volume of water for agriculture

Summary

The requester asked for Manx Utilities' policy on monitoring agricultural water usage, the number of agricultural customers, and specific annual water volumes for dairy, beef, and arable farming since 2011. The authority responded that it does not hold this specific data because it does not categorize non-domestic customers by business sector and some are billed by rateable value rather than metered consumption.

Key Facts

• Manx Utilities does not hold information on individual business sectors for non-domestic customers.
• Some customers are charged based on rateable value rather than metered water supplies.
• The authority directed the requester to the 2017 Manx Agricultural Census for livestock numbers.
• There are 33 registered dairy producers on the Isle of Man.
• Estimated maximum daily water consumption for dairy cattle is 600,000 litres and for beef cattle is 1,100,000 litres.

Data Disclosed

• 42,000 domestic and non-domestic customers
• 8 billion litres of water per annum
• 2017 Manx Agricultural Census
• 6,000 Dairy Cattle
• 22,000 Beef Cattle
• 60-100 litres per day (Dairy Cows)
• 50 litres a day (Beef Cattle)
• 600,000 litres per day (Dairy Cattle total)
• 1,100,000 litres per day (Beef Cattle total)
• 7,670 under 12 months beef animals
• 33 registered dairy producers
• 240 acres (Potatoes)
• 47 acres (Vegetables)
• 2018-11-28
• 2018-12-14
• 2011

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

Under the FOIA 2015, I am requesting the provision of policy Manx Utilities holds on the monitoring of water usage by its commercial customers, specifically in agriculture. Could you provide the number of customers currently in this sector. I am also requesting for the volume (in litres) of MU serviced water used by (i) dairy, (ii) beef (inc. other cattle reared for meat) and (iii) arable farmers, per annum since 2011. Regards

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 666065 17 December 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 28 November 2018 and which states:

"Under the FOIA 2015, I am requesting the provision of policy Manx Utilities holds on the monitoring of water usage by its commercial customers, specifically in agriculture. Could you provide the number of customers currently in this sector. I am also requesting for the volume (in litres) of MU serviced water used by (i) dairy, (ii) beef (inc. other cattle reared for meat) and (iii) arable farmers, per annum since 2011. "

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Manx Utilities has over 42,000 domestic and non-domestic customers connected to the water supply network and supplies over 8 billion litres of water per annum. Manx Utilities does not hold information on the individual business sectors of its non- domestic customers as some customers are charged for water consumption from metered water supplies and some customers do not have metered water supplies to their premises and are charged based on a rateable value. Manx Utilities cannot therefore provide the specific information in the format requested. However, to advise and assist you with part of your request, we are able to direct you, by the following link, to the Manx Agricultural Census of 2017 which is completed by recipients of the Agricultural Development Scheme (ADS). Please note that the figures from the 2018 census have not yet been fully compiled. https://www.gov.im/media/1359124/livestock-and-crop-data-2017.pdf
To summarise;

Animal Numbers on Island (May 2017) Dairy Cattle (excluding calves) 6,000 Beef Cattle (including calves) 22,000 Additional information that may assist you is; Water Consumption by livestock Dairy Cows – 60-100 litres per day (may double in periods of heat stress) https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk Beef Cattle – 50 litres a day (increases when eating dry matter) https://www.grass-fed-solutions.com/cattle-water.html Estimated Consumption by Species of Livestock on the Isle of Man using Maximum “Normal Weather” Consumption of Water Dairy Cattle 600,000 litres per day Beef Cattle - 1,100,000 litres per day (this figure includes 7,670 under 12 months beef animals which would consume less). There are currently 33 registered dairy producers who are all likely to require significant quantities of water for washing down the milking parlour and cleaning tanks. Crops which are likely to be irrigated Potatoes – 240 acres Vegetables – 47 acres There will also be small businesses which are unlikely to be ADS recipients with have high value crops such as apple orchards using water, which their businesses are dependent on. Tree, plant and flower nurseries may also fall in to this category. Useful articles; https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/water-advice-livestock-farmers https://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/BRP-plus-Rainwater- factsheet-080316.pdf Should you wish to submit a fresh request or require any assistance to reformulate your request please do not hesitate to contact us by any of the details supplied.

Please quote the reference number 666065 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this.
Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely