Scottish Water expands pollution prevention scheme

Scottish Water is expanding its scheme which protects drinking water supply zones from diffuse pollution to support a range of new measures, it announced today.

The water firm’s Sustainable Land Management Incentive Scheme, which was launched last year, prevents substances such as pesticides from entering certain lochs and rivers which feed water treatment works. Preventing diffuse pollution means that water is easier to treat at its treatment works. 

Since the launch of the scheme, Scottish Water has also provided financial assistance to many farms across the River Ugie and River Deveron catchments. This includes using alternative pesticides, constructing pesticide sprayer loading areas and installing livestock fencing and watering. 

Scottish Water said this had now been updated to include items such as cultivation and drilling along the contour of the slopes, the creation of in-ditch seepage barriers and cross drains under farm tracks. 

Peter Brown, water quality regulation manager, Scottish Water said: “Drinking water is easier to treat if it arrives at our works in the best possible condition. That’s why, working together with land managers, owners and tenants, we launched the Sustainable Land Management Incentive Scheme last April to support innovative and sustainable approaches to prevent diffuse pollution from entering our water supply system, helping to protect this vital resource. 

“We’ve been delighted with the response to the scheme and we’ve recently identified additional measures that can be supported and would encourage anyone with an interest to come forward and help play a part in enhancing drinking water standards.” 

The initiative is targeted in six key water supply catchments; the River Ugie and River Deveron catchments in Aberdeenshire, the Loch of Lintrathen in Angus, Craigendunton Reservoir in Ayrshire, the Dumfries Aquifer catchment and the Loch Ascog catchment in Argyll and Bute