Pollution Prevention Scheme Expanded to Raise Water Standards

An initiative to protect key drinking water supply zones from diffuse pollution is being expanded to support a range of new measures.

Preventing diffuse pollution means water is easier to treat at Scottish Water's (UK) water treatment works for the benefit of customers.

Scottish Water's Sustainable Land Management Incentive Scheme was launched last year to help prevent substances such as pesticides from entering certain lochs and rivers which feed water treatment works.

The initiative is targeted in six key water supply catchments - the River Ugie and River Deveron catchments in Aberdeenshire, the Loch of Lintrathen in Angus, Craigendunton Reservoir in Ayrshire, the Dumfries Aquifer catchment and the Loch Ascog catchment in Argyll and Bute.

Since its launch Scottish Water has agreed to provide financial assistance to many farms across the River Ugie and River Deveron catchments. This includes using alternative pesticides, constructing pesticide sprayer loading areas and installing livestock fencing and watering.

The most popular item applied for has been the Water Environment Management Plan. This is a farm plan, produced by an independent qualified advisor to identify the risk of diffuse pollution and recommend ways of managing this.

The number of possible measures supported by the scheme has recently been doubled and now includes items such as cultivation and drilling along the contour of the slopes, the creation of in-ditch seepage barriers and cross drains under farm tracks.

The extension of the scheme comes after Scottish Water also began a project to install additional treatment processes at its Forehill water treatment works, Aberdeenshire, in a bid to help better manage external impacts on the water supply. Delivery of this project forms part of a commitment Scottish Water has given to Scottish Ministers to install and commission a new treatment process by March 31, 2014.

Peter Brown, Scottish Water's Water Quality Regulation Manager, said: "The vast majority of water in Scotland's environment is unpolluted and, with treatment by Scottish Water, fit for customer consumption. Drinking water quality in Scotland is tested to ensure all customers enjoy its look and taste, and is at its highest ever level of quality.

"Drinking water is easier to treat if it arrives at our works in the best possible condition. That's why, working together with land managers, owners and tenants, we launched the Sustainable Land Management Incentive Scheme last April to support innovative and sustainable approaches to prevent diffuse pollution from entering our water supply system, helping to protect this vital resource.

"We've been delighted with the response to the scheme and we've recently identified additional measures that can be supported and would encourage anyone with an interest to come forward and help play a part in enhancing drinking water standards.

"This scheme, combined with improvements to our treatment works at Forehill in Aberdeenshire, can make a real and positive difference for the benefit of our customers in Scotland."