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TREATMENT OF RUN-OFF OF NUTRIENTS AND OTHER POLLUTANTS (Rural Priorities)

Article 20(b)(v)

Measure code (125)

Rationale for Intervention

The quality of Scotland's water environment is good. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA) has estimated that 30% of Scottish river water bodies are at risk of not meeting the Water Framework Directive ( WFD) objectives due to diffuse water pollution, principally from agriculture and forestry. Capital investments are needed to mitigate such pollution, targeted at areas where water bodies are of low quality. These investments will deliver both efficiencies in the use and treatment of polluting substances and help to secure and environmentally sustainable industry.

Objectives of the measure

To increase the efficiency and environmental performance of the agriculture and forestry sectors through targeted capital investments to reduce and treat run-off of nutrients and other pollutants from farm and forest holdings.

Scope and actions

Support for operations to deal with nutrients and other diffuse pollutants which would have adverse effects on the water environment.

(a) Support for the creation of biobeds: shallow, excavations filled with biomix ( e.g. a mixture of straw, soil, peat free compost and turfed over) and using an impermeable liner and collection facility for drainage from the biobed.

The biobed must be constructed in accordance with recognised design principles. Guidance is being developed, and it is expected that SEPA will endorse a design manual . Design criteria have also been produced as a result of the UK-wide Voluntary Initiative on pesticides. Mixing and handling of pesticides or wash down should be done either directly over the biobed or in an adjacent bunded concrete area which drains to the biobed. The potential beneficiary will need to demonstrate compliance with all relevant waste regulations regarding disposal of collected residue.

Biobeds, which are to trap spillages of pesticides, will not affect emissions of greenhouse gases ( GHGs). There will be some emissions of greenhouse gases from constructed farm wetlands ( CFWs), but they are not expected to be any greater than if the material was conveyed to alternative storage. In Scotland CFWs will be used for lightly contaminated water, not pure slurry or other materials rich in nitrogen or carbon. CFWs are low-energy systems, which will make savings in machinery use and thus in the GHG emissions by eliminating the need to pump/transport and spread the material if a CFW were not used. Both biobeds and CFWs involve capital expenditure for the modernisation of the farm.

Exemptions to the Scottish waste rules are currently being worked up to allow the waste biomix to be composted for a year and then spread to land. An exemption will also be required for the re-use of the liquid residue (such as for wash down etc.). The design manual will reflect these exemptions once finally approved.

Where the liquid residue is disposed of to land authorisation will be required from SEPA under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

(b) Construction of farm wetlands to collect, store and treat lightly contaminated run-off from roofs, roads and yards to reduce inputs of diffuse pollutants to the water environment. Constructed farm wetlands may also intercept emergency leaks or spillages, control storm water run-off and provide habitat and biodiversity benefits.

Constructed wetlands can trap sediment and, through the retention of run-off, reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus (soluble and particulate) and faecal indicator organism ( FIO) loads in water exiting the wetland through a range of biological, physical and chemical processes.

Their construction will inevitably involve the loss of some agricultural land and potentially result in a small increase in nitrous oxide and methane emissions due to de-nitrification of nitrate in the wetland system.

It is essential that this measure is targeted to priority areas and within those areas catchment scale uptake is encouraged through collaborative applications. The nature of diffuse pollution is that the many and varied sources are individually insignificant but at the catchment scale have a significant impact. In order to address the pressure, mitigation measures must likewise have catchment-scale implementation.

Definition of beneficiaries

Land managers.

Potential beneficiaries will be inspected by SEPA and may be required to carry out actions to meet SEPA's standards under the relevant legislation.

Applicants will be expected to show that the constructed wetland will be of environmental benefit; applicants should be able to show that wetland can deal with pollutants in low concentrations without the need for pumping or transport of lightly contaminated water from farm steadings.

Primary production sectors

Agriculture, forestry

Type of investments (tangible-intangible)

Capital grant

Aid intensity

Variable, with ceilings of 40% of eligible costs (non Less Favoured Areas) and 50% (Less Favoured Areas) with a 10% premium on the ceilings for investments undertaken by young farmers.

Construction costs could vary considerably depending on the size of the enterprise; the design manual quotes typical costs of between €5,110 and €10,220. However, costs could be considerably lower depending on the availability of on-farm labour / skills etc.

Transition arrangements (including estimated support)

None.

Quantified targets for EU common indicators

^ Non-lead baseline objective indicator.
# Impact indicators will be estimated based on output and result indicators

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