Nutrient Neutrality

Nutrient pollution

Pollution from nutrients can arise from the way that land is used in areas close to water bodies (known as ‘water catchments’). Where sites are already in poor condition, extra wastewater from new housing developments can make matters worse. Pollution typically arises from occupation of homes and other buildings, untreated sewage or waste water entering rivers over and above the limits that water companies’ permits allow, and surface water run-off from development. Farming activity that may lead to nutrient pollution includes agricultural use of fertilisers, animal waste and slurry run-off.

Reducing the impact on protected sites

We recognise the role that farm businesses play in protecting water quality, especially in rivers, and agriculture as a whole has made great strides in recent years in reducing on-farm nutrient emissions, which can come from farm run-off and discharges from septic tanks. Farmers have made good progress taking voluntary action on their own initiative and through sector-led initiatives to improve water quality, and now focus is being shifted to reducing potential pollution risks.

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One way the government is working with farmers is through DEFRA's Slurry Infrastructure grant. The grant offers farmers funding for 50% of the eligible costs of investment to extend, replace or create additional storage for slurry on farms, so they have six months' capacity for their existing herd size. This isn't a matter of increasing the farm's operational capacity, but of offering farmers the support they need to improve their slurry-handling facilities and capacity to reduce the requirement for spreading in the winter months.