Landwards Autumn 2021
Profession: Natural ways with water
Dr Alexandra Cooke
Natural ways with water Farmers in the Severn Trent Water (STW) area are being encouraged to play an active role in improving drinking water quality by implementing a range of environmental schemes on their land. STW is also conducting trials to see if similar techniques could help handle waste water as well, Dr Alex Cooke, Principal Catchment Scientist for STW told IAgrE members in a recent lunchtime lecture. The features being promoted include planting woodlands, buffer strips, hedges, grassland, wildflower areas 20
and riparian margins, as well as creating wetland areas. STW is keen for farmers to consider features that provide benefits to the community as well as to water quality, and to combine several helpful features.
Pesticides These are referred to as ‘stackable benefits’, Dr Cooke says. The main concern for STW drinking water sources is from pesticides: “They are difficult and expensive to treat, and that cost is passed back to customers.”
