Did you know that a staggering 70% of the United Kingdom’s drinking water originates from the uplands? The restoration of these landscapes and ecosystems holds the key to significantly improving the quality of our drinking water. What’s more, the well-being of nature and water quality go hand in hand.
As peatlands suffer from drying out and degradation, the valuable peat soils can be eroded and carried into the water collected from these upland areas. This not only discolours the water but also incurs substantial costs for water companies striving to meet the high drinking water standards demanded by both customers and the law.
One promising solution to enhance water quality is the restoration of peatlands. Healthy peatlands, with their lush vegetation, including sphagnum mosses, act as natural water filters, effectively removing discolouration and various pollutants. Numerous landowners and land managers dedicated to nature restoration are actively contributing to this cause by obstructing drainage ditches, revitalising barren peatlands, and discontinuing harmful land management practices.