Uncovering microbial tactics in drinking water supply systems: using advances in genetics for countering the effects of climate change
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Civil and Structural Engineering
Abstract
This research will directly benefit society in the UK and abroad by increasing the effectiveness of water companies. The aim of the fellowship is to establish new research avenues for innovation in the field of urban water engineering and to bring novel practical solutions to the water-related challenges, in particular climate change, existing in the UK and worldwide.
The proposal addresses the EPSRC/LWEC fundamental question "How can our cities, their hinterlands, linking infrastructure, rural surround and the regions they are in, be transformed to be resilient, sustainable, more economically viable and generally better places to live?". To answer this challenging question the research will investigate the impact of environmental change on drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) with the aim of generating new knowledge and tools that will improve the way drinking water is supplied in our cities, in a sustainable and economically viable way. As a consequence of climate change water sources used for water supply will be more contaminated and limited, the temperature of the water will increase and long-term changes in water demand will affect pipe hydraulics. All these changes will significantly affect biological and physico-chemical processes taking place in DWDS and will force water companies to modify the way they deliver water via DWDS.
The fellowship will support the essential first steps in a new research line where my aim is to integrate microbiology, genetics and water engineering to explore in detail hidden aspects of DWDS in order to develop a whole system understanding. At present, the monitoring strategies for drinking water involve detecting microorganisms in water from taps using "old-fashioned" culture methods. However, the microbial composition of water is not representative of the biofilms (microbial assemblages) attached to pipes and culture-dependent methods underestimate the real microbial diversity in DWDS. Biofilms have great importance since they contain most of the microbial biomass in DWDS and they influence water quality and safety by, for example, hosting pathogens, promoting pipe corrosion and changes in water taste and colour. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research on how microorganisms will respond to environmental change within DWDS and how this will impact on DWDS performance and on drinking water safety and quality. Since DWDS are not sterile (i.e. completely free from microorganisms), research is also needed to identify which parameters support the presence of "friendly microorganisms" capable of maintaining the good performance of DWDS but also discouraging harmful microorganisms from surviving in the pipes.
To answer these questions the research will assess different climate change situations in DWDS tested under controlled laboratory conditions including: increase in water temperature, increase in water nitrogen and phosphorus and extreme hydraulic fluctuations. Analysis of DNA/RNA from experimental samples will be used to uncover the link between microbial diversity (who is there?) and function (what are they doing?), and will help to identify genes involved in a range of processes including resistance to disinfection and pathogenic potential. Biological and environmental data will be integrated using hydro/bioinformatic methods with the ultimate aim of developing novel monitoring and management tools: 1) a new risk assessment framework; and 2) Biological Early Warning Systems (BEWS). The efficiency of these tools will be tested using real data from UK water companies and European partners. Dissemination of findings to industry, academics and the general public will be supported by the Pennine Water Group and through the Sheffield Water Centre.
The fellowship will facilitate the development of my career as a world leader in urban water research by creating a new platform for innovation in molecular microbiology and hydraulic engineering.
The proposal addresses the EPSRC/LWEC fundamental question "How can our cities, their hinterlands, linking infrastructure, rural surround and the regions they are in, be transformed to be resilient, sustainable, more economically viable and generally better places to live?". To answer this challenging question the research will investigate the impact of environmental change on drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) with the aim of generating new knowledge and tools that will improve the way drinking water is supplied in our cities, in a sustainable and economically viable way. As a consequence of climate change water sources used for water supply will be more contaminated and limited, the temperature of the water will increase and long-term changes in water demand will affect pipe hydraulics. All these changes will significantly affect biological and physico-chemical processes taking place in DWDS and will force water companies to modify the way they deliver water via DWDS.
