Report on Water Quality Management and Pollution Control in the UK

This report provides an analysis of water pollution in the United Kingdom, focusing on water quality management and control strategies. It begins with an introduction that highlights the increasing pollution of water bodies due to domestic and industrial activities, emphasizing the need for improved management skills and techniques. The research background explores the importance of water management in maintaining water quality and planning for its sustainable utilization. The report outlines the aims and objectives of the research, including investigating the need for water quality management, understanding its importance, checking on measures for controlling water quality, and providing recommendations for government action. The methodology section details the research philosophy, approach, design, strategy, time horizon, data collection, and analysis methods. It also addresses reliability and validity concerns. The literature review covers various types of water pollutants, protocols for river water management, the importance of water, factors impacting water quality, techniques for detecting pollutants, and policies concerning wastewater and pollution management. The conclusion and recommendation section summarizes the findings, provides recommendations for improving water quality, and discusses the limitations and future scope of the research. The degradation of marine life as a result of water pollution is also observed from the proposal.

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WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF
WATER POLLUTION IN THE UK

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Abstract
The proposal presents an analysis of the water pollution in the United Kingdom. The
methodology of the research has been taken into consideration in order to imply the analysis
of water pollution in the United Kingdom in a proper and appropriate manner. The
degradation of marine life as a result of water pollution is also observed from the proposal.
The strategy of the research with reference to the proposal is also inferred and observed.

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction..............................................................................................................5
Introduction............................................................................................................................5
Research Background.............................................................................................................5
Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................................6
Rationale of Research............................................................................................................6
Study Significance.................................................................................................................7
Summary................................................................................................................................7
Chapter 2: Literature Review.....................................................................................................7
Introduction............................................................................................................................7
Water Pollutants types............................................................................................................8
Organic Soluble Pollutants.................................................................................................8
Organic Insoluble Pollutants..............................................................................................8
Inorganic Soluble Pollutants..............................................................................................8
Inorganic Insoluble Pollutants............................................................................................8
Protocols for River water management..................................................................................9
Importance of Water..........................................................................................................9
Ingredients impacting quality of water..............................................................................9
Techniques used for detecting water pollutants.....................................................................9
Analysis of water sources...................................................................................................9
Programs concerning water sampling..............................................................................10
Analysing the quality of water in UK..............................................................................10
Various water management techniques................................................................................10
Policies and regulations concerning wastewater and pollution management......................11
Quality of river water impacting health...............................................................................11
Chapter 3: Methodology..........................................................................................................12
Introduction..........................................................................................................................12

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Research Philosophy............................................................................................................12
Research approach...............................................................................................................12
Research design....................................................................................................................13
Research strategy.................................................................................................................13
Time horizon........................................................................................................................14
Data collection.....................................................................................................................14
Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................14
Reliability and Validity........................................................................................................15
Summary..............................................................................................................................15
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation..........................................................................20
Conclusion............................................................................................................................20
Recommendation..................................................................................................................20
Linking with Objectives.......................................................................................................21
Limitation of research..........................................................................................................22
Future Scope.........................................................................................................................22
Reference List..........................................................................................................................23

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Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction
Water is the necessity of life andthis needs tobeunderstood by the people over the globe. The
increasing pollution and the wastes in the water bodies has been deteriorating the quality of
the water as well as the lives of the people at large (Victor, 2017). The domestic and the
industrial actions and requirements exhibit huge amount of pollutions which pollutes the
environment as well as the water bodies. The activities such as sewage, agriculture,
households, industrial manufacturing, etc. has been observed to dump the wastes constantly
in the water bodies which has been impacting the quality of water hugely. Though there are
multiple management bodies which has been working in this concern but the efforts has been
observed to be not adequate and it requires some more hard core management skills and
techniques (Watts et al., 2015). The improvement of the quality of water needs to be taken
care of on a global level and this needs some authenticated bodies to be framed (Dadson et
al., 2017). Though the efforts has been observed to exist in this concern, some major step
needs to be enacted. The research would explore the requirements of the management of
water bodies and the objective of the research would also be presented gradually. The
research questions would also be framed in respect of the objectives which would make the
execution of the research much more reliable.
Research Background
The water management is activities are related to the development, distribution and planning
for the maximum utilisation of the water and its resources (Morse, 2016). The quality of
water is to be maintained by the management bodies and it is also the responsibility and the
duty of the management to frame up some plans which would help in accurate usage of water
without any wastage as well as the control over the pollutants to be caused which causes the
water pollution. As per Dalu and Froneman (2016), the industrial and the household
activities are the main cause of the water pollution and if it is not taken care of initially, t
could have some drastic effects on the human lives. On exploring United Kingdom, it has
been observed that about 40% of the rivers in England and Wales are polluted by sewage.
United Kingdom has been witnessing the downfall of the quality of water due to the
increasing pollutants causing the pollution. According to Choy (2015), the river which has
recorder the highest pollution in United Kingdom is Tame, at Denton. The cause of the
pollution in tis water body has been the contamination of micro plastics. The statically

