The Impact of Intensive Dairy Farming Activities on River Quality: The Eastern Cleddau Catchment Study

In: Water and environment journal, Band 4, Heft 2, S. 176-186

Abstract

ABSTRACTPollution from farm wastes has been one of the principal causes of deterioration in river quality in recent years. However, little is understood of how, and which, farming activities affect the chemical and biological quality of rivers. To address this problem, a field study has been initiated in the Eastern Cleddau catchment, West Wales, to investigate relationships between land use, farm waste management practices and river quality.Water quality of small tributaries in this area is poor, and intensive chemical monitoring has shown that discharges from farmyards are a major source of pollution. Rainfall has been shown to exacerbate this effect either through field runoff or wastes washing directly from the farmyards. The status of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in these tributaries is poor and, typically, only a few pollution‐tolerant species are present.Small tributaries from farms appear to affect both the water chemistry and biology of larger watercourses, although this effect may be quite localized.Future research will look at ways to reduce the impact of farm wastes on river quality. This will provide the basis for producing recommendations and guidelines for catchment management aimed at minimizing pollution of rivers from farming practices.