The fellowship will support the essential first steps in a new research line where my aim is to integrate microbiology, genetics and water engineering to explore in detail hidden aspects of DWDS in order to develop a whole system understanding. At present, the monitoring strategies for drinking water involve detecting microorganisms in water from taps using "old-fashioned" culture methods. However, the microbial composition of water is not representative of the biofilms (microbial assemblages) attached to pipes and culture-dependent methods underestimate the real microbial diversity in DWDS. Biofilms have great importance since they contain most of the microbial biomass in DWDS and they influence water quality and safety by, for example, hosting pathogens, promoting pipe corrosion and changes in water taste and colour. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research on how microorganisms will respond to environmental change within DWDS and how this will impact on DWDS performance and on drinking water safety and quality. Since DWDS are not sterile (i.e. completely free from microorganisms), research is also needed to identify which parameters support the presence of "friendly microorganisms" capable of maintaining the good performance of DWDS but also discouraging harmful microorganisms from surviving in the pipes.
To answer these questions the research will assess different climate change situations in DWDS tested under controlled laboratory conditions including: increase in water temperature, increase in water nitrogen and phosphorus and extreme hydraulic fluctuations. Analysis of DNA/RNA from experimental samples will be used to uncover the link between microbial diversity (who is there?) and function (what are they doing?), and will help to identify genes involved in a range of processes including resistance to disinfection and pathogenic potential. Biological and environmental data will be integrated using hydro/bioinformatic methods with the ultimate aim of developing novel monitoring and management tools: 1) a new risk assessment framework; and 2) Biological Early Warning Systems (BEWS). The efficiency of these tools will be tested using real data from UK water companies and European partners. Dissemination of findings to industry, academics and the general public will be supported by the Pennine Water Group and through the Sheffield Water Centre.
The fellowship will facilitate the development of my career as a world leader in urban water research by creating a new platform for innovation in molecular microbiology and hydraulic engineering.
Planned Impact
This proposal deals with key socio-economic issues: drinking water supply, global climate change and public health. The transformative research proposed in the fellowship will yield significant economical and societal impacts since quality of life and human well-being are directly associated with drinking water supply. The UK society will directly benefit from this new line of investigations since the findings will be communicated to the UK water industry to guarantee that safe and good quality water is distributed in the future in the face of climate change. The research outcomes will also inform UK and European policies in order to improve drinking water standards based on the best available scientific knowledge. The well-established industrial and academic links of the Pennine Water Group and the Sheffield Water Centre will be used for the benefit of the project and to maximise the impact and dissemination of research outcomes.
This research will bring important benefits to the field of civil engineering by transforming the traditional vision that practitioner engineers have of drinking water distributions systems (DWDS), mainly as physical infrastructure transporting water, but not considering the complex biological and physico-chemical reactions taking place within the pipes. The successful delivery of the proposal's vision will aid water companies to meet future water demands to effectively manage climate change, whilst reducing costly interventions in the existing infrastructure. An effective management of DWDS will bring important benefits to the UK economy, particularly to the water industry, but indirectly to other UK industries which depend on sufficient water supply in the future including manufacturing, food and process industries. Novel information on microbial genetics and biofilm dynamics will also inform other microbial-related industrial processes such as the production of fermentation and pharmaceutical products.
The fellowship will allow me to start a new line of investigations and to develop an independent scientific career in the field of urban water research. The proposed research will promote the discovery of new microbial traits that will aid other academic disciplines beyond civil engineering, including the development of bioindicators and biosensors for detection of contaminants, bioremediation strategies and biomedical sciences. This cross-disciplinary research fostered in the UK, but in collaboration with other internationally recognised scientists, will set the foundation for an international network of research on microbial urban water-related issues. I will also benefit the academic community by participating in teaching and research activities at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield.
This research will bring important benefits to the field of civil engineering by transforming the traditional vision that practitioner engineers have of drinking water distributions systems (DWDS), mainly as physical infrastructure transporting water, but not considering the complex biological and physico-chemical reactions taking place within the pipes. The successful delivery of the proposal's vision will aid water companies to meet future water demands to effectively manage climate change, whilst reducing costly interventions in the existing infrastructure. An effective management of DWDS will bring important benefits to the UK economy, particularly to the water industry, but indirectly to other UK industries which depend on sufficient water supply in the future including manufacturing, food and process industries. Novel information on microbial genetics and biofilm dynamics will also inform other microbial-related industrial processes such as the production of fermentation and pharmaceutical products.
