Presentation to CIWEM South Western Branch South West Water, Exeter 15 July 2008 WAgriCo - UK

Introduction Roger G Trengove UKWIR Project Manager (UK) The WAgriCo Project

Water Resources Management in Cooperation with Agriculture. What is WAgriCo? The full project title is:

In Germany there are 6 partners including NLWKN the overall project leader. In the UK there are 5 partners. In addition there are also 2 co-financiers. Lower Saxony State Government Defra Project Partners This is a European collaborative project with partners in Germany and the UK.

The Local Farming Community and other stakeholders UK Partners

Why we need WAgriCo - 1 The WFD identifies: –Groundwaters; and –the protection of waters used for abstraction for drinking water. The Nitrate Directive. Diffuse pollution continues to be an issue. The DWD sets a maximum limit of 50mg/l for nitrate the WFD set a 50mg/l annual average level.

Why we need WAgriCo - 2

The project is programmed to run over a 3 year period and commenced on 1 October 2005 and finishes at the end of September There are 10 primary tasks to deliver the project outputs and each task has its own objectives, activities and milestones. Project Delivery

Project Delivery - Tasks Project management and reporting and establishing project infrastructure. 2 Communication and participation process. 3 Setting geographical priorities to plan measures and environmental objectives. 4 Measure planning and compilation of programmes of measures (based on Task No. 3). 5 Implementation of primary measures – intervention (based on Task No. 4).

Project Delivery – Tasks - 2 6Implementation of secondary measures – protection areas (based on Task No. 3). 7Micro-Macro Agro-Economic Analysis. 8Checking the results of the programmes of measures (evaluation of measures) (relates to Tasks No. 5 and 6). 9Establishment of programmes of measures under the WFD in state agro-environmental programmes. 10Demonstrating the added value of WAgriCo results and conclusion.

Based upon the river catchments of Frome Piddle Wey In South Dorset, UK. Project Catchment - 1

Project Catchment - 2 River basins covering approximately 100,000 hectares

Based upon the river catchments of Ems Weser Elbe In Lower Saxony, Germany Project Catchment - 3

Project Catchment - 4 River basins covering approximately 300,000 hectares

Empool Borehole Nitrate Concentration Courtesy of Wessex Water

Winterbourne Abbas Borehole Nitrate Concentration

Identifying Issues

Catchment Characterisation Farm audits These were undertaken by experienced farm adviser who assessed the pollution risk based upon use and storage of fertilisers and Manure. Nutrient budgets Characterisation was assessed by determine the farm gate balance based upon the farm records. There was a strong similarity between the methods used although there were local variances.

Implementing Solutions - 1 Programme of Measures: Primary; Secondary.

Implementing Solutions – 2 Primary Programme of Measures: Fertiliser recommendations; Manure management; –advice on rates (analysis); and –advice on timing; Cover crops; Fertiliser spreader calibration; Spring manure application; and N balance/N efficiency.

Implementing Solutions – 3 Measure% Uptake by Farmers Fertiliser recommendations81 Manure management plans & waste audits52 Cover crops19 Fertiliser spreader calibration44 Moving from autumn to spring application for slurries & poultry manures 10 Use of on-farm N-efficiency27

Assessing Effectiveness Monitoring: Water quality/level sampling; Soil mineral N sampling; Routine soil sampling; Grain N sampling; and Manure sampling. Modelling

Sharing Knowledge - 1 Meetings have been held with farmers and stakeholders to share knowledge and discuss subjects such as: Pilot catchments; Programme of measures; Nitrogen balance and N-efficiency;

Sharing Knowledge - 2 Water Quality and modelling; The PLANET workshop; Secondary Measures; Micro-Macro economic analysis; Exchange visits with Lower Saxony; Relationship with CSF, ESF, etc.

The Drinking Water Alternative Solution Ion Exchange plant Granular Activate Carbon Plant Courtesy of Wessex Water

Key Messages No single approach will achieve large reductions in N losses to the environment, but a range of smaller, cost effective N management measures may have a significant effect The use of catchment advisors is essential, feedback from farmers has indicated that advice is a key element in tackling diffuse pollution Farmers are keen to learn and use nutrients more efficiently on their farms

Concluding …… WAgriCo provides the opportunity to: demonstrate that management of agriculture practices in vulnerable areas should provide positive water quality changes; provides for the UK partners to continue to identify and measure effectiveness;.promote the effectiveness of co-operative agreements in Lower Saxony to the UK.

The project supports and add too Sustainable Water Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture to deliver the concept of Catchment Sensitive Farming …..and finally

Thank you