1. Safeguard Zones – A Water Company View Andrew C Walker Catchment Strategy Manager

2. Why do we need Safeguard Zones To protect drinking water through the drinking water directive protect health of customers ensure water is wholesome and clean through setting standards eg 0.1 ug/l metaldehyde in water at tap Water Framework Directive (WFD) Article 7: comply with drinking water directive avoid deterioration of water quality in order to reduce level of treatment

3. DrWPA’s & SgZ’s – the difference SgZ defines the area of risk Colour = deep peat in the catchment Pesticides = usually whole catchment Nitrate = SPZ 1 & 2

4. DrWPA’s & SgZ’s – the difference

5. What is an SgZ? Non-statutory way of targeting actions Built on evidence Delivered through an Action Plan living document rolling programme SgZ’s – what are they?

6. SgZ’s – how are they delivered

7. SgZ’s who’s doing what EA – Farm visits/ compliance checks/ discrete projects & host CaBA CSF – farm advice, awareness and best practice days, modest capital grants slug pellet calibration NFU – promotion and awareness – publicise metaldehyde data YWS – works visits, alternative product trials, enhanced river sampling, workshops for agronomists

8. SgZ’s are they working? Difficult to tell – metaldehyde very seasonal & weather dependant Seems to be more awareness of the issues out there Actions seem to work better in small catchments PES seen by some as attractive way of solving problems Does PES actually change culture and behaviour? Does PES limit innovation? Colour could take a decade or more to stabilise or reduce

9. SgZ’s how could they be improved Needs better leadership & coordination to drive other parties Need to better identify what other organisations are doing e.g Wildlife/ Rivers Trusts/ other WASC’s Benchmarking what other WASC’s are doing learn from best practice ensures consistency Understand the drivers of activities e.g. YWS working with Reading to identify impacts and pressures from the supply chain. Cool Farm Tool Opportunities for remote sensing to monitor antecedent conditions

10. In theory, Water Protection Zones Very unlikely Time consuming Thange in legislation Or Selective bans of problem pesticides Treatment solutions in AMP7 – conflict between Article 7 & DWD? Toxicity based standards for water quality (if out of the EU!) SgZ’s – what happens if they don’t work?