The fellowship will allow me to start a new line of investigations and to develop an independent scientific career in the field of urban water research. The proposed research will promote the discovery of new microbial traits that will aid other academic disciplines beyond civil engineering, including the development of bioindicators and biosensors for detection of contaminants, bioremediation strategies and biomedical sciences. This cross-disciplinary research fostered in the UK, but in collaboration with other internationally recognised scientists, will set the foundation for an international network of research on microbial urban water-related issues. I will also benefit the academic community by participating in teaching and research activities at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- University of the Republic (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (Collaboration)
- Stellenbosch University, South Africa (Collaboration)
- Sejong University (Collaboration)
- Yorkshire Water Services Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University of Utrecht, Netherlands (Project Partner)
- Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain (Project Partner)
- Wessex Water Services Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University of Colorado at Boulder, United States (Project Partner)
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute (Project Partner)
- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain (Project Partner)
- South West Water Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Isabel Douterelo Soler (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications

Douterelo I
(2017)
Spatial and temporal analogies in microbial communities in natural drinking water biofilms.
in The Science of the total environment

Douterelo I
(2018)
Succession of bacterial and fungal communities within biofilms of a chlorinated drinking water distribution system.
in Water research

Douterelo I
(2018)
Understanding microbial ecology to improve management of drinking water distribution systems
in Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water

Douterelo I
(2018)
Whole metagenome sequencing of chlorinated drinking water distribution systems
in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

Montoya-Pachongo C
(2018)
Field assessment of bacterial communities and total trihalomethanes: Implications for drinking water networks.
in The Science of the total environment
Description | 1. New genetic analysis from drinking water system has revealed the involvement of microorganisms in key processes such as resistant to disinfection, antimicrobial resistance etc We have also established new associations between certain type of microorganisms (microbial networks) and environmental conditions in distribution systems. This new knowledge will contribute to develop new early warning systems and modelling approaches to improve monitoring and management strategies in drinking water distribution systems. 2. New collaborations have been started internationally with Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, USA and South Africa. Internationally, we have submitted proposals, some of them successful, to develop joint research activities and knowledge exchange. These proposals are focused on understanding microbial risks in water sources in order to design practical solutions to ultimately protect public health. 3. Development of bioinformatics tools to analyses DNA whole metagenomics sequencing data from drinking water distribution systems in collaboration with The University of Utrecht. 4. All the public engagement activities that I have carried out, have generated a change of opinion in the general public and people are more aware about the climate change challenges that governments and water utilities are facing to keep supplying drinking water. These engagement activities have supported a change in views and attitudes. |
Exploitation Route | My research has a clear international impact, it has been translated into international practice and has been included in the AWWA M68 Water Quality in Distribution Systems manual of practice and it has been translated into international policy by Health Canada. I am also leading collaborative research with international organisations including the Univ. of São Paulo (Brazil), Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico, Univ. of Utrecht (The Netherlands), The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). The genetic information from this research can be used to design new indicators and sensors for the detection of pathogens in aquatic ecosystems. Biofilm studies will also inform on best materials and strategies to control and manage microbial risks in drinking water systems. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | My research has international impact and has been translated into international practice and has been included in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) M68 Water Quality in Distribution Systems manual of practice and it has been translated into international policy by Health Canada. I am also leading collaborative research with international organisations including the Univ. of São Paulo (Brazil), Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico, Univ. of Utrecht (The Netherlands), The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). I have been involved in public engagement activities in Sheffield and I have very positive feedback and change of views and request for participation, from the general public. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Education,Environment,Other |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | AWWA new manual of practice M68 |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Distribution systems represent the last barrier available to water systems to maintain safe and high-quality water, and this manual provides a "first stop" for common distribution system water quality challenges. M68 offers practical guidance and best management practices for maintaining and improving distribution system water quality. It will help drinking water utilities and professionals understand the factors that affect water quality, ways to address them and best practices for optimizing distribution system water quality. Each chapter within the manual focuses on a unique distribution challenge, how to characterize and respond to such challenges, and recommend best practices to address ongoing issues and optimization strategies. The manual covers a variety of topics such as, corrosion, taste and odor concerns, microbiology, capacity and water age, and more. M68 includes numerous case studies to better show the applications discussed. The manual also provides a larger resources section where readers can find places for additional expertise. |