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framed bodies has also revealed that the plastic contamination in UK is at the 90% of the
mark.
The management of the water bodies has become a requirement for UK, as the increasing
pollution in the water bodies could bring the country into a serious and problematic situation
in future (Creswell and Poth, 2017). The major causes of water pollution in England has been
marked to be because of agriculture pollution and oil pollution.
Aims and Objectives
Aims
The aim of the research is to investigate and research on the water pollution impacts in
United Kingdom along with the exploration on the water quality management in the
concerned country.
Objectives
The objectives of the research are as follows:
 To investigate the need of Water Quality Management in United Kingdom and the
need of controlling Water Pollution.
 To understand the importance and the vitality of Water Quality maintenance or the
importance of environment maintenance in United Kingdom.
 To check on the measures or the solutions for controlling the Water Quality and water
pollution in United Kingdom
 To bring on the measures that could be taken by the government of United Kingdom
in order to manage the Water Quality and improvise the environment conditions in the
country
 To provide recommendations in order to improve the condition of Environment
pollution concerning Water Quality in United Kingdom
Rationale of Research
The research is an essential and the required act to be performed as this would help in gaining
the information on the deterioration of the water bodies in United Kingdom and its impact on
the human lives and other factors (DeFries andNagendra, 2017). As has been observed that
the water in UK has not been managed adequately which has led to the issue of water quality
and the quantity would also be under pressure if it is not managed at first instance (Berry, et
al., 2018). It has been stated that 150 litres of water is used by a person in a day in UK, which

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is 164 litres in London. The health issue is no doubt raising along with the water quality
issue, but it is also having a side effect on the environment which would impact the human
lives again. It could be stated in a logical for that the quality issue of water if not maintained
well then the supply issue would also be raised in the near future (Patten and Newhart, 2017).
Study Significance
The increasing ratio of water pollution has brought in the need of one of the most important
and essential requirement of transforming and bringing n some new government policies and
regulations in this concern (McGrane, 2016). The quality of water needs to be maintained
well and the management also requires the attention of the government so that in future the
supply and the quality issues of water would not impact the health and the necessity of the
humans. The increasing health issues in UK has been the consequence of the deterioration in
the water quality and the water bodies due to the increased pollutants (Cao, Raith and
Griffith, 2015). The pollutants need to be mitigated through taking up some effective
measures which presents the significance of the study in the most relevant manner.
Summary
The above information provides the fact that the research would explore the water quality
along with the river levels, as well as the rate of flow of water and the rate of rainfall. These
assessment s would help in providing the accurate measures for the management of the water
and the supply of water which are among the major issues of United Kingdom (Cairns, 2017).
The water pollution needs to be taken as a serious matter of concern by the government of
UK and this would help in providing with the most effective measures.
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Introduction
As opined by Seinfeld and Pandis (2016), nearly two thirds of the earth's surface is covered
by water and less than one third is covered by land. As the population continue to grow, the
pressure on earth and its resources is also increasing. The planet's water resources are getting
depleted with each passing day which is majorly due to human activities. Pollution as we
know has been contributed by human beings and the recent developments are an evidence to
it. As identified by Jepson and Law (2016), starting from industrialisation to globalisation
around the globe, pollution has been persistent. The ever increasing pollution suggests that
human beings have exceeded their limits thereby making pollution a serious problem for
themselves. Today, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the space we live are totally

