The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is concerned with improving both the ecological status and the chemical quality of our water. In order to achieve this, an understanding of the main sources of chemical contaminants, such as nitrates, pesticides, biocides, phosphorus, sediments and pathogens, is vital.
ADAS research looks at diffuse and point source pollution in rural environments. As farmland and forestry account for three-quarters of the total land mass of England, rural land management can be seen as central to the control of diffuse pollution. This has been recognised by Defra, which has cited diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA) as a priority issue, although non-agricultural pollution is also of significant importance.
Many of the main contamination mitigation methods have been successfully tested by ADAS at plot and semi-field scale, and the next step is their development into cost-effective solutions for land management uses in the ‘real world’. A detailed understanding of the implications of any new technology on the end user and their business is essential if farmers, land managers and the like are to adopt them. This is something that we are exceptionally well placed to achieve at ADAS, given our unique relationships and understanding of how such businesses may be affected.
Related ADAS Services
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Providing technical support and independent advice to the policy makers in this field
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ADAS is an industry leader in water pollution research and solutions development
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Helping businesses to identify practices that cause pollution and to develop cost effective solutions
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Highlighting hidden advantages, such as conservation benefits
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Access to the specialist environmental assessment, research and monitoring services for chemicals offered by Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA)
Coquet Catchment Pesticides Study
Background
The River Coquet is an excellent, clean river system of high conservation and ecological value. The river is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) plus there are another 10 SSSIs within the Coquet catchment. The main river supports a healthy and diverse invertebrate fauna and other taxa, which are sensitive to pollution. Their presence indicates the absence of chronic pollution and the in-stream biology is generally of excellent quality. However, concentrations of the herbicide isoproturon (IPU) were detected during 2002 on a number of separate occasions within the River Coquet. The concentration detected exceeded the Regulatory standard of 0.1 µg L-1 for drinking water. Although these levels were not considered to present a risk of ecological/health impacts, Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) and the Environment Agency (EA) contracted ADAS to characterise the Coquet Catchment in terms of risk of pesticide pollution of watercourses, and to devise a strategy to reduce this risk.
The Project
This consisted of the following 3 phases:
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Water Quality Data - Analysis of existing water quality highlighted that agricultural and amenity herbicides were the primary substances within the river.
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Desk study and modeling - ADAS’ specialist GIS and modelling team conducted a desk study to identify areas considered to be most at risk of diffuse pollution. The SWAT model was used to estimate the area of land that could be at risk from pesticide losses in the autumn.
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Farm visits - Meetings with agronomists were held in addition to the farm visits. The surveys aimed to ascertain the use and management of pesticides in areas identified as being at ‘High Risk’ of pesticide loss.
Recommended Mitigation Methods
The project produced a range of specific options to reduce the risk of pesticides entering the watercourse by diffuse and point pollution. These recommendations are being considered by NWL. However, there was also a number of generic recommendations that were applicable to the whole Coquet Catchment, such as those recommended in Codes of Good Agricultural Practice and as advocated by the Voluntary Initiative.
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