URL | https://www.awwa.org/store/productdetail.aspx?productid=43062719 |
Description | Committee Member of the American Water Work Association (AWWA) in Water Distribution Systems |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | The mission of the committee is to study and report on the problems and methods of maintaining and controlling the quality of water in distribution systems, thus improving the delivery of safe and good quality drinking water. |
URL | https://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/committees/committeeid/00500489.aspx |
Description | Reviewer Health Canada/Government of Canada. Canadian Guidance on Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water Distribution Systems |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Gave evidence to a government review |
Impact | The document reviewed, Canadian Guidance on Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water Distribution Systems, for the government of Canada contained evidenced based on my research in drinking water systems. Advice was provided on the best methods to asses water quality and microbial risks in drinking water distribution systems |
Description | Antibacterial pipe lining. Exploring technology transfer for shipping sector and the development and application of flow cytometry and optical coherence tomography measurement techniques to pipe biofilms. |
Amount | £46,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 06/2019 |
Description | CBET-EPSRC |
Amount | £83,142 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S025642/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | ERASMUS + studentship: UAM/SRUK Summer studentships |
Amount | € 1,600 (EUR) |
Organisation | Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2018 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | H2020-EU.1.3.3. - Stimulating innovation by means of cross-fertilisation of knowledge |
Amount | € 243,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ID: 778136 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | Industry Academia Partnership Programme - 17/18 Round 2 |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | Instituitional match for iCAIR / UKCRIC: National Water Infrastructure Facility |
Amount | £3,752,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | NBIC 1st Proof of Concept Call |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | NERC BIOMOLECULAR ANALYSIS FACILITY (NBAF), NBAF GRANT. |
Amount | £13,550 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NBAF1056 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2017 |
Description | Royal Society Research Grant RG2017R1 |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RG160654 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2017 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | STREAM EngD - Biofouling and holistic water supply management |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | South Staffs Water |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | SURE Scheme, The Univeristy of Sheffield |
Amount | £1,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | UKWIR Drinking Water Quality Big Question |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | UK Water Industry Research Ltd |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | WIRe Water Infrastructure REsilience Centre for Doctoral Training |
Amount | £6,149,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S023666/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 09/2027 |
Description | White Rose Collaboration Fund |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | White Rose University Consortium |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2017 |
End | 12/2017 |
Title | National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Sequence Read Archive SRA SRP095264. |
Description | This is a metagenomics database and contains DNA sequences performed with Illumina Miseq. These sequences are associated with the publication I. Douterelo, M. Jackson, C. Solomon, J. Boxall, Spatial and temporal analogies in microbial communities in natural drinking water biofilms, Science of The Total Environment, Volumes 581-582, 1 March 2017, Pages 277-288, ISSN 0048-9697, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.118. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | These data base is open access. Any researcher can access the database and use the metagenomic information contained within it, to for example compare the microbiological composition of drinking water distribution systems in other systems and countries. |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/?term=SRP095264 |
Title | Whole metagenome sequencing data |
Description | Sequencing data used for the research paper Whole metagenome sequencing of chlorinated drinking water distribution systems Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2018,4, 2080-2091. The data was deposited and is openly accessible in the MG-RAST server under project number ID MGP80824. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Understanding of the whole genome content of microbial biofilms in drinking water distribution systems. |
