The development and implementation of sensors and treatment technologies for freshwater systems in India
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of England
Department Name: Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences
Abstract
The Rationale:
We need freshwater for agriculture, industry and human existence. Access to good quality water is essential for sustainable socio-economic growth. Freshwater ecosystems are finite and globally threatened by increasing environmental degradation caused by destructive land-use and water-management practices and increasing industrialization. The scale of socio-economic activities, urbanisation, industrial operations and agricultural practices in India has reached the point where watersheds across India are being severely impacted. For example, gross organic pollution in India's freshwater resources are common place, resulting in severe toxic burdens, depletion of dissolved oxygen levels and severe pathogenic contamination. Eutrophication, arising from enrichment with nutrients caused by sewage and agro-industrial effluents and agricultural run-off, greatly impact on lakes and impounded rivers. Groundwater bodies are susceptible to leaching from waste dumps, mining and industrial discharges. Finally, despite their potential threat, the distribution, scale and levels of newly emerging water contaminants, e.g. endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are largely unknown. We must address the consequences of both present and future contaminant threats to water catchments if we are to provide action that provide solutions at all levels. The implementation of sensors for monitoring important biological and chemical parameters, through time and space, is the indispensable basis for accurate assessments whilst the deployment of state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for the removal of pollutants will enhance water protection and security.
The Proposition:
Firstly; improve our ability to determine the presence of pollution in water courses and the development of novel sensing approaches to help reduce or prevent pollution at source. We will do this via;
The deployment and implementation of new in situ fluorescence sensors that have been developed by UWE, Bristol and Chelsea Technology Group (CTG) as part of a current NERC Grant (NE/K007572/1)
The development of a novel bacterial bio-sensor using bio-reporter strains that was first conceived in India (Bose Institute), for the detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water bodies and effluents.
Secondly; develop novel approaches to reduce or prevent pollution detected above at the source via;
The development of novel off-grid treatment technologies, for rural and urban areas, to remove pollutants (sensed above) based on ultrafiltration membrane technology and bacterial remediation using bio-reactors.
Longer-term Impact: To understand the impact of sewage contamination and the bacterial quality of freshwater catchments in India. To quantify changes in sewage contamination levels through time and space and to understand how these changes are affected by land use and effluent discharges. Our fluorescence sensor will be used to identify, monitor and detect bacterial contamination from sewage discharges entering waters at a catchment scale, including urbanised areas. To develop a bacterial sensor, using bio-reporter strains, for the detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in discharges and freshwaters. We will also assess the feasibility of the catabolic potential of these biosensor strains for bioreactor-based remediation of EDCs and implement an off-grid UF membrane technology platform for the treatment of bacterial contamination. This UK/India partnership will involve the deployment of UK developed technologies in India and the subsequent development of Indian inspired sensors and treatment approaches in the UK.
We need freshwater for agriculture, industry and human existence. Access to good quality water is essential for sustainable socio-economic growth. Freshwater ecosystems are finite and globally threatened by increasing environmental degradation caused by destructive land-use and water-management practices and increasing industrialization. The scale of socio-economic activities, urbanisation, industrial operations and agricultural practices in India has reached the point where watersheds across India are being severely impacted. For example, gross organic pollution in India's freshwater resources are common place, resulting in severe toxic burdens, depletion of dissolved oxygen levels and severe pathogenic contamination. Eutrophication, arising from enrichment with nutrients caused by sewage and agro-industrial effluents and agricultural run-off, greatly impact on lakes and impounded rivers. Groundwater bodies are susceptible to leaching from waste dumps, mining and industrial discharges. Finally, despite their potential threat, the distribution, scale and levels of newly emerging water contaminants, e.g. endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are largely unknown. We must address the consequences of both present and future contaminant threats to water catchments if we are to provide action that provide solutions at all levels. The implementation of sensors for monitoring important biological and chemical parameters, through time and space, is the indispensable basis for accurate assessments whilst the deployment of state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for the removal of pollutants will enhance water protection and security.
