Reducing risks from emerging contaminants in water The challenge There has been mounting unease about the risk of synthetic chemicals to the environment and human health,…
There has been mounting unease about the risk of synthetic chemicals to the environment and human health, particularly with regard to emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). While the o… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/emerging_contaminants/

The Mires-on-the-moors project: Can restoring moorlands enhance water supply, improve water quality and store more carbon in the landscape? The challenge On the uplands of…
On the uplands of Exmoor and Dartmoor, generations of peat-cutting and the creation of drainage ditches has caused the mires to dry out, which reduces the water-holding capacity of the moors. This increases the fluctuation in river flows throughout the ye… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/mires-moor/

How can we prevent dryland reservoirs filling with sediment The challenge Build a dam, interrupt the movement of water and, inevitably, the reservoir will fill with sediment…
Build a dam, interrupt the movement of water and, inevitably, the reservoir will fill with sediment brought down feeder rivers during floods. The rate of fill varies with the condition of the water catchment ‘commanded’ by the impounding dam and especial… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/prevent-reservoirs-filling-sediment/

How much phosphorus needs to be removed to meet the Water Framework Directive in UK Rivers The challenge Across the UK many rivers are eutrophic and have phosphorus levels well…
Across the UK many rivers are eutrophic and have phosphorus levels well above the WFD limits for good ecological status. The challenge is to devise a cost effective strategy for P reductions in rivers in order to meet the WFD standards. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/phosphorous/

How can aquatic pollutants be measured cost effectively over time? The challenge Taking samples of river water using the conventional method of filling bottles by hand can be…
Taking samples of river water using the conventional method of filling bottles by hand can be costly and time consuming. Results obtained from ‘spot’ samples provide, at best, only a snapshot of pollutants that may have been present at the time of samplin… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/pollutant-measurement/

The need for a systems approach to water management The challenge Water management problems are often the realm of complex, dynamic systems consisting of interdependent factors…
Water management problems are often the realm of complex, dynamic systems consisting of interdependent factors and multiple stressors. There is therefore a need to develop a better understanding of these problems from a more systems-based perspective. Sci… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/systems_appraoch/

How can sewer pipe blockages and breaks be identified quickly? The challenge The UK sewer system totals some 300,000 km in length, with an estimated replacement value of £104bn.…
The UK sewer system totals some 300,000 km in length, with an estimated replacement value of £104bn. Maintenance and replacement programmes have focused on ‘critical sewers’ that make up 20% of the network. However, around 25,000 blockages occur each year… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/sewer-cctv/

Removing endocrine disrupting chemicals and pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment The challenge The presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)…
The presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their potential to cause adverse effects in the aquatic environment has been the subject of increased scientific and public interest. The great diversity of these substances tha… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/endocrine_disrupting_chemicals/

How can ‘hidden’ supplies of water in soil be identified? The challenge A large quantity of hidden potable water is stored in semi-natural landscapes such as upland peatlands,…
A large quantity of hidden potable water is stored in semi-natural landscapes such as upland peatlands, lowland grasslands and riparian habitats that are not well-characterised or understood. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/water-peat/

Pipe Dreams - what's in the pipeline? The challenge Enabling a transformation in the operation and management of buried water distribution system infrastructure, maximising…
Enabling a transformation in the operation and management of buried water distribution system infrastructure, maximising performance to meet the combined impacts of climate change, increasing societal demands for water quantity and quality. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/pipeline/

How do we assess the effects of oestrogens in sewage effluent discharges? The challenge The UK, or more specifically England, has had high incidences of widespread endocrine…
The UK, or more specifically England, has had high incidences of widespread endocrine disruption in wild fish. This has been associated with effluent discharges from domestic sewage treatment plants (STPs). https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/oestrogens/

How can reservoir water be kept healthy? The challenge Reservoirs can develop algal growths which are unsightly, a hazard to recreational users and biodiversity, making the…
Reservoirs can develop algal growths which are unsightly, a hazard to recreational users and biodiversity, making the water costly to treat before it can be put into the public supplies. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/reservoir-management/

Will there be more flooding in the future? The challenge In order to better prepared for climate change policymakers need to be able to know where flooding is likely to…
In order to better prepared for climate change policymakers need to be able to know where flooding is likely to increase, or decrease in intensity. Information is needed at suitably fine resolution and reliability to enable climate adaptations to be targ… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/future_flooding/

How can catchment management strategies be developed and implemented successfully? The challenge Management of diffuse pollution at a catchment level raises complex technical,…
Management of diffuse pollution at a catchment level raises complex technical, economic and social issues, and without the support of stakeholders (including water companies, regulators, farmers, local authorities, industry, and residents) it is unlikely … https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/diffuse-pollution/

Wastewater is high in nitrates and phosphates, which water companies have to remove to avoid pollution of natural water systems. Currently, a number of processes are used in sewage works to treat wastewater and remove these substances, but these are often… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/algae-remove/

Early detection of contamination from fuels, oils and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is vital in the water sector. Water treatment plants intakes need to be shut before damage is done to expensive equipment. Constant monitoring is needed to prevent con… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/hydrocarbons-vocs/

Managing risk and opportunity for water utilities is central to water safety and security, serviceability, profitability, environmental sustainability and improved water quality. Changes in regulations, increased pressure from customers and financial stak… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/risk-management/

Industrial effluents, such as landfill leachate or pharmaceutical wastewater, have high ammonia levels. Many wastewater treatment works are consented by the Environment Agency (EA) at < 5 mg/l NH3-N in treated effluent, and the consequences of nitrificati… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/nitrous-oxide-emissions/

Over 10 billion litres of sewage are produced each day in the UK. Treating this volume of sewage uses over 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity a year - almost 1% of total UK electricity consumption, and the equivalent of 5 million tones of CO2 emissions. https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/micro-bubbles/

Water pipelines benefit from regular cleaning, but conventional methods are often problematic:Flushing tends to use very large volumes of water and can be ineffective for large diameter pipes; Air scouring can cause damage to the pipe structure, has healt… https://www.wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/pipeline-cleaning/