ASSAP- Farming for Water Quality

ASSAP – Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advice Programme works with farmers in a free and confidential advisory service to help improve water quality. Priority areas for action (PAA) are being targeted across the country to improve water quality.

In Ireland all water policy and management is led by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and under this, the country has been set a target of achieving ‘good status’ for all its waters. The EPA has identified priority catchments or ‘areas for action’ across the country where the status of the water is at risk of falling from a range of both agrricultural and non-agricultural pressures.

In these priority areas, ASSAP is focussing its resources on addressing agricultural pressures. Where an agricultural pressure is identified the farmers in the area will receive the offer of a free farm visit from an ASSAP advisor.

In the video below Peter Comer, Teagasc ASSAP Adviser, Mayo describes the setting up of the ASSAP service, the reasons why it was needed and how it is working so far. In the background Lawpro Catchment Scientist Ailbhe Douglas is taking a kick sample to determine water quality from a biological point of view; chemical data is also recorded. 

Visit also Water Quality Week here 

Find out more about ASSAP here