UK Water Quality Report: Management, Control of Water Pollution

This report examines water quality management and control of water pollution in the UK, highlighting the impact of domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities on water bodies. It focuses on the river Tame, noting high levels of microplastic contamination. The study uses a post-positivism research philosophy, deductive research approach, and descriptive design, relying on secondary research methods with 15 research journals. Findings indicate that urbanization contributes to heavy metal contamination, emphasizing the necessity of quality management. The report concludes that extensive human and industrial activities have caused water pollution, impacting public health and recommends watershed management and sustainable sewage disposal to reduce contamination. The research aims to compare water quality with flow rate, river level, and rainfall, and to conceptualize water quality management through literature review and evaluation of the current conditions of water in River Tame.

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF
WATER POLLUTION IN THE UK

Abstract
Background: Domestic as well as industrial activities seems to liberate huge amount of wastes
into the water system thereby polluting the water bodies. It has been observed that huge amount
of agricultural activities produces carbon and sulfur materials thereby contaminating water
sources. It has also been observed that household activities also produces huge amount of carbon
particles into the water bodies thereby resulting in contamination. This water contamination has
detrimental impact on health profile of normal people. Therefore, waste water treatment
techniques need to be incorporated by UK government in order to reduce this water
contamination. It has been observed that the river Tame at Denton has highest pollution records
in UK. Highest contamination of micro plastics has been recorded since the past few years. Thus,
this river bed needs wastewater treatment facilities in order to prevent water contamination.
Aims & objectives: The aim of the research is to compare the water quality of a river with flow
rate, river level and rainfall. It is also essential to conceptualise water quality management in the
present economy through comparative study of literature. Furthermore, a proper evaluation of the
present conditions of water in River Tame and tally it with the observations of last five years also
need to be carried out.
Methodology: The researcher has selected post-positivism research philosophy in order to carry
out this study. Furthermore, deductive research approach and descriptive design have also been
used by the researcher to obtain information related to water pollution in UK. Secondary
research methods using 15 research journals from SCOPUS, SCOPUS and Taylor and Francis
have been carried out by the researcher.
Findings: Water pollution is an activity of contamination of the natural resources through the
widespread human, industrial or agricultural activities. Almost 42% of the river basin has
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undergone urbanisation and this explains the heavy contamination of river bed with metals.
Therefore, quality management is essential and prerequisite in order to prevent water
contamination thereby ensuring effective health profile of people.
Conclusion: Extensive human and industrial activities have caused water pollution thereby
impacting the health profile of normal people. It is thus recommended to make use of the
available resources to revise the management plan. Proper and effective watershed management
along with sustainable sewage disposal is essential in order to reduce water contamination.
Key words: Wastewater harvesting, water contamination, riverbed ecosystem, eutrophication,
biomagnifications, integrated wastewater treatment.
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 Introduction 6
1.2 Background of the research 6
1.3 Research Aim and objectives 7
1.4 Research rationale 7
1.5 Significance of the study 8
1.6 Summary 8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Types of water pollutants 10
2.2.1 Organic soluble pollutants 10
2.2.2 Organic insoluble pollutants 11
2.2.3 Inorganic soluble pollutants 12
Figure 2.2: Inorganic soluble pollutants 12
2.2.4 Inorganic insoluble pollutants 13
2.3 River water management protocols 14
2.3.1 Significance of water 15
2.3.2 Factors affecting water quality 15
2.4 Identification of water pollutants through the usage of various techniques 16
2.4.1 Analysis of overall quality of river water sources 17
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2.4.2 Water sampling programmes 18
2.4.3 Analysis of the river water quality in the UK 19
2.5 Variations in water management techniques 20
2.6 Legislation related to wastewater and pollution management 21
2.7 Impact of river water quality on health 22
2.8 Effects of rainfall on water bodies 23
2.8.1 Impact of acid rain on water contamination in UK 24
2.8.2 Impact of rainfall on combined sewer overflows 25
2.9 Summary 26
2.12 Conceptual framework 26
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 28
3.1 Introduction 28
3.2 Research philosophy 29
3.3 Research approach 29
3.4 Research design 30
3.5 Research strategy 31
3.6 Time horizon 31
3.7 Data collection tools and techniques 32
3.8 Data analysis tools and techniques 32
3.10 Reliability and validity 33
3.11 Summary 34
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 46
5.1 Conclusion 46
5.2 Recommendation 46
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5.3 Objective Linking 48
5.4 Limitation of the research 49
5.5 Future scope 49
Reference List 51
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Domestic and industrial activities liberate huge amount of chemicals that pollute water bodies
thereby affecting the health profile of individuals. Sewage, agricultural as well as household
wastes are constantly dumped into nearly water bodies thereby contaminating water resources.
