Nutrient subgroups

Many of the Water Framework Directive failures in Dorset's catchments stem from high nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) levels in our catchments, with knock-on impacts including seasonal growth of algal mats, reduction of available feeding area for wading birds and de-oxygenation of water harming fish and invertebrates. The nutrients causing the problem come from a range of sources including land management practices and people (via sewage treatment processes, and increasing as more housing is built). In some catchments the porous chalk bedrock holds on to nitrogen for long periods of time, meaning some nitrates arriving in our rivers now are the result of activity many years ago. There are localised requirements on agriculture, wastewater treatment and housing development (through Dorset and BCP Councils) to reduce nutrient inputs to the Poole Harbour catchment, under the Poole Harbour Consent Order and Technical Recommendations.

Working together to tackle all of these sources of excess nutrients in all of our rivers is a key part of the Catchment Partnership's work and is embedded in many of the projects our partners deliver. 

Technical Nutrient Group

The Technical Nutrient Group (TNG) is an independent scientific grouping of national academic and industry experts which reviews, analyses and makes recommendations for the development and improvement of Nutrient Accounting Tools. These tools are currently required for farmer-led schemes to improve agricultural nutrient use efficiencies in sensitive river catchments.The Group is currently focussed on the tools associated with reducing nitrate inputs from agriculture in both the Poole Harbour catchment and high priority Safeguard Zones in Dorset, as calculated through the Environment Agency’s Nitrate Leaching Tool. 

The TNG is currently chaired by the National Farmers Union, and comprises regulators Natural England and the Environment Agency, Wessex Water (the only waste-water company in the catchment), representatives from Poole Harbour Agriculture Group (who administer the Poole Harbour Nutrient Management Scheme), independent agronomists, academic and field research organisations, and agricultural industry bodies. 

Dorset catchments nutrients sub-group

The county-wide nutrients sub-group is currently in development, and is borne out of recognition that partners are working to reduce nutrients across the county, not just in the Poole Harbour catchment, and that the issues extend beyond nitrogen. Terms of reference are not yet established, but the intention is that this group will provide linkages between partners' work, enable the sharing of good practice, data and evidence, and support a joined-up approach to managing, mitigating and reducing nutrient inputs to all Dorset catchments by all sectors.