Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for the Protection of Drinking Water Sources in Scotland Peter Brown Water Quality Regulation Manager Scottish Water
Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for the Protection of Drinking Water Sources in Scotland Scotland s approach to rural diffuse pollution mitigation SEPA s Priority catchment work Scottish Water s Sustainable Land Management Project Scottish Government s Hydro Nation and the Water Resources Bill drinking water supply Stephen Field SEPA Land Unit Manager
Diffuse Pollution in Scotland Scotland s water quality is generally good! Diffuse Pollution is the largest polluting pressure causing water bodies to fail WFD objectives Cover activities posing a risk to the water environment, including; Main pollutants; Nutrients N and P, faecal bacteria, eroded soil, pesticides Main Sources; Agriculture, Urban green space, Forestry coal mining Storage and application of fertiliser Cultivation of land Keeping of livestock Surface water run-off Application of pesticides Operating of sheep dip facilities The Diffuse Pollution GBRs (DP GBR) introduced in 2008 set minimum statutory requirements for anyone carrying out specific land based activities
Scotland s Approach to DP Mitigation Catchment selection based on good science demonstrate impact, pollutant source and pathways. National approach Priority catchment approach - Evidence Base Awareness Raising Targeted Engagement
National Approach - DPMAG Association of Scottish Fishery Boards SEPA Confederation of forest industries Forestry Commission Scotland Scottish Government (Water, Land, SEARS, SGRPID) Scottish National Heritage Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park (also representing Cairngorms National Park) Scottish Land estates National Farmers Union Scotland Scottish Water Scottish Crofting Foundation Tenant Farmers Association Scottish Environment Link (RSPB & WWF Scotland)
Priority Catchment Approach Led by SEPA in consultation with the DPMAG Three phases Characterisation and evidence gathering (desk based and catchment walking) Awareness Raising One to One engagement and site visits (rural diffuse pollution assessment)
Scotland s 14 Priority catchments to 2015 North East Pesticide levels in surface water identified for drinking water supply Phosphorus levels in rivers and tributaries Nitrate levels in surface and ground waters South West Faecal bacteria in bathing waters & shellfish harvest waters Phosphorus levels in rivers and tributaries Nitrate levels in surface & ground waters
Evidence base catchment walking Evidence that Diffuse pollution is a problem in Scotland ~5015 breaches of DP GBRs recorded 75 % in relation to livestock assess to water environment 22% in relation to cultivations with 2m of top of bank
Awareness raising
Initial findings from awareness raising No one method suits all catchments Buy into DP problem and attendance at events varies across the three SEPA regions Feedback from land managers and advisors is good Livestock farmers clearly want on farm workshops, 3-4 hrs, during the working day, arable land managers more inclined to attend classroom events in the evening. Land managers now requesting SEPA visits to discuss DP and GBRs Term General Binding Rules (GBRs) don t mean much to land managers would prefer them to be referred to as the Rules of the land
Other ways SEPA has used to communicate with land managers in PC Press releases Articles in Scottish farmer - PC updates etc Articles in other organisations magazine Catchment Characterisation Reports in production for each priority catchment, and technical summaries Radio interviews / TV interview Pod cast with SAC Text alerts from NFU and SAC Postcards for events Leaflet mail shots equine Web page links with others Twitter
Findings 1:1 Farm visits Main findings and areas of concern Significant increase in the number of Cultivation within 2m of minor watercourses totally different from catchment walk findings (x10) Livestock access to water environment Pesticide handling areas Oil storage 1:1 Inspection breaches (178 farms) Pressure/ Breach GBR 10 GBR 18 GBR 19 GBR 20 GBR 23 Oil Storage Regulations SSAFO CAR Point Source CAR Engineering Other Issues (waste) Total Number 6 4 285 166 20 50 16 1 1 16 565
Scottish Water Key Facts Supply population of 4.94 million Produce ~2000 Ml/d 270 Water Treatment Works Own about 70,000 acres Number of reservoirs 113 Number of lochs, rivers and burn abstractions 135 Number of boreholes 70
Investment DWQ - Enhancement 2002 2006 700m 2006 2010 600m 2010 2015 380m
Chart 3: Microbiological Water Quality Number of tests failed at Customers' Taps Total coliforms E.coli 150 Number of tests failed 125 100 75 50 25 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year
Chart 4: Physical and Chemical Water Quality Compliance with Standards at Customers' Taps Total THM % compliance 2008 % compliance 2009 % compliance 2010 Manganese Parameter Iron Aluminium Turbidity 92% 93% 94% 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% 100% % tests compliant with standards
What is SLM and why are we implementing it? Sustainable Land Management in water catchments is a means to control contaminants in drinking water sources, as an alternative to new or additional treatment. We are aligning our approach to SLM with the stated objective of the Water Framework Directive No deterioration of drinking water sources. 3 million per year to identify and operate sustainable land management in five water catchments (Water Industry Commission for Scotland SR10 Final Determination).
