Nitrate pollution from farming is a growing concern, with many of our water bodies facing high nitrate levels, especially in the south and southeast of Ireland. Agriculture is the main source of nitrogen in our waterways according to Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency.
There are lots of practices and technologies farmers can use to reduce nitrate losses and protect our waterways. The Duncannon Blue Flag Farming and Communities EIP, for instance, took action to tackle nitrate issues in the local water bodies that flow onto Duncannon Beach in the Southeast of the country.
They did things like fencing off over 15 kilometers of land near watercourses, moving water troughs away from rivers and creating sediment traps to catch runoff. They also planted hedgerows, grew cover crops in the winter, and created grass margins along arable fields.
In other European countries such as Germany and France, water utility companies have promoted conversion to organic farming in water catchments to improve the quality of the drinking water.
Such approaches can help to improve water quality, and similar methods can be used across Europe to tackle nitrate pollution and protect our water resources.
In sum, farmers have a key role to play in safeguarding water quality, and by adopting effective approaches can make a real difference in their local communities and beyond.
