Research Funding cycle: 2016-21
Items of work carried out under the 2016-21 funding cycle
The use of remote sensing to detect and monitor algal and cyanobacterial blooms
At a UK and European level there is currently no suitable way to measure the frequency and intensity of algal blooms. One of the major stumbling blocks is the cost involved in undertaking sufficient sampling (and counting) of the frequency of algal blooms at a large number of sites. Additionally, a single sample may not be representative of an algal bloom, in particular cyanobacterial blooms, which can form surface scums and be blown towards lake shorelines. The use of satellite remote sensing can overcome some of these problems. This report describes the considerable potential for high frequency monitoring of large lakes using remote sensing (MERIS sensor on the Envisat satellite).
Investigation of the relationship between humic substances and total phosphorus and the processes of release from catchment soils to loch waters
This study outlines proposals to clarify the importance of water colour (in terms of dissolved organic matter - DOM - compositional quality, e.g. humic substances (HS) content) for predicting TP concentrations in Scottish Lochs to help meet regulatory criteria under the Water Framework Directive.
Developing Scotland's Shellfish Water monitoring programme
This project set out to develop recommendations for delivery of a scientifically robust, efficient and cost-effective sanitary survey programme and environmental monitoring programme to better inform Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shellfish water programmes.
In consultation with FSS and SEPA, the report identified the strengths of current approaches and opportunities for improvements to inform future discussions with Scotland’s shellfish industry. Opportunities for integration of FSS and SEPA programmes and recommendations for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for sanitary surveys are also provided. Review of international shellfish research and the results of national-scale data analysis of shellfish E.coli provided the evidence-base for the recommendations.
What evidence does SEPA need to deliver RMBP objectives for 2027 for rural diffuse pollution pressures?
Rural diffuse pollution is the main cause of downgrades to the water quality of Scotland. The objective for this workshop was to confirm the evidence gaps in our understanding of rural diffuse pollution, which are hindering the delivery of the ambitious RBMP improvement objectives set for 2027.
Experts attended the workshop to help SEPA understand the state-of-knowledge and determine what the priorities should be for research and evidence gathering for the next six years.
Impacts of winter 2015/16 flooding in and around Ballater and in the Garioch: overview of findings from Project Year 1
The purpose of the Assessing the Impacts of Flooding project is to better understand the impacts of flooding upon people and communities and to consider what types of support and advice are needed at different stages of a long term recovery. Over a 36 month period, the project will advance our understanding of these long term impacts, contribute to better flood risk management and make suggestions as to how personal and community resilience may be supported and enhanced. This report provides an overview of the findings from year 1 of the study.
In Scotland, private water supplies are regulated separately under The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Type A private water supplies are currently sampled on an individual basis; however, changes to the Drinking Water Directive specify criteria for a flexible monitoring program, which means that low risk parameters may be removed from sampling under certain circumstances. This risk-based approach is a pragmatic means of complying with Directive requirements and targeting resources towards areas of higher risk.
In this project, a practical weight-of-evidence method was developed to identify where the risk of type A PWS contamination is greatest, based on historic monitoring data from the supplies as well as on the location of the supply in relation to surface and groundwater bodies. Aluminium, nitrate, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium were used as trial parameters to assess the feasibility of the method in Scotland.
Factoring Ecological Significance of Sources into Phosphorus Source Apportionment
Models describing the relative contributions of phosphorus (P) from different sources to water bodies (source apportionment) are key tools in determining priorities for mitigation strategies within the River Basin Management Planning process under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Previous source apportionment was simplistic because it was based on total P loads, even though not all P loading has the same ecological significance due to the form or timing of the loading. This project develops a descriptive methodology of how Total P loads provided by existing catchment models could be modified to take account of their impact on ecology. This modification works each modelled source (e.g. arable drainflow, urban runoff, grassland drainflow) through a sequential set of provided tables to adjust loads from Total P to bio-available P and then account for residence time and dilution potential. Data from the Tarland catchment is used to show a worked example of the method and the effect of accounting for ecological significance in the model.
How do we increase public understanding of the benefits provided by SuDS?
There is a need to increase awareness of the benefits that water provides and how our actions can help protect and improve them. Concerns over water quality and quantity are increasing around the world and these are exacerbated by climate change and other pressures. Arguably, and having a plentiful supply of water from rainfall, Scotland has not been severely affected by these issues. Consequently there is a perception that public understanding of water and the benefits provided is often low. Recent Scottish Government policy is to develop Scotland as the world’s first Hydro Nation which places more emphasis on water as central to our national identity. This agenda is increasing the international profile of Scotland’s skills and experience in supporting the good stewardship of water resources, and increase public awareness of the benefits that water provides and how our actions can help protect and improve them.CREW is developing a programme of knowledge exchange activities to help improve public understanding of water and the benefits that water provides, of which this project is a part.
This project was a public outreach activity that targeted primary and secondary school children located to the north of Dundee where there are excellent examples of SUDS. The key objective was to raise awareness of the Hydro Nation agenda with a scope that was twofold: 1) explain the urban water cycle; and 2) promote awareness and understanding of the local SUDS and related benefits.
Scotland's Water Sector Map 2017
In 2015, a review of Scotland’s Water Sector was published by CREW in support of the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation Strategy. This work reported on the scope and the scale of Scotland’s Water Sector, and how different parts of the sector link together using visual tools in the form of Scotland’s Water Map. This most recent review was requested in order to update Scotland’s Water Sector Map with new data, enhance functionality, and to expand the previous map to include testing and demonstration facilities in Scotland that may assist water-technology development and research.
Developing a foundation for reclaimed water use in Scotland
Water resources in Scotland and across the EU are under increasing stress, especially in areas with intense agriculture. Global climate changes are likely to exacerbate water shortages and cause an increasingly unpredictable supply. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in wastewater reclamation.
This project establishes the potential for marketing reclaimed water in Scotland, including the water quality requirements for business activities that could benefit from this, the potential water savings and benefits, and the stakeholder perspectives on the use of reclaimed water. The focus is on the intentional reuse of treated final effluents from municipal/urban wastewater treatment plants.
The research has been undertaken in two stages:
- Supporting the development of national guidelines in Scotland with a review of existing guidelines in other countries, and by using risk assessment tools to help develop reclaimed water standards that will ensure public health;
- Engaging with stakeholders to evaluate the models developed in Stage 1 and to identify benefits, savings, risks and barriers to use of reclaimed water in Scotland.
A series of potential end-use scenarios for reclaimed water relevant to Scotland have been developed, including urban irrigation (edible and non-edible), agricultural irrigation, non-potable domestic and industrial. For each scenario, exposure and risk assessment models have been developed to assess potential human health impacts.
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