Scottish farmers receive grants to improve water quality

Farmers in Scotland are to receive grants of up to £10,000 a year if they take action to reduce water pollution.

The water quality grants for farmers will be issued in some key water supply catchment areas and will be distributed by Scottish Water. It will focus on six main catchments which supply drinking water to more than 360,000 people, which is why the water company have stepped up its efforts to improve the quality of water in these areas.

Scottish Water has allocated £3 million a year for the Best Practice Incentive Scheme, but this could be increased or decreased based on the success of the actions undertook by farmers in these regions.

There will be a range of pollution reducing measures available to the farmers in a bid to promote a sustainable environment. Money up to the sum of £1,250 will be paid to farmers who establish concrete areas for filling field sprayers, for example.

As well as this, new water troughs placed away from rivers will be eligible to claim grants, and the pipes that deliver water to these troughs will get funding. This is in an attempt to keep livestock away from rivers and to stop manure seeking into the water. Stock fencing placed near the river banks will also receiving funding to assist in this matter.

Other forms of funding will come in the way of sprayer testing, soil analysis, training in diffuse pollution and for substituting more expensive but safer pesticides used in the catchment areas.

Peter Brown, Scottish Water’s water quality regulation manager, said: “The vast majority of the water in the environment is unpolluted and, with treatment, it is suitable for public drinking water supply.

“But we are not complacent and want to reduce the impact of diffuse pollution. By working together with land managers, owners and tenants in the catchments of drinking water sources, we can enhance drinking water standards, protect public health and promote more sustainable solutions than traditional treatment processes.”

Posted by Claire Manning