UK Freshwater Quality Programme Introductory Webinar Feb 23 - National Environment Research Council

Summary

The webinar discusses a comprehensive UK program aimed at improving freshwater quality, led by NERC's Resilient Environment team. Wendy Match introduces the initiative, highlighting its importance in addressing the decline of UK freshwater systems. Heather Birch details the program's goals, which include investigating contaminant processes and developing tools for better water quality monitoring and mitigation. The program also engages various stakeholders and builds on related NERC investments. With a significant budget and collaboration across sectors, the initiative seeks to tackle water pollution, improve ecological health, and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The program is led by Wendy Match, head of resilient environment at NERC, and focuses on the freshwater quality initiative in the UK.
• 😀 Despite efforts, every English river has failed to meet the good ecological status, indicating gaps in understanding and effective action on water quality.
• 😀 Climate change and other environmental factors have led to a decline in the quality of lakes, streams, and other freshwater systems across the UK.
• 😀 The freshwater quality program aims to investigate how contaminants enter and interact with water ecosystems, as well as their transformation and movement in changing hydrological conditions.
• 😀 The program seeks to improve tools for monitoring and measuring contamination in freshwater systems and foster collaboration with key stakeholders for better management strategies.
• 😀 The three main themes of the program include understanding pollution sources, investigating the impacts of chemical and biological contaminants, and developing better adaptation and mitigation plans for future risks.
• 😀 The program brings together experts from environmental science, UK government, and various sectors to ensure long-term, sustained changes in freshwater quality management.
• 😀 The total budget for the program is £8.4 million, with funding from NERC and partner organizations like DEFRA, and the projects will run for about 48 months.
• 😀 Two program Champions, Pippa and Joe, have been appointed to oversee the initiative and guide its direction.
• 😀 NERC has also launched other related initiatives, such as the India-UK Water Quality Program and the Eco Risk NERC CDT, which address broader environmental and chemical risk assessments alongside freshwater quality.
• 😀 Other NERC investments, such as the Hydro Joules project and the UK Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, focus on hydrological science, helping improve resilience to extreme weather events and water management.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of the freshwater quality program discussed in the script?

The primary goal of the freshwater quality program is to investigate how contaminants enter, transform, and interact with freshwaters and the ecosystems they support, while also examining the impact of climate and catchment changes on water quality.

Why is this program being initiated despite existing interventions and regulations?

Despite existing interventions and the adoption of the EU Water Directive, all English rivers have failed to reach good ecological status. The general ecological status of many freshwater systems has continued to decline, indicating a gap in knowledge about how these systems are interacting and functioning in light of climate and environmental changes.

What are the main themes of the freshwater quality program?

The program's main themes include understanding the sources and processes of pollutants entering freshwater systems, investigating the impact of chemical and biological contaminants on ecosystem quality, and enabling the development of better plans for adaptation, mitigation, and risk detection.

What is the program's approach towards addressing water quality issues?

The program will support research to better understand how contaminants are transported through freshwater systems, how they interact with the environment, and how the changing hydrological cycle can amplify or mitigate their effects. It will also focus on developing tools to monitor contamination and engage with stakeholders for better mitigation strategies.

What is the significance of the 8.4 million budget in the context of the program?

The 8.4 million budget, including funding from project partners like DEFRA, supports five projects that will run for 48 months. This funding ensures the continuation of research and development aimed at improving the management of freshwater quality and ecosystem health.

Who are the key champions and advisory board members involved in this program?

Pippa and Joe are appointed as program champions, while the program advisory board (PAG) includes representatives from DEFRA, DAERA, Environment Agency, JNCC, Natural England, NRW, National Trust, and several universities like Cardiff, Lancaster, Edinburgh, and Reading.

What are some of the other related research investments within NERC?

Other related research investments within NERC include the India-UK water quality program, which focuses on improving pollutant detection and developing novel approaches for pollution reduction, and the hydro-joules national capability, which aims to model the terrestrial water cycle and improve hydrological forecasting.

What is the main objective of the India-UK water quality program mentioned in the transcript?

The main objective of the India-UK water quality program is to provide policymakers, regulators, businesses, and local communities with solutions to tackle water quality issues, rejuvenate rivers, and restore ecosystems. It also aims to improve the ability to determine the presence of pollutants and understand their transport and fate in watercourses.

What does the Hydro-joules national capability project focus on?

The Hydro-joules national capability project focuses on building a 3D community model of the terrestrial water cycle to enhance hydrological research. It supports collaborative work across the research and academic community and addresses critical questions in hydrology, land-atmosphere feedbacks, carbon, nutrient cycles, and hydrological forecasting.

How does the floods and droughts research infrastructure relate to the freshwater quality program?

The floods and droughts research infrastructure complements the freshwater quality program by focusing on hydrological science and innovation that helps the UK adapt and become more resilient to floods and droughts. It includes water quality monitoring and provides observations on river, groundwater, and lake chemistry, which are important for understanding freshwater health.