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Recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have resulted in a general decoupling of agricultural subsidies from production and the implementation of a cross compliance mechanism whereby farmers must comply with a set of statutory management requirements, including those that address the environment. There are options for a range of measures for the improvement of water quality, including improving manure storage, the use of cover crops, riparian buffer strips and wetland restoration. They also recognise the importance of educational and advisory programmes for farmers. Implementation of these CAP measures could play a key role in addressing diffuse pollution from agriculture. The forthcoming reform of the Common Agricultural Policy provides an opportunity to further strengthen water protection.