What are the potential benefits of SLM? Improved drinking water quality/treatment Net cost benefit for customers Environmental benefit (reduce - energy, chemical, carbon) Benefit land users e.g. save soils, save chemical inputs Partnership working Demonstrates Scottish Water s Vision to be Scotland s most trusted and valued company.
How are we implementing SLM - Summary Identify catchments for implementation of SLM Identify practices resulting in an impact on water quality Implement measures Monitor effectiveness of measures and report + review on an ongoing basis
Identify the SLM catchments
The SLM catchments Watercourse/ Waterbody WTW Issue River Ugie Forehill Pesticides River Deveron Turriff Pesticides Lintrathen Loch Clatto Nutrients Loch Ascog Loch Ascog Nutrients Penwhirn Reservoir Penwhirn Colour Lochgoin/ Craigendunton Reservoirs Amlaird Colour Cargen boreholes Cargen Nitrates Terregles borehole Terregles Nitrates
Identify practices resulting in an impact on water quality 1.Seconded staff to SEPA to: a) Provide a resource to work on overlapping catchments b) Obtaining training on reading and understanding the catchment 2.Baseline Monitoring a) Catchment sampling programme b) Data capture on WTW performance 3.Communications a) Local news articles b) Joint open letters to land managers c) Learning from other utility activities d) Catchment Sub-groups e) Nov SLM Conference
Identify practices resulting in an impact on water quality Ugie Catchment walk findings
Results from the Ugie Catchment monitoring (June)
Implement measures Two Scottish Government Conditions 1) Compliance with General Binding Rules (GBRs) X 2)State Aid Rules Incentive Scheme
SW SLM Incentive Scheme SW SLM Scheme 100% or match financing Benefit of land managers and water quality For financing measures over and above GBR compliance Points based system Specific water quality problems Funding will be capped
Precision Farming: Understanding soil profiles Target management and resources Nutrient analysis Yield potential Pesticide use Zone maps Implement Measures Capital Measures: Biobeds Spray make up & eqt washing areas Watercourse channel enhancement Grip Blocking Water Margins and Enhanced Riparian Buffer Areas Other: Alternative plant protection products
4. Monitor effectiveness of measures and report + review on an ongoing basis Success Criteria Scorecard Baseline data Background information Water quality issues Current OPEX, any planned or potential CAPEX/OPEX Regulatory issues Power use/carbon footprint Waterbody Status Observed land use 6 monthly assessment against baseline Cost of SLM measures Changes in water quality/chemical inputs to land Environmental/third party benefits/benefits to land managers Whole life cost / NPV Analysis
Scotland - Hydro Nation and the Water Resources Bill Hydro Nation Duty Scottish Water Modernising the Legislative Framework -Managing Temporary Water Shortages in the Public Supply -Protecting Drinking Water Sources in the Catchment -Prescribed Substances -Septic tanks -Empty Non-domestic Customers
Proposed Legal Framework Protecting Drinking Water Sources in the Catchment Present Situation Water (Scotland) Act 1980. General No specific provision for using catchment management techniques Proposed Way Forward Scottish Water could have powers to Access the land that forms part of the water catchment Test the raw water to ascertain the source of the problem A pro-active approach to catchment management consistent with the requirements of Water Framework Directive. Implement sustainable solutions. Manage Costs of capital expenditure and operational expenditure for drinking water Treatment. Combine catchment management for the protection of drinking waters with treatment.
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