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New initiative to protect our vital drinking water



New initiative to protect our vital drinking water

November 11, 2019

Southern Water is offering farms in the Brighton and Worthing region the opportunity to get rid of unwanted pesticides on a free and confidential basis.

Many farmers have out-of-date or unwanted chemicals in store that can be costly or awkward to dispose of.

To avoid them getting into the water supply, the utility provider is offering to help farmers remove them safely.

Southern Water has teamed up with Chem Clear, a specialist chemical waste collection and disposal company, and is offering free collections for up to 75 litres.

The initiative supports Brighton ChaMP for Water, which was established to protect and improve the quality of groundwater in the Brighton Chalk Block as a valuable natural resource for public water supply.

The project is a collaboration between Southern Water, the South Downs National Park Authority, the Environment Agency, the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council, working together with Natural England and the Brighton and Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere (the Living Coast) to protect the aquifer.

Robin Kelly, Catchment Risk Management Officer for Southern Water, said: “Pesticide amnesties have been a great success in other areas where they have been offered and Southern Water is really pleased we are now able to roll this out in our drinking water catchments on the South Downs.

“We hope this will give farmers and growers the chance to have a clear out of all those part containers and any banned substances that may be a concern for them.  “Schemes like this help to raise the profile of the South Downs as an important source of public drinking water and we hope the confidential nature of the scheme builds trust going forwards.”

To arrange a collection, contact Chem Clear by 30 November 2019 on chemclearltdamnesty@gmail.com