1. www.adas.co.uk Water Framework Directive: a diffuse perspective June 5 th IW0/CIWEM Dr Stephen Bolt Head of Integrated Water and Environmental Management Insert image here

2. Water Quality Agenda 18 yrs investment in point sources (>£50bn) by water industry UWWTD, Habitats, Abstraction, shellfish, fish, etc Chemical/pathogen quality Much improved water courses Exposing diffuse pollution Agriculture, Urban, Transport and Air 2005, 70% of rivers are of good biological quality based on pre-WFD parameters (59% in 1990) BUT….

3. Water Framework Directive “New” approach to water quality Good ecological and chemical status Ecology only minor changes from pristine No major taxa absent Nutrients (N & P) Pesticides and other Hazardous substances Basin Management plans and programme of measures by 2009 – good status by 2015 Point sources mainly about cost, not control Diffuse sources/apportionment Catchment management

4. HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BADECOLOGICALSTATUS Prevent deterioration Restore No or very minor { Slight { Moderate { Major { Severe { + Quality Standards Physico-chemical Degree of modification

5. WFD Timetable

6. River Basin Management Plans River Basin Districts 9 England and Wales 2 Cross border with Scotland

7. UK agriculture - size of the problem x x

8. Major issues identified Diffuse water pollution Urban, transport, air and land use (agriculture) Hydromorphology abstraction alien species A large proportion of water bodies are either ‘definitely at risk’ (1a) or ‘probably at risk’ (1b) of not meeting the environmental objectives of the WFD by 2015 if no action is taken

9. Headline Results for England &Wales: (% Water Bodies at Risk) RIVERS - 92.7% (hydromorph, diffuse nutrients) LAKES - 84.0% (hydromorph, phosphorous, acidification) TRANSITIONAL - 98.5% (hydromorph,nutrients, alien species) COASTAL - 84.8% (hydromorphology, diffuse nutrients, alien species) GROUNDWATER - 77.3% (diffuse N, abstraction)

10. Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality 43 % of phosphorous 60 % of nitrates Majority of silt Pathogens: Bathing & Shellfish waters Pesticides Veterinary Medicines Endocrine disruptors?

11. East Anglia Unique region 27,000 square km – 6M people 34% drier, 6% hotter than England and Wales. Important agricultural region (58% of UK agriculture) High Biodiversity value Growth area A quarter below sea level

12. Nitrates in East Anglia Forum for Water/recent press interest Example of diffuse pollution Good chemical status (groundwater) DWD/ND – 50mg/l standard? Up to 50% of East Anglian arable farms potentially incompatible Derogations? Time/lesser standards? Large scale landscape changes? Good ecological status? (surface water) Even tighter standards – eg dry wetlands, marine

13. Diffuse pollution control - Toolkit Major UK challenge Who owns (pays for) problem? Supportive (CSF/ESF) Incentives (CAP) Regulatory (landscape scale change) Large gap – agriculture vs. water? Polluter pays - who pays? Increase scale and pace

14. Issues for debate Much point source investment Exposing significant diffuse issues WFD – step change Polluter pays – who pays? Food production – global competition Self sufficiency Pollution export? Food miles

15. Summary Landscape scale issues/conflict Social, economic & environmental Legal constraints? Need to utilise all available solutions Engage in debate: What do we want in the UK? Is this where we are going? If not ….. How do we get there?