URL | https://www.mg-rast.org/mgmain.html?mgpage=project&project=mgp80824 |
Description | Collaboration and project on Intermittent Water Supply with The Stellenbosch University in South Africa. |
Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As a Co-I, I have collaborated with research ideas and my input as a microbiologist to this project. I will visit South Africa, to expand on research ideas and future collaboration activities. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have organized a workshop with exchange knowledge activities between the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Sheffield and engineers at Stellenbosch University. |
Impact | This collaboration is multidisciplinary and merges civil engineering with microbial ecology and public health. The initial output is attendance to a workshop in South Africa and to the International Intermittent Water Supply conference in Uganda.3. Calero Preciado, C.; Husband, H; Maeng, S.; Boxall, J.; Douterelo, I. (2019). Influence of intermittent water supply in microbial biofilm mobilization. 1st Intermittent Water Supply Conference, Kampala, Uganda. Oral presentation. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration with the University of Utrecth, The Netherlands |
Organisation | Utrecht University |
Department | Faculty of Science |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have collected samples from drinking water distributions systems in the UK. To understand the involvement of microorganisms in process occurring in these systems and its influence on water quality and safety, we have analyzed the microbiological content by DNA sequencing methods. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Bas Dutilh, Associate Professor (Theoretical Biology & Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University) has provided bioinformatics analysis of sequences from Sheffield samples. |
Impact | Paper in preparation for Water Research: Microbial diversity, ecological networks and functional traits associated to materials used in drinking water distribution systems. Bioinformatics support for Dr Douterelo's Future Leader Fellowship. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Drinking Water: finite resource. The University of la Republica of Uruguay |
Organisation | University of the Republic |
Department | Faculty of Chemistry |
PI Contribution | Co-organiser of the Workshop "Biofilms: Microbial Ecology of Drinking Water Systems, experimental and bioinformatics approaches." in Montevideo, Uruguay, November 2017. Funded by the Global Water Partnership Uruguay and ANNI (National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay), November 2017, Montevideo, Uruguay. Co-Supervision of a PhD student, Maria Soledad Martinez Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Republic of Uruguay. |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-organiser of the Workshop "Biofilms: Microbial Ecology of Drinking Water Systems, experimental and bioinformatics approaches." in Montevideo, Uruguay, November 2017. Funded by the Global Water Partnership Uruguay and ANNI (National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay), November 2017, Montevideo, Uruguay. Co-Supervision of a PhD student, Maria Soledad Martinez Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Republic of Uruguay. |
Impact | Workshop "Biofilms: Microbial Ecology of Drinking Water Systems, experimental and bioinformatics approaches." in Montevideo, Uruguay, November 2017. Funded by the Global Water Partnership Uruguay and ANNI (National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay), November 2017, Montevideo, Uruguay. Co-Supervision of a PhD student, Maria Soledad Martinez Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Republic of Uruguay. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Studies on microbial biofilms and organic mattter in drinking water distribution systems |
Organisation | Sejong University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In Sheffield, we have used the research drinking water facilities to study the impact of climate change in drinking water distribution systems , mainly temperature and intermittent water supply studies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Sung Kyu Maeng has collaborated during his visit to the Civil & Structural Engineering Department in Sheffield to research activities related to drinking water quality and microbial biofilms in drinking water distribution systems. He has participated in research meetings, providing ideas and he was involved in discussion. Dr Maeng, sent water samples from experiments run in the drinking water distribution facility in Sheffield to Korea for Flow Cytometer analysis and tracing organic matter fractions by excitation-emission fluorescence matrix. The analysis will contribute to the research developed in the fellowship and Carolina's Calero PhD research |
Impact | Publications J.W. Park, Y.J Lee, A.S. Meyer, I. Douterelo and S.K Maeng 2018. Bacterial growth through microfiltration membranes and NOM characteristics in an MF-RO integrated membrane system: Lab-scale and full-scale studies. Water Research 144, 36-45. Conference Abstract Calero Preciado, C.; Husband, H; Maeng, S.; Boxall, J.; Douterelo, I. (2019). Influence of intermittent water supply in microbial biofilm mobilization. 1st Intermittent Water Supply Conference, Kampala, Uganda. Oral presentation. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | "Careers Presentation: |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | STREAM PhD students attended a " Careers Talk" in the Anglian Water Recycling Center, questions and discussion on careers options in the water sector took place. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 1st International WDSA/CCWI Joint Conference 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Conference proceeding: Monitoring biofilm communities in operational drinking water distribution systems and the impact on water quality |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/wdsa-ccw/article/view/12087 |
