Affinity Water and Cambridge Water have today announced that following a successful online reverse auction, in 2020/21 they will work with 18 farms using an exciting cover crop scheme, across 800 hectares.

The aim of this project is to capture 37.4 tonnes of nitrate which could otherwise leach into the chalk aquifers that are used to supply drinking water.

Grown in the autumn/winter months between cash crops, cover crops are an excellent way to capture excess nitrate left in the soil. Without a cover crop the nitrate has the potential to leach into the aquifer or into nearby rivers, increasing the nitrate concentration which would then require water treatment.

Affinity Water is working with The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group East and Cambridge Water in North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire to fund the growing of cover crops through the EnTrade auction process.

In 2019/20, the water companies worked with 11 farms in North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire to fund the capture of 24 tonnes of nitrate from 488 hectares of land.

Building on the success of last year’s scheme the water companies plan to collect 50 percent more nitrate in the 2020/21 growing season, working with 63% more farms. The auction’s success is despite Covid-19 (resulting in online remote contact only) and with the help of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group East (FWAGE) who promoted the auction with the local farmers.

Jake Rigg, Director of Corporate Affairs and Communities at Affinity Water, said:

“This is a win, win, win situation – we are investing for the long term continuation of quality water, farmers receive a payment for delivering a service that protects and enhances their natural assets, and the environment benefits as we capture residual nitrate which may have otherwise leached into the water.

“This is a very strong result in only our second year of this mitigation programme. Enhancing natural capital in our catchments, using the EnTrade platform, is just one of the initiatives which Affinity Water is progressing to provide high quality water and, with the help of farmers in our region, take care of our communities’ environment now and for future generations.”

EnTrade reverse auctions are run via an online platform that facilitates environmental improvements. The EnTrade reverse auctions are one of a number of investments in the long-term mitigation of nitrate and enhancement of natural capital in our catchments. This year’s payment to farmers is on average £109 per hectare with higher payments made to those crops that capture more nitrate, such as oil radish, and those that are planted earlier.

Caroline Cooper, Director of Asset Strategy at Cambridge Water, added:

“It’s a fantastic result, which will see us working with even more farms than last year. We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Affinity Water, Entrade and FWAGE to deliver this innovative scheme. By working together we can ensure that we work with more farmers to protect water quality and the environment, now and in the future.”