These include:

- Conducting targeted Farm Inspections within catchments where water bodies have been identified as being at risk or subject to agricultural pressures.

- Assessing and drafting reports on Agricultural Planning Applications

- Carrying out inspections in response to Agricultural Pollution incidents or related complaints

- Enforcing the European Unions Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2025 SI/588/2025

- Engaging proactively with farmers, representative organisations, and agricultural consultants/advisors to promote and support compliance and strengthen environmental outcomes.

Landspreading

Notice to Farmers in County Westmeath

Prohibited periods for land spreading in County Westmeath are the following:

• Slurry: October 1st to January 15th
• Chemical fertiliser: September 15th to January 29th
• Farmyard manure: November 1st to January 15th

To prevent contamination of surface water and or groundwaters, an appropriate buffer zone should be maintained between the spreadlands and nearby watercourses.

• 5 m for all surface waters
• 15m from karst features such as swallow holes
• 20m from a lake shoreline
• 25m from any borehole, spring or well supplying water for human consumption
• 100m from any water abstraction supplying 50 persons or more
• 200m from any abstraction supplying drinking water to more than 500 persons

Organic Fertiliser (Slurry), soiled water, and chemical fertilisers shall not be applied under any of the following conditions:

• On very wet, waterlogged, frozen, or snow covered ground
• On land that is flooded or at risk of flooding
• When heavy rainfall is forecast within the next 48 hours
• On steeply sloping land within close proximity to rivers, streams, lakes, or areas of exposed bedrock

From 2025, Farmers with a grassland stocking rate >100kg/N/ha or above must utilize Low Emissions Slurry Spreading Technology (LESS). LESS is mandatory for the application of pig slurry.

Farmyard

Management & Storage

Farmers are reminded that they must ensure that adequate storage capacity is available to accommodate slurry and manures during the prohibited spreading periods. Note: From Jan 2025 farmers must ensure their facilities can store soiled water for the month of December. Compliance with Good Agricultural Practice Regulations is mandatory for all livestock farmers.

• The collection, storage, and management of all dirty farmyard water, including livestock manure, slurry, soiled water, silage effluent, FYM Heaps and dairy washings shall be conducted in compliance with The Good Agricultural Practice Regulations.
• All hazardous substances, including pesticides, herbicides, veterinary products, oils and synthetic fertilisers must be securely stored to prevent leaking or spillage.
• Any accidental spillage or discharge of harmful substances must be reported without delay to the Local Authority. Failure to do this may result in enforcement action or prosecution.
• Gutters and downpipes must be installed and maintained on farm buildings to ensure clean roof water is effectively diverted to a specifically designed surface water system or soak away.

European Union Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2025

Irelands Nitrates Action Programme aims to prevent pollution of surface waters and groundwater caused by agricultural activities, while protecting and improving water quality. The Irish Government has published Irelands Sixth Nitrates Action Programme which will be in place from 2026-2028. The European Union Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations 2025, came into effect 1st January 2026. These regulations give legal effect to Irelands National Nitrates Action Programme under the EU Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC.

A complete version of these Regulations may be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/si/588/made/en/pdf or by scanning the QR code below:

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Useful Information

For further information on the Nitrates Regulations or water quality protection, please contact the Environment section at Westmeath County Council using the details provided below:

Environmental Section

Email: environment-agricultural@westmeathcoco.ie

Phone: 0449342330