Bristol Water is planning to widen its catchment management approach to tackle agricultural pollution and extend it across the Cheddar Reservoir catchments.

In 2007, Bristol Water was the first water company to detect metaldehyde in raw water. The company decided that the best way to tackle the problem was at its source – the pesticide is very difficult to remove at treatment works without significant expense.

Engagement work with farmers to reduce the use of metaldehyde began in 2010 with the launch of Bristol Water’s Metaldehyde Action Project. Bristol Water works with farmers to ensure that when the pesticide is used it is used with caution and according to risk assessment on the basis of individual fields and weather conditions. The utility has also helped farmers to calibrate their pellet application equipment, and subsidised and promoted the use of non-toxic alternatives to metaldehyde such as ferric phosphate.

The Metaldehyde Action Project has enabled the water company to reduce the frequency and size of metaldehyde concentrations in raw water samples, an approach Matthew Pitts, Catchment Strategy Manager at Bristol Water says has been much cheaper than building new water treatment works to remove metaldehyde.

In 2015, the utility expanded its catchment management approach and formed the Mendip Lakes Partnership to deal with nutrients in the Mendip reservoirs. The nutrients were making the water very difficult to treat, and as with the metaldehyde problem, would ultimately require the company to build new expensive treatment systems.

The Partnership has brought together a number of organisations working in the Mendip catchments with similar aims around improving the farmed environment. Matthew Pitts commented:

“ This allowed us to present a coordinated and consistent approach to farmers, and a ‘one stop shop’ for advice on nutrients, soils, water and for help with applications to the Government’s Countryside Stewardship scheme.”

The water company has set up its own Bristol Water Catchment Grant Scheme to help farms make improvements which will reduce their pollution risk and provide feedback on the quality of the rivers and streams in the area. It also holds workshops and events to make sure everyone is aware of the issues and the support it can provide to farmers.

Matthew Pitts continued:

“We plan to continue the approach and to build on the relationships we have developed over the last 10 years, and to widen it across the Cheddar Reservoir catchments. We will strive to innovate and to validate our approach. To do this, we will build partnerships with organisations like universities and neighbour water companies.”