Description | Angela Smith MP |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Liz Sharp/Emma Westling - We presented the research to the Chair of the All Parliamentary Water Group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://connectpa.co.uk/water/ |
Description | Anglian Water Drinking Water Innovation day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Hosted a day with Anglian Water drinking water scientists, engineers and managers to explore and present latest research and future ideas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Application and integration of biofilm ecology to inform management of drinking water distribution systems. Animal and Plant Science Department, The University of Sheffield, |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk to academics and postgraduates students on the microbial ecology of biofilms and how to integrate that knowledge to inform management of urban water systems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Attendance to Microbial Society Conference, Birmigham 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | My PhD student, Carolina Calero, presented a poster entitled Microbial traits in chlorinated Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Microbial Society Conference 2018, Birmingham, UK. Poster. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Biofilms IKC Launch Event and Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Launch of the Biofilms Innovation Knowledge Centre (IKC) and provide an overview of the wider UK Biofilms Programme and associated opportunities. Opportunity and support for networking between academics and industrialists with interests in biofilms. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/innovation/collaboration/collaborative-programmes/biofilms-programme/ |
Description | Biofilms: Microbial ecology of drinking water systems, experimental and bioinformatics approaches |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Workshop funded by the Global Water Partnership Uruguay and the National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay. The attendants were stakeholders, water professionals and postgraduate students interested in learning about microbial biofilms in drinking water systems, engineering solutions and tools to study this microbial consortia in urban water systems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | CIWEM Drinking Water 2018: Developments in Water Quality, Treatment & Distribution event in London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This technical seminar provided an opportunity for sector-networking and sharing new information with other water industry experts, as well as enabling to discuss emerging issues with water company practitioners, technology suppliers and academics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Café Scientifique. Climate impacts on water sources: quantity, quality and safety |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Café Scientifique, Sheffield Showroom, (June 2018). Climate impacts on water sources: quantity, quality and safety. Public science initiative in Sheffield. Scientist talk in laymen's terms about their research. The events are informal and aims to disseminate scientific research for the general public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Chartered Institution of Water and Environment: Microbiological Water Quality Issues & Control |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This technical seminar was designed to share new information and experiences on topics relating to microbial issues and control for drinking water. Topics discussed included: the latest technical information on a range of developments in microbial water quality, water treatment and distribution practices and how these are being evaluated, understanding of the latest analytical techniques that pinpoint microbial deterioration, share knowledge on the current and historic practices that have adversely affected microbial water quality,understand the latest regulatory requirements and standards for compliance. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Climate Change and Water Resources: using advances in genetics for countering the effects of climate change |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | PG Seminars Geography Department, The University of Sheffield. Promote interdisciplinary research at the University of Sheffield. The seminar sparked questions and discussion afterwards and favored interactions between students and researchers in different departments at the University of Sheffield. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Climate Change and Water Supply (Sheffield) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk on Climate Change and the Impact on Water Supply within the 5th Steering Group Meeting PODDS (prediction of discolouration in drinking water systems). Several UK water companies attended and discussion on future collaborations took place. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://podds.co.uk/ |
Description | Conference of Federation of European Microbiological Societies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I. Douterelo, K.E. Fish and J.B. Boxall (July 2017). FEMS 2017. Microbial dynamics and succession in drinking water distribution systems. POSTER PRESENTATION |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.fems-microbiology2017.kenes.com/ |
Description | EPSRC LWEC Fellows Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | These EPSRC-LWEC Fellows meetings bring together researchers awarded with an EPSRC-LWEC fellowship in 2016 and they take place regularly to explore links and collaborative research between fellows. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
