TOPPS - Strategies to reduce point source losses of ppp to water focus on “behaviour, technique and infrastructure”: results and lessons learned from the TOPPS project

TOPPS has defined those Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will support a reduction of PPP pollution of water through point sources. Surveys of stakeholders and farmers in six pilot areas have been conducted to understand the level of awareness which exists in the various countries and to evaluate various elements to propose a strategy to avoid point sources. Key elements for a sustainable strategy are: Changes in operator behaviour, improvement of technical and infrastructural status. Technique and infrastructure are seen to be the enablers. Key technical / infrastructural requirements need to be enforced to ensure that an implementation of Best Management Practices can be performed (among others most obvious is the need for rinsing water tanks). The challenge is to change operator behaviour. To reduce point sources the awareness and necessary monitoring processes need to include all operators in a water catchment area.