The Proposition:
Firstly; improve our ability to determine the presence of pollution in water courses and the development of novel sensing approaches to help reduce or prevent pollution at source. We will do this via;
The deployment and implementation of new in situ fluorescence sensors that have been developed by UWE, Bristol and Chelsea Technology Group (CTG) as part of a current NERC Grant (NE/K007572/1)
The development of a novel bacterial bio-sensor using bio-reporter strains that was first conceived in India (Bose Institute), for the detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water bodies and effluents.
Secondly; develop novel approaches to reduce or prevent pollution detected above at the source via;
The development of novel off-grid treatment technologies, for rural and urban areas, to remove pollutants (sensed above) based on ultrafiltration membrane technology and bacterial remediation using bio-reactors.
Longer-term Impact: To understand the impact of sewage contamination and the bacterial quality of freshwater catchments in India. To quantify changes in sewage contamination levels through time and space and to understand how these changes are affected by land use and effluent discharges. Our fluorescence sensor will be used to identify, monitor and detect bacterial contamination from sewage discharges entering waters at a catchment scale, including urbanised areas. To develop a bacterial sensor, using bio-reporter strains, for the detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in discharges and freshwaters. We will also assess the feasibility of the catabolic potential of these biosensor strains for bioreactor-based remediation of EDCs and implement an off-grid UF membrane technology platform for the treatment of bacterial contamination. This UK/India partnership will involve the deployment of UK developed technologies in India and the subsequent development of Indian inspired sensors and treatment approaches in the UK.
Planned Impact
Impact will be maximised at a community, economic and academic level. It is ultimately envisaged that the outcomes from the project will be provide solutions to water quality issues to local authorities, policy makers, stakeholder and local communities. Project partners will be fully engaged will work closely with community leaders and members who will play a key role in promoting engagement with the project from design to implementation. Monthly community workshops will raise awareness about water quality and the needs/benefits of good catchment management with a view to promoting water security awareness and importance. Our work with local communities, with the support of Frank Water, will work and liaise with small farmers.
Research partners will hold various workshops in both the UK (Bristol) and India (Kolkata) to engage stakeholders and community members for the design of our monitoring strategy, treatment technologies and future sensor development. Both Bose Institute (BI) and University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE) will produce marketing and educational material for local communities, schools and councils. We will also make short YouTube videos (educational and awareness) raising issues such as water quality monitoring and the technologies for water treatment, all of this will link to issues relating to nutrient recovery, wastewater recycling, water savings and water security.
UWE will organise a project specific stakeholders' kick-off meeting in Bristol to bring together the research teams from India and the UK to openly discuss and disseminate progress and project outcomes. This workshop will be in addition to the national workshops that are planned as part of the Newton Bhahba funding scheme. International impact will occur through dissemination of our work at specialist international conferences and workshops, specifically, at relevant IWA, International Sustainable Development, Faecal Management Sludge, and International Development conferences. We will publish (open access) via international peer reviewed journals such as Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Water Research, Environmental Science and Technology.
A website for the research will be developed by the BI and UWE teams (hosted at UWE) where all details relating to our research will be uploaded for widespread dissemination. Progress reports, updates on pilot case studies and events will be shared via this website. This website will be made available to relevant stakeholders in India via the Bose Institute. Additional virtual tools will aid international dissemination via our partners which represent academia, charities, business and research institutes. Bose Institute UCL support, will engage with Brazilian media (newspapers, magazine and local television stations) and local media agencies will be invited to participate in project workshops/stakeholder consultation activities.
Regular updates of our project will be circulated to all partner institutions inviting for participation in project activities and outcomes where appropriate. This will support synergies and development of joint research at both BI and UWE. UWE and BI will disseminate key findings and influence scientists through existing postgraduate and undergraduate programmes (e.g. MSc in Biosensing Technology (University of Bristol and UWE).