Description | Economic development and social welfare under pressure: Climate change impacts on water resources |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Under the Researcher Links scheme offered within the Newton Fund and the British Council a workshop on Economic development and social welfare under pressure took place in Puebla, Mexico on 7th, 8th and 9th of September 2016. The workshop had contributions from leading researchers in both countries working on the theme Economic development and social welfare under pressure: Climate change impacts on water resources. Discussion with researchers from Mexico helped to establish new links, research avenues and discussion to future applications to the RCUK Global Challenges Research Fund Scheme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Frontiers in Urban Infraesctructure Research and Action |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Workshop at the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester. Interdisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners to discuss how to push disciplinary boundaries to get to the heart of some vexing problems facing cities today. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Global Challenges Research Fund Workshops, The Univeristy of Sheffield |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Researchers from different departments at the University of Sheffield participated in a workshop to bring together ideas, build research links and create working teams to explore opportunities within the Global Challenges Research Fund Scheme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
Description | Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures Early Career Researchers Network |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Launch of a symposium and workshop at The University of Sheffield to support the Universities community of early career researchers (ECRs), postdoctoral researchers and fellows working in sustainability |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Hosting the 15th International conference on Computnig and Control for the Water Industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The University of Sheffield hosted the 15th International Conference on Computing and control for the water industry with over 150 delegates from around the world |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ccwi/2017 |
Description | Ignite Academy Sheffield Crucible Theatre. Title of presentation: How will climate change impact our water supply. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Ignite Academy, p Ignite is a geek event that is held in over 100 cities worldwide. At the events, Ignite presenters share their research passions, using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds, making a total of just five minutes. We covered a broad range of topics from departments across the University. The spirit of Ignite Academy is simply about education, learning, teaching and sharing ideas with the people of Sheffield.Each talk was pitched for a public audience so everyone was welcome. Ignite Academy is a chance to hear about new projects, exciting ideas, leading thinking, and up to the minute innovation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://twitter.com/IgniteSheffield/status/910942502760407040 |
Description | International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME 17). Leipzig, Germany. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation by Dr Douterelo entitle Applied biofilm ecology to inform management of drinking water distribution systems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.isme-microbes.org/symposia |
Description | Metagenomics: use of microbial genes to understand drinking water systems, Civil and Structural Engineering Department, the University of Sheffield. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on how to use genetic information from microorganisms living in drinking water distribution systems to understand processes and how the whole system works. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | NIC - Water Demand Management Roundtable |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Prof Joby Boxall and Dr Liz Sharpe contribute to a formal round table discussion group on water demand management. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Off The Shelf-Festival of Words.What is in our water? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Off The Shelf-Festival of Words. Waterstones Sheffield (October 2018). What is in our water? Learn how engineers study drinking water quality to control public health risks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.offtheshelf.org.uk/event/whats-in-our-water/ |
Description | Presentation at TWENTY 65 Conference. Manchester UK. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at the TWENTY 65 Conference. Manchester UK. Using advances in genetics for countering the effects of climate change in drinking water systems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Royal Society for Public Health, What is the Future of Water and Public Health? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Royal Society for Public Health, What is the Future of Water and Public Health? |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | SWIG Water and Public Health |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Katherine Fish was invited to attend the SWIG Water and Public Health workshop on 31/01/2018, held in Bristol, UK. The workshop included a keynote talk from Public Health England giving an overview of waterborne disease followed by presentations from companies and researchers. K. Fish gave a presentation entitled "Biofilms and Water Quality", addressing the impact that biofilms have upon drinking water and the need to consider them despite regulations being focused on bacterial analysis of bulk-water only, via culture based methods. The talks all led to significant debate in the networking breaks of the workshop, which has led to a potential collaboration and definite support for a potential responsive mode proposal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.swig.org.uk/event/water-health-workshop/ |