The management practices for water pollution aim to control the level of degradation caused to
the water body. This sort of wastewater management is essential and prerequisite in order to
improve water quality thereby ensuring proper health quality. The current chapter of the research
project will highlight the background of the research and the aim and objective of the research
project, the research questions will also be included in the current section in order to link it with
the objective in the later parts. The research hypothesis along with the research rationale will also
be mentioned in the research project. The current chapter of the dissertation will also include the
significance of the research.
1.2 Background of the research
Water management is an activity of developing, distributing and planning the optimum use of all
the water resources. The water quality management indicates auxiliary control of water
contamination owing to industrial and municipal sewage. As stated by Victor (2017), water
quality management deals with all the aspects of the water quality that can be related to the
ranges of beneficial uses of the water. In addition to this water quality is a reflection of water
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composition to all inputs, both in the case if natural and cultural inputs. It has been found that
40% of the rivers in England and Wales are polluted by sewage. The quality of the water is being
degraded due to the increase in water pollution in the UK. It has been observed that the river
Tame at Denton has highest pollution records in UK. Highest contamination of microplastics has
been recorded since the past few years. As per the statistical recordings, almost 90% of plastic
contamination occurs in UK.
The researchers have also evidenced that the UK must improve the water management in order
to face the droughts. It is required that proper water quality management should be carried out so
that water pollution can also be controlled in the UK. As stated by Hering et al., (2015),
agriculture pollution and oil pollution are the major sources of the water pollution in England. In
the UK the agricultural industry covers 76% of the land in England and Wales.
1.3 Research Aim and objectives
The aim of the research is to compare the water quality of a river with flow rate, river level and
rainfall.
The objectives are given below.
● To conceptualise water quality management in the present economy through comparative
study of literature
● To evaluate the present conditions of water in River Tame and tally it with the
observations of last five years
● To analyse the effect of flow rate, river level and rainfall on water quality
● To recommend management strategies to reduce contamination levels in water
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1.4 Research rationale
The issue of this research is to analyse the management strategies to reduce water pollution
levels from the rivers of UK. As mentioned by Rosa et al., (2014), the water in the UK is not
properly being managed based on their quality. It is required that the water quality should be
maintained following the EU standards for the water pollution.
This is the issue because drinking water treatment has been degraded in the UK. (Brack et al.,
2015). As noticed by Ding et al., (2015), currently people use 150 litres of water on average per
day. However, people living in London exceed it to 164 litres. Along with the health, it also has
the impact on the environment (Navarro-Ortega et al., 2015). Thus, in case the quality of
drinking water degrades, it can hamper the overall water supply in the UK wills also be
degraded.
This is an issue now due to increasing global phenomenon like climate change and industrial
growth. It has been observed that in the UK all potable water is being treated and is also meets
the requirements of the EU drinking water directive. Thus, meeting all the requirements of EU
drinking water direction in the scenario of water pollution, the government faced the issue of
water management in the country. As asserted by Uyttendaele et al. (2015), the health of water
bodies matters a great for the UK. In 2015, it has been observed that only 17% of the total water
has been found to be in good condition (Watts et al., 2015). The research sheds light on present
contamination levels of water sources in the UK. The government and industry need to be
developed supply-demand systems that help in encouraging the less - water-intensive lifestyles.
The researchers also have found that social and material aspects of the everyday life are much
mundane that they have opportunities in posing the water efficiencies that are often being
overlooked. In addition this the research will also highlight the present water quality of the water
bodies of the UK. Thus, the research project will help to develop strategies that will mitigate the
issues of water quality in river Tame.
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1.5 Significance of the study
The significance of the study is that it’s probable usability to determine necessary changes that
should be brought in government policies relevant to the issue of water pollution. There has been
a high rate of water pollution in UK and this need to be mitigated by the governmental policies.
