Affinity and Cambridge join forces to cut nitrates

Affinity and Cambridge Water have captured more than 40 tonnes of nitrogen from soils and runoff that would have leached into groundwater in agricultural areas.

The companies’ cover crop scheme is set to be repeated this year and will expand to more areas for landowners to take advantage of the programme to protect soils from erosion, reducing leaching and capture carbon.

Shaun Dowman agricultural advisor to Affinity said: “In total we estimate that the Affinity Water and Cambridge Water funded cover crops captured over 40 tonnes of nitrogen which may have otherwise leached into the groundwaters and rivers in the target area.”

Crops will include oil radish, Italian ryegrass, barley and oats as well as linseed, buckwheat and mustard to add colour across the catchments.

“As well as providing aesthetic interest these cover crops can also benefit farmland birds and other species over winter by providing cover and diversity in the landscape,” Dowman said.

Jennifer Thomas, catchment advisor at Cambridge, explained the cover crops benefit water quality as well as building organic matters in soil to protect them from erosion and attract wildlife.

“These crops, grown in the autumn/winter months between cash crops, are an excellent way to capture excess nitrate left in the soil,” Thomas said. “Without a cover crop this nitrate has the potential to leach into the aquifer or into nearby rivers, increasing the nitrate concentration which would then require water treatment.”

The companies will work in North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire to fund cover crops through the EnTrade environmental trading platform. Both regions have seen an increase in nitrate concentrations in several groundwater catchments that the crops can help mitigate.