Severn Trent has launched their Farm to Tap scheme, offering farmers financial rewards and support for reducing levels of metaldehyde in their water sources.
Farmers in a ‘Drinking Water Safeguard Zone’, or in the Severn Trent priority catchments, are eligible to sign up to the scheme, which offers up to £8 per hectare for reducing metaldehyde levels found in local surface water sources.
Severn Trent catchment management and biodiversity lead, Dr Jodie Rettino commented:
“Metaldehyde is extremely difficult to remove from water once it’s there, and the cost to do so is significant. Metaldehyde is a vital product for slug control on farms, yet it could be banned if efforts aren’t made to reduce the risk of the active substance reaching water courses.
“To prevent this, we need to work with farmers at the source and support them in reducing metaldehyde use. One way is by switching to ferric phosphate, which is where signing up to Farm to Tap can help by providing the support, resources and advice farmers need to make that switch.
Alongside the financial support, every farmer that signs up will be assisted by their local Severn Trent Agricultural Advisors – experts who will work with them to develop the best solutions for their farm.
Additional bonuses are available and every farmer that successfully registers before 31 August will be eligible for a £25 early bird bonus.
“At Severn Trent, we have an ambition to be environmental leaders and find sustainable solutions to water source issues. If we solve these issues at source, rather than putting in expensive and environmentally damaging new treatment, we can ultimately deliver a sustainable solution that is cheaper for all our customers,” Dr Rettino continued.
Under the scheme, farmers can earn up to £8 per hectare on achieving lower levels of metaldehyde. Water quality samples will be taken every two weeks, upstream and downstream, from September to early December and farmer payments will be calculated and distributed based on this water sampling.
If the water sampling is below the metaldehyde water quality standard of 0.1 ppb, an additional £100 bonus will be awarded.
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