Research partners will hold various workshops in both the UK (Bristol) and India (Kolkata) to engage stakeholders and community members for the design of our monitoring strategy, treatment technologies and future sensor development. Both Bose Institute (BI) and University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE) will produce marketing and educational material for local communities, schools and councils. We will also make short YouTube videos (educational and awareness) raising issues such as water quality monitoring and the technologies for water treatment, all of this will link to issues relating to nutrient recovery, wastewater recycling, water savings and water security.
UWE will organise a project specific stakeholders' kick-off meeting in Bristol to bring together the research teams from India and the UK to openly discuss and disseminate progress and project outcomes. This workshop will be in addition to the national workshops that are planned as part of the Newton Bhahba funding scheme. International impact will occur through dissemination of our work at specialist international conferences and workshops, specifically, at relevant IWA, International Sustainable Development, Faecal Management Sludge, and International Development conferences. We will publish (open access) via international peer reviewed journals such as Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Water Research, Environmental Science and Technology.
A website for the research will be developed by the BI and UWE teams (hosted at UWE) where all details relating to our research will be uploaded for widespread dissemination. Progress reports, updates on pilot case studies and events will be shared via this website. This website will be made available to relevant stakeholders in India via the Bose Institute. Additional virtual tools will aid international dissemination via our partners which represent academia, charities, business and research institutes. Bose Institute UCL support, will engage with Brazilian media (newspapers, magazine and local television stations) and local media agencies will be invited to participate in project workshops/stakeholder consultation activities.
Regular updates of our project will be circulated to all partner institutions inviting for participation in project activities and outcomes where appropriate. This will support synergies and development of joint research at both BI and UWE. UWE and BI will disseminate key findings and influence scientists through existing postgraduate and undergraduate programmes (e.g. MSc in Biosensing Technology (University of Bristol and UWE).
Organisations
- University of the West of England (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Antananarivo (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Surgeons of England (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Collaboration)
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Bose Institute (Project Partner)
- Centrego Ltd (Project Partner)
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (Project Partner)
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (Project Partner)
- Frank Water (Project Partner)
- Institute of Life Sciences (Project Partner)
- Chelsea Technologies (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Portsmouth Aviation Ltd (Project Partner)
Publications
Bhattacharyya M
(2022)
Phthalate hydrolase: distribution, diversity and molecular evolution.
in Environmental microbiology reports
Clayton G
(2019)
Comparison of Trihalomethane Formation Using Chlorine-Based Disinfectants Within a Model System; Applications Within Point-of-Use Drinking Water Treatment
in Frontiers in Environmental Science
Clayton G
(2019)
Development of a novel off-grid drinking water production system integrating electrochemically activated solutions and ultrafiltration membranes
in Journal of Water Process Engineering
Clayton G
(2021)
The efficacy of chlorine-based disinfectants against planktonic and biofilm bacteria for decentralised point-of-use drinking water
in npj Clean Water
Clayton G E
(2021)
Going Off-Grid - The Decentralised Production of Point-of-Use Drinking Water
in Waterline Spring Edition 2021
Fox B
(2021)
Laboratory In-Situ Production of Autochthonous and Allochthonous Fluorescent Organic Matter by Freshwater Bacteria
in Microorganisms
| Description | We have developed 1) a system capable of treating fresh water that is contaminated with bacteria. This system can be implemented in a decentralised way to provide point of use water treatment. This system has undergione sucessful testing at UWE, Bristol and we are now preparing the technology for deployment to India. 2) a sesnor capable of monitoring biological contamination within freshwater systems. This sensor ca be deployed as part of a sensing network to provide real-time water quality information. This sensor has undegone testing at UWE, Bristol and also in India, alonmg the River Ganges. We are now preparing the sensor technology for deployment as part of a sesning network in India. |