It is essential to understand the water quality management measures in order to improve health
system. Adverse health impacts have been evident due to water contamination therefore, it is
essential to analyse the root cause from water contamination. This will help in maintaining the
quality of river water among the population of UK.
Along with that, research is also helpful in developing the strategies that can mitigate the water
pollution issues in the UK. In this way, excessive river water contamination can be reduced
within UK. Moreover, the healthy ecosystems and proper genetic diversity will also be
maintained with the concerned research project. Therefore, this research study will help the
researcher to understand the water contamination trends in UK. Activities that could to excessive
accumulation of wastes within water system would also be evaluated in this particular study.
Accordingly, quality management techniques could be implemented that would help in reducing
water contamination. The research project is significant as the water pollution controls the excess
of nutrients from both the public health perspective in order to keep the natural water bodies free
from eutrophication. Moreover, the research will also help in knowing the ways to monitor the
water quality. This will again help in the prevention of the water pollution with the suitable
methods.
1.6 Summary
Based on the above information, it can be stated that the research project will compare water
quality with river levels, the rate of flow and rainfall. Along with that research is mainly focused
on the two variables namely water quality management and water control. The research
questions of the research project are to conceptualise the water quality management in the
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present economy. Moreover, some of the governmental policies should also be developed which
can help in mitigating the water pollution issues in the UK.
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
Management of water quality is essential for maintaining a sustainable living and economic
standards of the environment peripheral to the water body. Water pollution impacts both natural
and artificial reservoirs of water, thereby lowering its potability. The chapter sheds light on the
published literature on the issue of quality control of water and the effects seen on it due to a
variety of events. The literature is thematically segregated on the basis of widely observed issues
pertaining to lowering of quality in river water. Events such as rainfall, river flow and level can
impose a long-lasting effect on the potability of river water.
2.2 Types of water pollutants
Water pollutants are the substances that cause physical, chemical and biological changes in the
water bodies. As stated by Sherriff et al., (2017), freshwater pollution is classified into two major
types known as surface water pollution and groundwater pollution. Some of the key pollutants of
water are sewage, industrial, agricultural and thermal pollutants. The types of water pollutants
are given below.
2.2.1 Organic soluble pollutants
Agricultural activities liberate huge amount of organic wastes that seem to pollute the
environment. Farmers often need to use several pesticides that serve to pollute water bodies.
Organic pollutants such as lindane and triclosan are obtained through groundwater leaching from
contaminated areas. These organic pollutants have detrimental impact on river water bodies
thereby affecting the marine life forms. Insecticides and herbicides are extensively used in
agriculture in order to yield high quality of food products. Barlow & Clarke (2017) commented
that triclosans are antifungal as well as antibacterial agents that have been used in various
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consumer products. This chemical has the potential to harm the marine organisms thereby
polluting water bodies. Pesticides that are extensively used in agriculture to increase food
production also cause immense health-related issues when mixed with fresh water bodies.
Lindane is a gamma isomer of hexachlorobenzene that is most commonly referred by misnomer
hexachlorobenzene. Skin rash, dizziness as well as drowsiness are some of the adverse health
impacts caused by lindane.
Apart from lindane, organic manure as well as sewage has devastating impact on water bodies.
Heliovaara (2018:78) commented that farmers use these organic manures and sewage within
their agricultural field in order to yield high productivity. However, these organic soluble
manures and sewage affect the quality of water bodies thereby leading to contamination. Watson
(2015) expresses concern about the release of hormone-like constituents that may bring
undesirable changes in the genetic content of fish. Pottinger & Matthiessen (2016) assert that
hazardous substances like antibacterial agents can also affect the organisms and plankton. In
addition, agricultural waste and effluent from slaughterhouses and poultry farms and pesticides
can also be categorised under organic soluble pollutants.
2.2.2 Organic insoluble pollutants
Phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls are used as by-products in several manufacturing
companies. These harmful chemicals get exposed to water bodies thereby contaminating the
water resources. High exposure to PCB affects endocrine functions and retards physical growth.
Known cognitive and behavioural dysfunction has also been evident on consumption of water
contaminated with PCBs. Hutzinger, Van Lelyveld & Zoeteman (2015) opined that excessive
consumption of PCBs and organic metabolites affects fetal growth at the time of gestation. Some
of the persistent organic pollutants are prominent organic substances that show resistance to
prolonged environmental degradation through biological, chemical and photolytic protocols.
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