Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering farmers and land managers in Mid and West Wales the use of free weed wipers as part of an innovative grassland herbicide campaign following the identification of herbicides, especially MCPA, in local rivers and watercourses via its water quality monitoring programme.

The utility company is working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the farming industry as part of an innovative campaign to help reduce levels of the grassland herbicide, MCPA, in the River Teifi and Upper River Wye catchment areas.

To help kick start the campaign, Welsh Water are holding an open day at Dalton’s ATV in Talsarn today where farmers and land managers from the Teifi and Upper Wye river catchments will be able to sign up for free hire of weed wipers for between April and October 2015. Using weed wipers to manage grassland weeds like rushes is more beneficial as it is applied directly to the plant, uses less chemicals and dramatically reduces spray drift. Attendees will also have the chance to get help and advice from Welsh Water and partners on how to improve rush management and protect the local environment from grassland herbicides.

MCPA is a selective herbicide specifically designed to kill weeds without harming crops and is a common ingredient in both agricultural and domestic herbicide products. Routine monitoring by Welsh Water has detected increased levels of MCPA, particularly in early summer, in watercourses across Wales. By working together, the organisations hope to gain a better understanding of MCPA sources and how to tackle this problem.

Following investigations in 2013 and 2014, it has been identified that MCPA is widely used for controlling the growth of weeds like the Common Soft Rush, which has flourished following wet weather periods in recent years. Wetter weather puts pressure on land, increasing risk of compaction and poaching, overwhelm drainage and creating favourable conditions for rushes to grow.

The campaign will work with farmers and land managers to promote best practice advice on handling, applying and disposing of grassland sprays and guidance on mechanical control of rushes. Other advice will include guidance on tackling the underlying causes and conditions to improve land condition and to achieve a long term reduction of rushes.

Weed wipers have the added benefit of only being licensed for use with Glyphosate, a chemical which has potentially less impact on water quality as it can break down quicker at around three days compared to MCPA, which breaks down in 15 to 25 days.

Ian Christie, Director of Water Services at Welsh Water said:

“Protecting the local environment is a priority for us. By working with NRW and the farming industry on this innovative project, we not only hope to see a reduction in the levels of MCPA in these catchments but also want to increase awareness of how what happens on the land can impact the water quality of watercourses across the wider catchment.”

Gavin Williams, FUW Land Use Committee Chair said:

“The initiative is supported by the Farmers' Union of Wales. Farmers appreciate the importance of responsible grassland herbicide use. The weed wiper offer provides the opportunity for landowners to try out different rush management methods, improving the availability of grazing for livestock as well as water quality.”