The UK is a small island that has large and growing demands being placed upon its water resources by an expanding population. If we are to ensure the quality and quantity of our groundwater and surface water reserves, regulation and controls must be exerted. The Government introduced the Water Act 2003, which has four main aims: to promote the sustainable use of resources, to promote water conservation, to strengthen the voice of the consumer and to increase competition over supply.
Farmers and growers already require water abstraction licenses in order to remove significant amounts of water, such as for irrigation purposes. These practices will also be further extended to other significant water users in the future.
Changing weather patterns have significantly increased the risk of drought and flooding. To date, the emphasis of Government policy with regard to flood risk has been on engineering solutions to protect our homes from damage. Agricultural land management can impact significantly on water run-off and flood risk. Artificial drainage systems exist for around 40 per cent of agricultural soils and these significantly alter the hydrology of the surrounding land. Areas such as this are being explored by ADAS with a view to solutions development.
Related ADAS Services
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Providing technical support and independent advice to the policy makers in this field
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Providing advice to a wide range of water users and water companies
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ADAS is an industry leader in water pollution research and solutions development
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Investigation of flood risk and the role played by current agriculture practices
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Assessing the impact of increased usage on water resources
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Advising farmers on the best use of irrigation, the design of irrigation systems
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