How the North Wales Rivers Trust are utilising eco-friendly solutions to improve river quality.

By river restoration officer Liam Whitmore

When it comes to preventing livestock from entering watercourses in remote areas, pumps and sumps are the ultimate superheroes.

Pumps and sumps, what are they good for? Absolutely everything…related to the prevention of livestock entering watercourses!

A common form of agricultural pollution arises from livestock entering watercourses to drink, known as sediment. Livestock will also typically revisit the same sites over and over; this behaviour leads to severe poaching of riverbanks as they also consume all vegetation along the riparian zone (land habitat next to the watercourse).

Livestock can cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems by entering watercourses to drink, which leads to sedimentation and severe poaching of riverbanks. This not only reduces water clarity but also transports excess nutrients into watercourses, which can harm aquatic life.

To address this problem, one of the main interventions we carry out on farms is providing alternative drinking sources, such as troughs. To prevent ground poaching, troughs are installed on top of hard core rubble. While troughs can be connected to mains water, the North Wales Rivers Trust (NWRT) is now beginning to utilise solar-powered pumps and sumps in remote locations where mains water connection is not possible..

These new devices use solar power to abstract water from local watercourses and pump it directly into the troughs providing a reliable and eco-friendly source of water for livestock. Farmers who have used these pumps have been amazed at their power and efficiency, never expecting such incredible performance from a solar panel.

By utilising solar-powered pumps and sumps, the NWRT is not only helping to prevent agricultural pollution but also reducing carbon emissions, making them an excellent solution for sustainable farming practices.

As we continue to develop and implement innovative solutions, we are confident that we can make a significant impact in preserving the health of our waterways for generations to come.