The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has warned that there is a “nitrate time bomb in many of our groundwater sources.”

The Committee was commenting on the Government’s Response to the EAC’s report, UK Progress on Reducing Nitrate Pollution the Committee published in November 2018 which concluded that Brexit presents challenges and opportunities to tackle the nitrate pollution ‘time bomb’.

The Committee found that high levels of nitrate pollution, used in farming fertilisers, might not peak for another 60 years and expressed concern that the Environment Agency currently lacks the resources to ensure compliance with the law.

The Committee, which has called for a new independent environmental watchdog if the UK leaves the EU, recommended an assessment of future impacts on air, water and soil quality, and requested monitoring and milestones to underpin legally binding targets on water quality.

The Government’s response acknowledges the need for a joined-up approach to reducing the agricultural pollution of water, soil and air. It also refers to the Clean Air Strategy, published this month, which sets out action to reduce ammonia emissions from farming.

However the Committee is disappointed with the Government’s reluctance to publish the results of the Environment Agency’s strategic review of its water quality monitoring system and at the lack of Government action to take a longer-term approach to river catchment planning.

Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Mary Creagh MP, said:

“There is a nitrate time bomb in many of our groundwater sources. Farming is one of the biggest sources of nitrate pollution due to the historic over-use of fertilisers.”

“The Government’s recognition in its Clean Air Strategy that ammonia emissions must be addressed alongside other sources of nitrate pollution - one of our key recommendations - is a first step.”

“But I am disappointed by the Government’s decision not to publish the results of the Environment Agency’s strategic review of its water quality monitoring system. Ministers have failed to grasp our proposed measures for a longer-term approach to river catchment planning, fobbing us off with warm words.”

“We’ll be assessing the effectiveness of the Government’s actions on nitrates and water quality when we begin our scrutiny of the Environment Bill in the coming weeks.”

The Committee’s report had called for the Environment Agency to publish the results of its Strategic Monitoring Review as soon as possible and provide evidence that its monitoring is comprehensive in terms of:

• the range and number of sites;
• the frequency of testing;
• the amount of third party information it is using;
• the full range of pollutants and their combined impact upon water quality;
• the impact of farming practices and pollution mitigation strategies;
• the correct balance between modelling and data.

The EAC said this was important as it provides the evidence base for policies and future investment decisions and “ensures that Government policies can be scrutinised and progress can be monitored.”

Referring to the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme which currently supports farmers with advice to deliver Water Framework Directive outcomes, the Government response says:

“After EU Exit the Government will have greater flexibility in our approach. Whilst planning for our new Environmental Land Management System (ELMS) is at an early stage, it recognises the importance of locally tailored schemes at catchment and landscape level. ….. ELMS will create a system that will pay farmers public money for public goods.”

“We will make sure there is a gradual transition from the current world to the new, avoiding a cliffedge for businesses.”

Click here to download Government Response:UK Progress on Reducing Nitrate Pollution