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Dairy farms with more than 200 cows are expected to exceed a 25m3/day household daily threshold (25,000l), and farmers will be required to use an online self-registration system developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A herd of 200 cattle would use up to 14,000l/day as drinking water, not taking into account water for additional young stock or cleaning milking parlours. It is estimated by the Department of Housing that around 600 dairy farmers and 100 pig and horticulture farmers will have to register.
“When we go to negotiate with the Commission on derogation, what they’re most interested in is what impact agriculture is having on water quality,” Jack Nolan of the Department of Agriculture said.
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