| Exploitation Route | Implementation of the sensor and treatment technologies in India and around the world with the aid of our UK partners (Frank Water, Chelsea Technologies, Portsmouth Aqua and Centrego Ltd) and also with our associated partners in India to further understand the operating challenges associated with the successful implementation of these technologies. Both sensing and water treatment technolgies are now available as fully compliant and commercially available technologies. These technologies are available for use by governments, NGO's and end users to improve water quality and ultimately peoples lives. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbEb6sEEzs |
| Description | We have been working with business, NGO an academic partners to develop sensing and treatment technologies to improve water quality. This has resulted in the development of two key technologies; 1) A water Quality Sensor (Chelsea Technologies) called the V-Lux The development of this sensor technology has led to real tangiable impact.This sensor has just been used as part of a water quality monitoring program for the length of the River Ganges (involving; UWE, Bristol, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. British Gelogical Survey, University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham) A prototype of this sensor was used by the Environment Agency to detect illegal discharges by Southern Water which ultimately led to a record fine of £126m (June 2019) for Southern Water issued by Ofwat for spills of wastewater into the environment from its sewage plants and for deliberately misreporting its performance.The Environment Agency has launched a criminal investigation into this case. This sensor is now commecially available. 2) A water Treatment Technology for the production of drinking water (Portsmouth Aqua). This technology has successfully been tested within the UK by UWE, Bristol. We have successfully treated over 6 millon litrres of surface water and turned this into drinking water. The next phase of our work will see the deployment of this technology platform to India for further trials. This system is now commercially available. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Electronics,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | List of approved products for use in public water supply in the United Kingdom (DWI 56/4/1173) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This project is in partnership with a commercial/Academic and NGO entities. This work has informed basic R&D that has allowed product development to help solve issues relating to water quality. The research aims are to develop technologies to better sense water quality and also to treat contaminated water ultimately, improving human health and the environment. Our research will help our partners provide the first world's networked fluorescence sensing network for monitoring water quality in India and also to implement a water treatment platform for the production of drinking water, all using UK technologies and engineering expertise. We are able to use this knowledge and new knowledge that we are creating, to inform our postgraduate and undergraduate teaching provision (particularly in relation to Sustainable Development Goals and to targeted UG PG courses, (MSci , MRes) 2017/18 and 2018/2019 intake. A spin off of our work is also the accreditation of the use of ECAS for the disinfection of drinking water. See page 19 of the LIST OF APPROVED PRODUCTS FOR USE IN PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI 56/4/1173) |
| URL | http://www.dwi.gov.uk/drinking-water-products/approved-products/soslistcurrent.pdf |
| Description | New Sensor being used for monitoring water quality by the Environment Agency, NGO's and water companies |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The new V-Lux sensor technology is being used to monitor water quality (sewage discharge into aquatic systems, biological contamination) by the environment agency, British Geological Survey,The Rivers Trust, and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. |
| Description | Business-led innovation in response to global disruption (de minimis) COVID 19 |
| Amount | £47,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | Implementation of a Fluorescence Based Sensor for Investigating River Water Quality as a Function of Land Use |
| Amount | £155,616 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Chelsea Technologies Group |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Mitigating post-harvest loss in Madagascar through the management of the shelf life of fresh produce using solar powered electrochemically activated [ECA] technologies (BBSRC/GCRF Agri-tech Catalyst Seeding Award) |
| Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | The Manufacture of Potable and Sterile Water for Emergency Medical, Humanitarian and Healthcare Applications Using Electrochemical Activation Production Technologies |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Understanding the efficacy of antimicrobial aerosols through the development of a bacteriophage-based viral model |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Portsmouth Aviation Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Title | V-Lux Water Quaity Sensor Research Tool |
| Description | The only multi parameter fluorometer with integrated corrections for environmental interferences. VLux MiniSonde is a cost effective, multi-parameter sensor providing robust data collection for either UV or visible fluorescence monitoring. The miniature, high quality MiniSonde provides integrated corrections for multiple environmental parameters, with models suitable for monitoring: CDOM, