NI Water is inviting farmers within the Seagahan catchment in Co Armagh to apply for a free, 100% funded scheme designed to protect drinking water supplies, retain valuable soil and nutrients, and improve farm sustainability.
The Seagahan Farming for Water (FFW) scheme marks the second phase of NI Water’s successful catchment‑based initiative, providing farmers and landowners with fully funded support to deliver practical improvements on their land and nearby watercourses.
The launch of the Seagahan FFW project took place at the end of April with local farmers attending and some 23 registering on the night.
Focusing on the Seagahan catchment area near Markethill, which supplies drinking water to thousands of people and supports a wide range of aquatic species and wildlife, the scheme will begin in July 2026.
Water abstracted from Seagahan Reservoir must be treated to remove pollutants such as soil, nutrients and the herbicide MCPA, which wash in from surrounding land. These pollutants are harmful to watercourses, costly to remove at treatment works, and can also represent a loss of valuable resources from farms.
The scheme offers participating farmers access to free capital measures, tailored advice, farm visits and ongoing support, with no requirement for match funding or any financial contribution.
Measures are designed to reduce pollution risks while improving environmental performance and long‑term farm sustainability.
The Seagahan initiative builds on the success of NI Water’s earlier Farming for Water Scheme at the Clay Lake and Gentle Owens catchment in Keady, where collaboration with farmers helped improve raw water quality for supplies serving around 4,000 people.
NI Water catchment officer Peter John Quinn said: “The Farming for Water Scheme aims to deliver sustainable, catchment‑scale solutions to protect rivers and lakes, which are the main sources of our drinking water. For the Seagahan catchment, the focus is on reducing MCPA, nutrient and soil runoff from farmland into connected watercourses.
“The scheme offers 100% funded services for landowners and farmers within the Seagahan catchment, supporting improvements that make farm businesses more sustainable while also protecting water quality – a win‑win for everyone.”
Who Can Apply?
Farmers may be eligible to apply if:
- They are the active farmer managing the land (tenant farmers should have landowner consent)
- Their land is located entirely or partly within the Seagahan drinking water catchment
- Priority will be given to farms and measures close to watercourses, where improvements will deliver the greatest water quality benefits
What the Scheme Offers
- 100% funded support – no cost to farmers
- Tailored on‑farm advice and practical measures
- Support to reduce soil loss, nutrient runoff and MCPA entering local watercourses
- Improvements that benefit farm efficiency and land stewardship
How to Apply
Farmers are encouraged to check eligibility and apply as early as possible.
Full eligibility requirements, application details and contact information are available at: www.niwater.com/farmingforwater
Ends
Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via press.office@niwater.com
