The Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the most substantial piece of EC water legislation to date. It requires all inland and coastal waters to reach "good status" by 2015. It will do this by establishing a river basin district structure within which demanding environmental objectives will be set, including ecological targets for surface waters(quoted from the Defra website).

Implications for agriculture
The WFD introduces a new strategic planning framework and new objectives for water management.  It requires Defra to set status objectives for water bodies, and develop programmes of measures to meet these objectives.

Agriculture uses water in a number of ways, eg irrigating some crops, and efficient use of water is important. Some of the measures necessary to meet the status objectives will be quantity measures, as these are closely linked to water quality.

Control of diffuse pollution, i.e. pollution which occurs as a result of the accumulation of minor discharges of polluting material from various sources in the catchment, is an important goal in achieving "good status" waters. Agriculture is considered a major source of diffuse pollution, which is not surprising as it covers much of the landscape (70% in England and Wales). Controls to help prevent  potential pollutants from agriculture, such as sediment, and nutrients from fertilisers and manure, are therefore being implemented.

The ARF is taking a cross-sector approach to help farmers continue to farm profitably whilst complying with new regulations.

Every Drop Counts - Keeping Water Clean
Practical advice for pesticide users
This is a 12-page leaflet produced by the Crop Protection Association as part of the Voluntary Initiative.
Every Drop Counts    (633kb)