GeoField is helping SEPA maintain water quality

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has selected Sigma Seven’s GeoField for use in a trial which will help protect Scotland’s water against diffuse pollution. Diffuse pollution results in water contaminated with soil, nutrients, bacteria and chemicals running off land into the local water environment and is the most significant pollution pressure causing water bodies to fail objectives under the Water Framework Directive. It is a major contributor to poor water quality, which in turn affects the ecology of the river.

Starting in April, Priority Catchment Officers from SEPA will be walking fourteen Scottish water catchments to assess diffuse pollution. In one catchment they will use GeoField’s electronic field data collection and mapping tools to streamline and enhance this important work and help ensure that Scotland’s water quality continues to improve and meets quality targets set for 2015.

Above: Paul Reid hands over GeoField to Dr Jonathan Bowes and colleagues of SEPA