New rules are now in force for farmers in England to maintain good practice to protect water quality and prevent water pollution incidents.
The new rules, which came in to force on 2 April, seek to promote good practice in managing fertilisers and manures.
Collectively, farming related pollution incidents can harm wildlife in rivers and seas. They also impact on the economy, resulting in higher bills from increased water treatment and affects the tourism industry.
The government says many farmers have already made progress in addressing pollution risks, but the new rules will help tackle water pollution by ensuring all farmers take action.
The rules will encourage farmers to take precautions to prevent diffuse pollution from runoff or soil erosion.
It asks farmers to plan their use of manures and fertilisers, store organic manures and position livestock feeders away from water bodies, apply manures or fertilisers to minimise impact on the water environment, take precautions to prevent soil erosion and reduce livestock poaching.
'Important opportunity'
The government rules have been drawn up with the help of farming and environment representatives.
The government says it wants farmers to think about the risk of water pollution, how to keep topsoil on their fields and to apply fertilisers only when it is appropriate to do so.
The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out how these new rules will require every farmer to identify and manage risks to water.
It will ask farmers to start taking precautions to reduce ammonia emissions, reducing pollution and soil erosion and improving resource efficiency.
Environment Minister Therese Coffey said the new rules are a "really important opportunity" for farmers to reduce pollution in watercourses.
"In following these rules, farmers will be able to help reduce pollution incidents, improve water quality and save money through more efficient use of resources," Ms Coffey said.
"The new rules are an important part of our 25 year plan for the environment which will help us deliver our plans for a Green Brexit and leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it."
