The causes of pollution of the Rivers Wye and Usk has been an on-going debate for some years now. In the early stages it was alleged that nutrient run-off from free range egg production units in the Wye and Usk catchment areas was a major contributor to the deterioration of the river water quality.
In response to these allegations, and to address the lack of scientific evidence and better understand what impact free-range may be having on river water quality and thereby what steps might be taken to ameliorate the problem, the BEIC commissioned ADAS to undertake a scientific study of soil and water quality directly associated with free range egg production units within the Wye and Usk catchment areas.
ADAS undertook sampling from a number of designated farms, based on their location, topography and history. Soil samples were collected from around the range area, and these were aggregated into a single composite sample for testing. A ‘control’ soil sample was also collected from nearby land that was not grazed by animals or in receipt of manures or fertiliser. Upstream and downstream water samples were collected as close as possible to the range land.
As you will see from the report below, ADAS has concluded that the increase in nutrient levels in soils on the range land was relatively modest and broadly as expected of managed agricultural soils in England and Wales. Neither the soil samples nor the water samples showed any obvious indication of a link between water quality and range areas.
Report available in full below: