Peatland Ecosystems Restored to Improve Water Quality

D?r Cymru Welsh Water has been working in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, RSPB Cymru, Snowdonia National Park Authority and the National Trust to restore peatland ecosystems and improve the quality of water entering its treatment works.

The innovative and transformational partnership was awarded £165,000 from the Welsh Government’s resilient Ecosystems Fund to restore peatland ecosystems in two distinct uplands areas, Mynydd Hiraethog and the Migneint, on the North Wales Moors.

Welsh Water has two reservoirs in the area, Alwen Reservoir and Llyn Conwy, both with high concentrations of colour and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) because of the surrounding peat and over the past 30 years DOC concentrations have doubled in the reservoirs.

To reduce these levels, RSPB Cymru worked with the partnership and surrounding landowners to block historic drainage ditches to raise the water table in peatland around the Alwen Reservoir.  This should encourage the growth of Sphagnum mosses, and help to provide the conditions necessary for a healthy, functioning peatland.  Water quality monitoring by Welsh Water has shown a short-term reduction in DOC concentrations in the streams draining the restored peatland at the Alwen Reservoir.

Dr Phillippa Pearson, Source Protection Manager for D?r Cymru Welsh Water, said:

“We know that managing our catchments is essential.  It allows us to adapt to future changes through building sustainable, resilient ecosystems.  Catchment Management should be viewed as the first point of drinking water treatment ensuring that the water quality entering a works is of the highest possible quality and ultimately helps us work towards our company vision of earning the trust of our customers every day through providing a safe, acceptable and reliable supply of drinking water.”

Dr Sharon Thompson, Head of Conservation for RSPB Cymru, said:

“Working in partnership with landowners and companies such as D?r Cymru is essential to restore the Welsh uplands, delivering benefits for nature in tandem with improved water quality.  RSPB Cymru is committed to working further in the uplands via the North Wales Moors Partnership – a progressive coalition supporting wildlife and sustainable rural livelihoods by working at a landscape-scale.”