NI Water has invited farmers within the Seagahan catchment in Co. Armagh to take part in a fully funded scheme with the aim of protecting and improving the quality of nearby watercourses.
The Seagahan Farming for Water scheme, which begins in July this year, is designed to “protect drinking water supplies, retain valuable soil and nutrients, and improve farm sustainability” on farmers’ land and the nearby reservoir.
Farmers who wish to apply will need their field to be located within the Seagahan catchment area near Markethill.
NI Water emphasised the importance of this catchment, which it said “supplies drinking water to thousands of people and supports a wide range of aquatic species and wildlife.”
Some local farmers already expressed their interest to join the scheme at its project launch last month, with all remaining spots being offered “on a first come first served basis”.
Water quality
According to NI Water, abstractions of water from the Seagahan Reservoir must be treated due to pollutants, such as soil, nutrients and herbicides, which wash in from surrounding land.
It is reported that a single drop of MCPA, a common agricultural herbicide, “can cause a breach of the drinking water limit for herbicide for a distance of 30km downstream” if it is spilt into a stream that is 1m wide.
NI Water outlined that these pollutants are “harmful to watercourses, costly to remove at treatment works, and can also represent a loss of valuable resources from farms.”
Scheme
The new Farming for Water scheme aims to introduce positive changes that benefit both the landowner and the Seagahan catchment, while also potentially reducing the cost of treating and supplying high quality drinking water to taps.
Participants are being offered “access to free capital measures, tailored advice, farm visits, and ongoing support, with no requirement for match funding or any financial contribution”.
Within these free measures, farmers can avail of a contractor for weed-wiping and topping rushes, a storage unit for pesticides, a drip tray, and more.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the scheme, applicants must be an active farmer who is managing land that is entirely or partly within the Seagahan drinking water catchment, while tenants farmers should have their landowner’s consent before applying.
NI Water noted that scheme agreements will be prioritised for farms closer to watercourses, “where improvements will deliver the greatest water quality benefits”.
The scheme is currently open for farmers to submit their expressions of interest, which will be considered for agreements once the scheme begins in July.
From July onwards, “the scheme will initially be open for 12 months, but may be extended”.
NI Water outlined that the scheme will “close when the budget has been used.”
NI Water
NI Water catchment officer Peter John Quinn described the scheme as a win‑win for everyone” involved.
He said: “The scheme offers 100% funded services for landowners and farmers within the Seagahan catchment, supporting improvements that make farm businesses more sustainable while also protecting water quality.”
Farmers can apply and find out more about the scheme on NI Water’s website.