Our environment team has been working with farmers and landowners, over the past five years to manage 15,097 hectares of land sustainably for water quality or quantity.
This was achieved through our Capital Grants Scheme, which offers funding for capital items or land management practices that benefit the water environment. This figure exceeded our own target of 15,017 and the 14,217 hectare of land managed by our regulator, Ofwat.
Our joint efforts across the priority catchment areas have focused on practical, on-the-ground changes such as planting cover crops, using innovative technology to monitor soil health or funding capital items that reduce the runoff of soil, fertilisers and pesticides into local rivers and infiltration into groundwater.
The proactive measures are not only protecting vital water sources, but support the long-term sustainability of farming in the region.
“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the power of partnerships. By working directly with the farming and landowner community, we’re improving water quality in a way that is mutually beneficial. Rather than relying solely on costly treatment processes at the water treatment works, we have prioritised treating water at the source which is significantly more cost effective for the company and consumer.” Head of Environment, Emma Goddard
You can find out more, here.