Diffuse Urban Pollution Evidencebased approach to catchment management

Diffuse Urban Pollution: Evidence-based approach to catchment management Caroline Riley Partnership Manager Healthy Waterways Trust

The River Mersey

The Salmon returned

The River Mersey But… still more to do

is The Rivers Trust for the Mersey Catchment

The Micker Brook

The Micker Brook Ri ve r. M er se y • One waterbody • In the Upper Mersey catchment • Micker Brook flows into the River Mersey Micker Brook

The Micker Brook • Failing Water Framework Directive (WFD) • Moderate Status Failing Element Pressure Reason for Failure Invertebrates Morphology Urbanisation Invertebrates Ammonia Intermittent sewage discharge Invertebrates BOD Intermittent sewage discharge Mitigation Measures Unknown Urbanisation

The Micker Brook Delivering evidence-based pilot project • • • To address Diffuse Urban Pollution issues Funded by United Utilities Catchment Wise Innovative approach Engaging the public locally Targeting issues found during a river survey

Partners

River survey Phase 1: Desk-top study Phase 2: Primary ground survey Phase 3: Wet weather sampling survey Phase 4: Data analysis – report findings Phase 5: Engagement

Prepare • Desktop study o Gather knowledge o Prioritise o Understand waterbody • Plan and prepare team • Arrange land access • Logistics / H&S

Primary Ground Survey • Waterbody-wide scale • Target identified reaches • Micker is Brook 21 km

Identify points • For further investigation in wet weather conditions…

Wet weather sampling

Wet weather sampling Analysed for: • Nitrogen • Ammonia • Phosphate • Silicate • Mercury • Zinc • Nickel • • Lead Copper Chromium Cadmium Aluminium Arsenic Chloride

Wet weather sampling Also: • Temperature • Conductivity • p. H

Data collected • Sources • Types • Severity

Findings Urban run-off

Findings Urban farm Farm waste

Findings • Possible misconnection • Flagged up with United Utilities • Engaged locally… Raw sewage

Local Residents • Presented to a residents group near a suspected misconnection

In the Library • Engaging the public in Cheadle Library on – misconnections – surface water flooding • Working with Stockport council on surface water flooding • Using a model to help demonstrate.

University of the 3 rd Age Engaging with U 3 A on surface water issues and misconnections.

Engaging the public

Next Steps In Micker Brook • Follow up investigations • More public engagement opportunities In Mersey Basin • Needs roll out to other urban waterbodies Nationally • Training other catchment hosts in this technique

Future Less of this … and more of this

Thank you info@healthywaterwaystrust. org. uk Twitter: @hwaterwaystrust Website: www. healthywaterwaystrust. org. uk