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contaminated which is only due to the rising pollution. Water pollution is one of such
pollution which has contaminated the water bodies making it difficult for human beings. Poor
quality of water indicates water pollution and therefore more than 7 billion people are
suffering from the effects of water pollution.
Water Pollutants types
Organic Soluble Pollutants
As suggested by Maier & Gentry (2015), Organic soluble water pollutants organic
compounds that may include herbicides and insecticides generally used in agriculture and
pest control. The presence of organic materials can impact health and the environment around
the world. Organic water pollutants include food processing waste, huge range of
organohalides and other chemical compounds. Fats and grease are also organic soluble
pollutants what might require certain upgradation. Since these are insoluble, they can have
lesser impact but the impact is still prevalent.
Organic Insoluble Pollutants
According to Zhu, et. al. (2017), organic insoluble pollutants generally include toxic
materials which are not able to dissolve in water. Pollutants like Petroleum, lubricants and
fuel combustion by products, chlorinated solvents, drug pollution and other insoluble
components cannot be easily mixed with water since they are denser and can float on the
surface of water. Water pollution can be caused by these insoluble materials that can impact
the human race and environment to a greater extent.
Inorganic Soluble Pollutants
Inorganic pollution is found naturally but since human production of goods has changed
drastically, and humans have altered those products to increase the amount of such pollutants
in the environment. According to Tan, Nancharaiah, van Hullebusch and Lens (2018), some
of the inorganic soluble water pollutants include food waste, silt or sediment, certain
fertilizers for commercial and residential use and other agricultural properties. All these
inorganic soluble components can be a threat the environment as they are difficult to manage
and decompose.
Inorganic Insoluble Pollutants
Inorganic insoluble pollutants are the pollutants which cannot be decomposed or are difficult
to clear in the environment and water bodies. According to Bat and Özkan (2019), Industrial
discharges and certain heavy metals from motor vehicles are generally insoluble. There can

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be floatables and Marine debris which cannot be mixed with water but have to be removed
from water in order to keep the water safe. Plastic and micro plastic pollution get discharged
into surface waters making them unfit for use.
Protocols for River water management
Importance of Water
Water is one of the most important substance as without water there would be no life on
earth. Apart from drinking multiple uses of water what the emerging need of clean drinking
water is rising with each passing day. Since it is the divine source of survival for all living
creatures, it becomes important for the humans to identify ways to procure clean water. The
vast amount of water is comprised of the oceans which plays an important role in stabilizing
the Earth's climate and making the environment hospitable for human life to survive.
Ingredients impacting quality of water
The quality of water has been a big risk for all living creatures. Unfortunately, the water
bodies are suffering from toxic levels making it unfit for consumption and any other use.
There have been many developmental changes happening to save water and provide clean
drinking water, but still water quality issues are persistent. There are many toxins in our
drinking water such as fluoride and chlorine. Lead is one of the mean toxin which country
recently impact human lives damaging their health severely. Polychlorinated biphenyls are
suspected to cause cancer and negatively impact the immune system of humans. Mercury is
another natural occurring element which when mixed with water can have issues like brain
damage, skin rashes and memory loss.
Techniques used for detecting water pollutants
Analysis of water sources
The analysis of water sources is generally carried out to identify the quality of water and the
chemical components and properties of the collected water samples. The main purpose is to
identify if the water is fit for use. The water analysis is carried out on water that are used on
water stream, rivers, on rainfall, on sea and water used in industrial processes. The analysis
makes it easier as the water needs to pass certain chemical standards following treatment to
receive quality water at the end of the analysis. There are different methods of analysing
water which includes conventional wet chemistry, electrochemistry, chromatography, and
spectrophotometry. These analysis identifying the different components and quantity of
components in the water.

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Programs concerning water sampling
Sampling water used to identify the quality of water with the help of different programs.
There can be different water chemistry and bacterial testing which helps to identify the
components of water and how they can be minimised to provide safe drinking water and
protect the long-term quality of water resources. Programs like a quick bacteria test, Lead
test, corrosion check, heavy metal water check, pesticide check, Radon water testing and
others.
Analysing the quality of water in UK
The analysis of water or water sampling can be a simple and effective measure to determine
the actual quality of water. In the United Kingdom, there are several ways of analysing the
quality of water, out of which analysis of drinking water contaminants is the most common
which involves identifying the organic and emerging contaminants present in the water. The
country is concerned about the natural environment and therefore Harmonized Monitoring
Scheme has been implemented in the all the major river systems in the UK. The country
follows regular rigorous chemical standards on all drinking water supplies.
Various water management techniques
Water management is one of the most important tasks that has been carried out by human
beings to make the water fit for drinking and other purposes. Humans have identified many
ways in which the water can be made sustainable. Water conservation is one of such
measures where water can be saved by taking certain measures. Measures like using dual
flush toilets, installing water metres to measure the amount of water used in a day, proper
utilisation of drinking water, fixing leaking pipes and also using less water for washing
machines, dishwashers, water gardens and cleaning cars. The groundwater level is decreasing
and increasing the thread from the rising pollution and over abstraction. There are several
pollutants which gets mixed with the water bodies making them unfit for use. Substances
such as nitrates are used for farming and later discharged into water bodies which can have an
adverse effect on the water bodies. Mining has also been considered to be polluting the
groundwater. UK government has standards for water conservation and safeguards the places
where the developments are carefully managed. Grey water is one kind of impure water
which has been used earlier or can probably be untreated rainwater. The use of grey water is
for certain purpose is that does not require clean water such as flushing the toilets. However,
rainwater harvesting can be a feasible option for households to collect get clean drinking
water from harvesting the rainwater.

