Smart Farming: How to Use PIP (Pollution Impact Potential) Maps on catchments.ie

Pollutant Impact Potential (PIP) maps for Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) have been generated by the EPA catchments unit to show the highest risk areas in the Irish landscape for losses of N and P to waters.

These maps can be used to target measures in catchments where water monitoring data have indicated that there is a problem.

High risk areas for phosphorus loss typically have poorly draining soils and free draining soils are high risk for nitrogen losses. In a recent Smart Farming video Jenny Deakin, Manager of the Catchment Science and Management Unit in the EPA gave a step-by-step tutorial on how to access the PIP maps online, search for your location and identify pressure points on water quality in your area. 

You can watch back the video below.

For more information on how to improve soil fertility, soil carbon sequestration and water quality see videos and guides from our “Sources and Solutions: The Link Between Our Soils & Water Quality” seminar on SmartFarming.ie.

Smart Farming is a voluntary resource efficiency programme, run by the Irish Farmers’ Association in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.