27/07/07
Diffuse pollution from agriculture is widely recognised as one of the most serious problems affecting the water environment. It costs water companies, and their customers, millions of pounds every year to clean up.
That’s why the government set up the CSF programme and why the water industry is a strong supporter. The aim is to ensure that phosphates, nitrates and other pollutants do not pose a risk to public water supplies and the environment.
Now in its second year, there are 42 CSF offices in place covering 35% of England in 40 priority catchments and thousands of farmers are involved. Monitoring of catchments is also under way. Defra hopes to see real improvements on the ground through watercourse fencing, improved land use management and other measures aimed at protecting water quality.
However, continuation of the initiative beyond its planned 2 years will be largely dependent on the next spending review settlement. And targeting of limited resources remains a key issue.
However, the CSF and similar schemes tend to be good value compared with ‘point source’ solutions. That’s why we look forward to the day when all farming is catchment sensitive.
This article was published in the stakeholder newsletter The View from Water UK 27/07/07
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