Description | Sheffield Festival of Science & Engineering 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientists from a range of disciplines and backgrounds debated the impact of climate change on water resources and water infrastructure. Throughout the event, the public was invited to participate in the debate and they asked questions to scientists working in the water sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.scienceweeksy.org.uk/event/229 |
Description | Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering (March 2017). Climate change and water resources: uncertainties and challenges. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A series of talks from Isabel Douterelo Soler, Joby Boxall and Christian Berretta on Climate change and water resources: uncertainties and challenges. And subsequent debate and discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | The agriculture water interface: current topics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | One day meeting with three distinctive themes covering the Industry Perspective Regulatory Issues and The Monitoring and Fate of Pollutants |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Thought Leadership Club on Planning for Water |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Liz Sharp/Emma Westling - Presentation from the Town and Country Planning Association's on the Raynsford Review of Planning. Workshop on Water and Planning to inform the review. Attended by Local Authorities, Academics and practitioners |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | UK-Argentina Workshop Antimicrobial Resistant in The Environment, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Development of tools and solutions to tackle the development and transmission of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in the environment with the potential to negatively impact on human health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://nerc.ukri.org/research/funded/programmes/amr/news/ao-workshop/ |
Description | Visit KWR (Water Quality Research Institute), The Netherlands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Discussion of collaborative approach between KWR and the ongoing fellowship research. Establishing and discussion protocols and methods to make the established collaboration effective (laboratory methods and modelling approaches). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Visit University Autonomous of Madrid 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Attendance and presentation (invited speaker) at the ERASMUS + event in Madrid (February 2019) at the University Autonomous of Madrid (UAM). Visit to researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences at the UAM to establish further collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Water Network Meeting 62 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Latest in Membrane Process for Drinking Water Treatment, 12th of December Edinburgh, Scotland. Presentation: Biofilm dynamics in drinking water membranes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Water Quality Technology Conference, Portland, Oregon 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I. Douterelo, S. Husband, K. E. Fish, C. Calero and J. Boxall (Nov. 2017). Water Quality Technology Conference, Portland, Oregon 2017. Metagenomics put to work: use of microbial genes to understand drinking water distribution systems. ORAL PRESENTATION |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.awwa.org/conferences-education/conferences/water-quality-technology/water-quality-progra... |
Description | Water-Energy-Food Nexus networking event London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Water-Energy-Food Nexus networking event-9th of July . Talk on Climate Impacts on Water Sources: quantity, quality and safety by Dr Douterelo. Talks by other members of the network and discussion on emerging research questions, identification of future collaborations and projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | White Rose International Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | White Rose International Workshop, 17-18th of October, Civil & Structural Engineering Department, The University of Sheffield. Establishment of an International Network of Researchers between UK Universities in Yorkshire ( Sheffield, Leeds and YorK) and Universities in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Discussion on research projects and grant applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.whiterose.ac.uk/collaborationfunds/microbial-pollution-in-water-sources-under-extreme-we... |
Description | Women in Engineering Event, Sheffield Hallam University. International Women in Engineering Day 2018. Disaster Relief in the UK: Using your STEM skills to rebuild communities. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with the Arconic Foundation and STEAM Works Learning hosted a fun, practical day for girls to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day 2018. This action-packed day has encouraged girls to raise their aspirations and explore opportunities available within the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Aimed at girls in year 8 and 9, this event helped to support and reinforce option choices in STEM subjects and careers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.steamworks.org.uk/international-women-in-engineering-day-2018/ |
Description | Workshop Introduction to Metabolomics for Microbiologists |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Workshop for microbiologist in Metabolomics at The University of Birmingham. Examples and applications of how to use metabolomics in environmental microbial projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |