4.12.4 Key issues: Water

Agriculture is the biggest contributor of pollutants to waterbodies, primarily from sources such

as nutrient run-off and sediment and point pressures such as farmyards. After agriculture,

pressures come from hydromorphological issues, urban wastewater discharges and forestry.

The following key water quality issues have been identified through the baseline review:

Improvements to surface waterbodies are required to achieve ‘good’ ecological status

of waterbodies by 2027. New development has the potential to negatively impact

receiving waterbodies, through poor mitigation practices.

Pressure on water resources also comes from land-use changes, intensification of

agriculture, erosion, afforestation, industry and urbanisation.

There is a need to effectively manage pluvial, fluvial, or groundwater flood risk.

Hydromorphological modification (the second most common significant pressure on

surface waterbodies) can cause increased siltation of riverbeds which impacts on

ecological status.