About the project
Chalk streams are globally rare and highly sensitive to pollutants in their groundwaters. This project seeks to understand the risks associated with discharging treated sewage wastewaters into groundwaters, with focus on phosphorus as a cause of eutrophication; how do these discharges affect phosphorus in these sensitive and valued ecosystems?
This project seeks to understand the impacts of sewage-related phosphorus (P) discharges on English chalk streams. Treated wastewaters discharged to chalk groundwater have high levels of P; unless this is substantially attenuated or diluted within the groundwater, levels of P in surface waters will become elevated and increase the risk of eutrophication.
This study seeks to address this issue by:
- establishing the scale at which the discharge of treated sewage wastewaters to chalk groundwater occurs
- modelling solute and water flows to determine the risk(s) associated with discharges of treated sewage wastewaters to chalk groundwater
- close-focus evaluation of patterns and processes relating to a detailed case study and interactions of different chemical forms of phosphorus with chalk substrates
The research will combine hydrological modelling and water resources modelling to link data compiled through an initial field audit to assess the scales and likelihood of impacts, and to understand potential solutions to reducing impacts. The outputs of this study should inform decision-making with regard to regulation and management of groundwater-derived inputs of P to chalk streams.
The research will provide opportunities for development of high-level research skills, including:
- predictive modelling
- experimentation and analysis
- water quality and chemistry
- hydrogeology and hydrology
The project sits within the broader research activity of the Environmental Change and Sustainability research group, which provides opportunities for interaction with other researchers and for career development. Links with stakeholders in the chalk rivers domain will also be made.
