Till Fell Sandstone Operational Catchment

About

The Till Fell Sandstone groundwater body is a drinking water protected area and is used throughout the catchment for strategic drinking water supplies, as well as small local, private supplies. It is the only source of public water supply for northern Northumberland. The Till Fell Sandstone is at poor status due to abstraction pressures for public water supply, and excess concentrations of nitrate in the groundwater, which put the public water supplies at risk. Measures are being developed to understand the impact of abstraction on the aquifer, and to understand the sources and pathways of nitrate to the groundwater and drinking water supplies. Despite this, the groundwater body will continue to be poor status beyond 2021, as it will take time to identify and enact the most appropriate measures. We have designated a safeguard zone for nitrate to focus our efforts around improving the groundwater quality across the wider Till Fell Sandstone. A prevent and limit approach through planning consents and permitting manages wider pollution and abstraction risks.