No reduction in borehole N
No reduction in borehole N
DESPITE huge reductions in nitrate levels on farms in nitrate sensitive areas, there has been no improvement in borehole water quality.
NFU pollution consultant Michael Payne said producer schemes in NSAs had been successful in reducing nitrate levels. But no change had yet been recorded in borehole nitrate levels, even though the first 10 NSAs were established more than seven years ago.
"Depending on soil and rock types, nitrates can take 40 years to percolate into boreholes. But the minimum timespan is about five years and we expected to see some change in nitrate levels by now."
And the boreholes monitored were chosen specifically because it was thought they were in areas where water would pass quickly from surface to boreholes, he added.
An Environment Agency spokesman confirmed that nitrate levels had not changed in boreholes and that about 10% of monitored water remained above the EUs target of 50 microgrammes/litre.