Soil and Water

• Introduction
• Water Protection
• Ground Water Regulations
  • EC Groundwater Directive
• Water Framework Directive UK
• Catchment Sensitive Farming
• Nitrates
• The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008
• Silage Slurry & Agricultural Fuel Oil
• Soil
  • Soil Management Plan
  • Defra Soil Protection Review
  • Soil Information Gateway
  • Soil Strategy Case Studies (AHRF)
  • Tried & Tested Nutrient Management Plan
• Water Supply and Resource Management
• National & Regional Water Strategies
• Flooding

Water Framework Directive UK

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This directive seeks to resolve some of the conflicting approaches and implementation problems of previous water Directives. There will be an integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of Europe’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwaters. 

The Directive will be implemented through an “environmental objective” and “a river basin management planning system”. The environmental objective expands on previous legislation to protect the water environment and water uses from pollution. Ecological objectives will be introduced to protect and, where necessary, restore the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems.

Surface water bodies must meet “good” ecological status and “good” chemical status by 2015. Groundwater must meet “good” chemical status and “heavily modified water bodies” must achieve “good ecological potential” by the same date. In addition there must be no deterioration from sites currently at or above “good” status.

Integrated management of the water environment will be applied through a “river basin management system”. There are four elements to this process:

• Characterisation and assessment of impacts on river basin districts
• Environmental monitoring
• Setting of environmental objectives
• Design and implementation of programmes of measures needed to achieve the environmental objectives

For more information see the Defra website or the Foundation for Water Research website

Defra carried out a public consultation during 2007 to gain views on a series of proposals to control diffuse water pollution from agriculture. These included proposals for farm advice and wider implementation of Water Protection Zones (WPZs) where certain activities are considered to be responsible for diffuse water pollution could be restricted or prohibited. Proposed measures will target applications of phosphate contained in organic manures to land and soil erosion.

Nitrates – reducing water pollution from agriculture (Defra)

Nitrates Directive (Environment Agency)