sustainable land management (slm) for the protection of ...led by sepa in consultation with the...
TRANSCRIPT
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Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for the Protection of Drinking Water Sources in
Scotland
Peter Brown Water Quality Regulation Manager
Scottish Water
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Stephen Field SEPA Land Unit Manager
•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
Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for the Protection of Drinking Water Sources in
Scotland
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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
Main pollutants; Nutrients N and P, faecal bacteria, eroded soil, pesticides Main Sources; Agriculture, Urban green space, Forestry coal mining
The Diffuse Pollution GBRs (DP GBR) introduced in 2008 set minimum statutory requirements for anyone carrying out specific land based activities
Cover activities posing a risk to the water environment, including;
Storage and application of fertiliser Cultivation of land Keeping of livestock Surface water run-off Application of pesticides Operating of sheep dip facilities
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Scotland’s Approach to DP Mitigation
National approach Catchment selection based on good science demonstrate impact, pollutant source and pathways.
Priority catchment approach -
Evidence Base
Targeted Engagement
Awareness Raising
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National Approach - DPMAG
Association of Scottish Fishery Boards SEPA
Confederation of forest industries Scottish Government (Water, Land, SEARS, SGRPID)
Forestry Commission Scotland 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)
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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)
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Scotland’s 14 Priority catchments to 2015
South West Faecal bacteria in bathing waters & shellfish harvest waters Phosphorus levels in rivers and tributaries Nitrate levels in surface & ground waters
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
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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
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Awareness raising
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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Investment
DWQ - Enhancement 2002 – 2006 £700m 2006 – 2010 £600m 2010 – 2015 £380m
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Chart 3: Microbiological Water Quality Number of tests failed at Customers' Taps
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
Num
ber
of te
sts
faile
d
Total coliformsE.coli
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Chart 4: Physical and Chemical Water Quality Compliance with Standards at Customers' Taps
92% 93% 94% 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% 100%
Turbidity
Aluminium
Iron
Manganese
Total THM
Para
met
er
% tests compliant with standards
% compliance 2008% compliance 2009% compliance 2010
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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).
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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.
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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
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Identify the SLM catchments
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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
The SLM catchments
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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
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Identify practices resulting in an impact on water quality Ugie Catchment walk findings
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Results from the Ugie Catchment monitoring (June)
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Implement measures
Two Scottish Government Conditions
1) Compliance with General Binding Rules (GBRs) X
2)State Aid Rules – Incentive Scheme
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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
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Implement Measures Precision Farming: Understanding soil profiles Target management and resources Nutrient analysis Yield potential Pesticide use Zone maps 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
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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
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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
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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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THANK YOU
Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Diffuse Pollution in ScotlandScotland’s Approach to DP MitigationNational Approach�- DPMAGPriority Catchment ApproachScotland’s 14 Priority catchments to 2015 Evidence base – catchment walking Awareness raisingInitial findings from awareness raising Other ways SEPA has used to communicate with land managers in PC Findings 1:1 Farm visitsScottish Water Key FactsInvestmentSlide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18What is SLM and why are we implementing it?What are the potential benefits of SLM?How are we implementing SLM - SummaryIdentify the SLM catchmentsSlide Number 23Identify practices resulting in an impact on water qualityIdentify practices resulting in an impact on water quality �Ugie Catchment walk findings Results from the Ugie Catchment monitoring (June)Implement measures�SW SLM Incentive SchemeImplement Measures4. Monitor effectiveness of measures and report + review on an ongoing basis�Success Criteria ScorecardScotland - Hydro Nation and the Water Resources Bill�Proposed Legal Framework�Protecting Drinking Water Sources in the Catchment�Slide Number 33