and 7 are already within GAEC 4 and 5 of the cross compliance rules so seem somewhat unnecessary.

If the 7 rules above were introduced there is an expected saving of £392m to farm business, averaging £500 per farm, and a further £309m of environmental benefits.

The following rules (8 and 9) and ‘best practice’ (10 and 11) along with the 7 rules above make up Option 2.  Under this option there would be a net cost to the industry of £84m but an increased environmental benefit of £484m.

8. Do not spread more than 30m³/Ha of slurry or digestate or more than 8t/Ha of poultry manure in a single application between 15^th October and end of February. No repeat spreading for 21 days. Already part of NVZ regulations.

9. Do not spread manufactured fertilisers and manures and high risk times or in high risk areas. Already part of NVZ regulations.

10. Incorporate manures as soon as possible and within 24 hours. Already part of NVZ regulations.

11. Exclude livestock from watercourse (except in uplands and commons)

The full consultation can be found at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/rules-for-diffuse-water-pollution-from-agriculture