PUTTING WATER COMPANY INTERVENTIONS TO TACKLE DIFFUSE POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURE INTO A BIGGER CONTEXT FOR GREATER EFFECTIVENESS Patrice Mongelard Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme Manager, Defra

Role and interests of water companies Looking beyond WAGRICO – at more strategic issue of water company working with farmers. Water companies have the most interest in, and responsibility for, water quality. However, water companies have little influence on one of the key factors that impacts on this (a business with little influence on quality of its raw materials)

Assistance for water companies Water companies are unable to do all that is necessary on their own. Government, and others, can and should help. There are three key elements: Supportive Institutional Framework Technical Competence Catchment Sensitive Farming Community

Supportive Institutional Framework ‘Institutional Framework’ stands for the regulatory and policy context. Water companies need to be aware of, and work with, a wide range of available instruments. These include: Article 38 of the Rural Development Regulation (RDR) Article 39 of the RDR for agri-environment payments

Supportive Institutional Framework (more) Article 41 of the RDR for non-productive investments (used for capital grants) Nitrates Directive Article 7 of the Water Framework Directive specifically for Drinking Water Protected Areas

Supportive Institutional Framework (and more) CAP Healthcheck proposals, cross compliance. Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive Other Contributions: i.e. England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative, Pesticides VI, and in particular water companies working with farmers (with DWI/OFWAT agreement), RDAs.

Supportive Institutional Framework- Summary All of these regulatory requirements, voluntary schemes, etc. are causing things to happen that water companies should welcome. There are synergies and cost savings that should interest the companies as businesses (i.e. ES pays for buffer strips). There is also common purpose and direction that calls for partnership.

Technical competence If water companies do not have personnel with the skills to work with farmers, then they should turn to those that do. There is a large body of knowledge, evidence and practical expertise available on diffuse pollution mitigation, but water companies need to know where to look and what partnerships to build.

Technical competence (more) The technical competence that is required is not solely hydrological or agricultural. There is a need to draw knowledge from social science, to understand how to change behaviours. Farmers tend to be a sceptical and demanding audience, especially if challenges are made to their long-established practices and standard of living.

Catchment sensitive farming community This works at national and local levels, in a way at policy and delivery ends. Both levels need to be developed and sustained. Water companies need to have personnel facing in these directions, and engage with stakeholders as a matter of corporate and social responsibility.

Catchment sensitive farming community (more) A catchment sensitive farming community would share experiences and funding, best practice and have structures in place for interaction. Water companies need to develop agriculture departments to be part of this community. The WAGRICO community is doing this, but it is being overtaken by something bigger.

Conclusions The optimum conditions are known and in place for successful engagement by, and with, water companies. This engagement needs to be intelligent, shared with others and sustained over a long period of time – with the sector body providing leadership. Water companies that do things alone are less likely to succeed than those who work with others.