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Policies and regulations concerning wastewater and pollution management
The importance of water policy and water law has been prevalent in the UK jurisdiction and
currently the country is certain directives containing the quality of water, water resource
management and service standards. The country has the Water Framework Directive that
ranges from bathing water, flooding and other water services. This framework is a complex
long term planning instrument which has resulted in making river basin management plans.
This will allow UK to develop a commitment to maintain the environmental status and
conserve the water basins as they are natural resources. The Drinking Water Directives set
the technical requirement for water services which are based on the World Health
Organisation guidelines but has been prepared looking into the UK standards. The technical
standards are kept in the entire UK. The water laws are however different in Scotland. On
wastewater management, UK implements The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive that
has been helpful for the country since it has invested on it. The enforcement of water law
ensures that safe drinking water is provided to the people of UK. There are several other
short-term water policies across the United Kingdom which are helping the country to
manage the issues of water management and water conservation. The country has also been
facing the issues due to Brexit which can have impact on the future approaches.
Quality of river water impacting health
Water pollution can be a threat to human race as well as the environment. Water is an
important natural resource and used for multiple purposes the helps for the survival of human
being. According to the World Health Organisation it has been identified that 80% of the
diseases are caused due to water borne diseases. Therefore threat from unsafe drinking water
is too high and cannot be neglected. Poor quality of water and unhygienic means of procuring
water can be dangerous to human health and may even lead to death. The impact of charge of
Industrial and domestic waste in nearby water bodies is prohibited as this is the major reason
for water pollution. The discharge of heavy metals from industries can accumulate in the
nearby rivers and lakes that are harmful for animals and humans. Industrial wastes release
toxins that can suppress immune system, become a reason for acute poisoning, and leads to
reproductive failure. There are other diseases and infections directly impacting the health of
human beings. Vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney problems, skin diseases, gastroenteritis, and
many other issues can be spread through polluted water. Apart from that, human health is
affected by the direct damage of animal and plant nutrition. The contamination of water
bodies and pollutants are damaging the surface water as well as killing seaweeds, impacting

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the marine birds, fishes and other organisms that humans consume for food. The DDT
insecticide concentration has been increasing on the food chain making it difficult for human
being to consume healthy food. Therefore, water bodies’ water bodies are required to be kept
safe so that humans do not face the issues.
Chapter 3: Methodology
Introduction
The concerned chapter would present various methodologies that are available for the
researcher to choose from and the reason for the selection of each of the elements would be
presented too. The research would utilise the Quantitative and the Qualitative methods along
with the primary and the secondary data collection methods (Fauvel et al., 2016). The
descriptive research design would support the Quantitative methodology and the positivism
philosophy would help the research to be authentic and the deductive approach would
provide the base for the analysis through various tools. Thus these elements would be
presented in a detailed form along with the justification for its choice (Boeuf, Fritsch and
Martin-Ortega, 2018).
Research Philosophy
The concerned research utilised the positivism philosophy as it provides the surety of the
information and the authentication of the facts gets revealed. The positivism philosophy has
been chosen from the other two research philosophies that is Interpretivism and realism,
because of its accuracy and its support to the Quantitative methodology (Darling and Bowes,
2016).
Justification
The choice has been made in consideration of the facts that the positivism philosophy helps
in providing the data of Quantitative methodology in an accurate manner and the
maintenance of the quality also gets enhanced. The positivism philosophy provides the
research with clear and justified facts which helps in gaining the confidence of the readers
(Champion, Allan and Lavers, 2015).
Research approach
The research approach taken in the concerned research has been deductive in nature which
provided the research to be presented in an understandable manner. The deductive approach