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The Diffuse Pollution Initiative

SEPA's national Diffuse Pollution Initiative began in September 2001 and ran for 3 years. The main aim was to develop a strategy for dealing with diffuse water pollution and incorporate it into SEPA's routine business. That was achieved and written up in technical report DPI 20  (131kb). A set of DPI reports and/or technical publications have been produced in achieving the following objectives:

• characterise the diffuse pollution problem in Scotland;
• quantify diffuse pollution as a pressure under the Water Framework Directive (WFD);
• develop a diffuse pollution monitoring strategy for SEPA;
• ensure that the initiative integrates with existing and planned SEPA work;
• develop and promote programmes of training for SEPA officers;
• quantify the effectiveness of existing measures for controlling diffuse pollution;
• inform the process of drafting new legislation;
• increase awareness of diffuse pollution issues through education, advice and engagement with target sectors;
• investigate and promote effective delivery of advice to target sectors;

The DPI was set up in response to the increasing awareness of the threat to water quality from diffuse pollution. It aimed to quantify and characterise diffuse pollution in Scotland, informing the drafting of new legislation and policy, and increasing the awareness of diffuse pollution issues and solutions through education and guidance.

The priorities of the substantial remit were driven primarily by legislation such as the Water Framework Directive and the Bathing Waters Regulations. Other factors included filling research gaps such as assessing the effectiveness of measures to reduce diffuse pollution, and SEPA's published goals to protect and improve water quality.

In addition, changes in agricultural policy such as the revised PEPFAA code, the 4 Point Plan and the Agriculture and Environment Group's report 'Custodians of Change' steered the direction of work undertaken. Further opportunities for control offered by the reform of the EU CAP with potential for linking payments to environmental measures including control of diffuse pollution.

The work of the initiative included SUDS and urban pollution as well as rural aspects.