Catchment management

The Catchment Approach

In a catchment, rainfall that is not utilised by plants either infiltrates into an aquifer to become groundwater or continues on the surface as runoff, eventually flowing into surface water systems such as streams, rivers and lakes.

Agriculture, industry, waste management and water abstraction can all have an impact on the catchment and on the quality of the water within it.

The quality of raw water in our region's catchments is generally very good; however, there are some substances used in agriculture that prove persistent in the environment and pose a risk of impacting raw water. This is why we are working collaboratively with landowners and farmers in priority areas on best practices and catchment improvements.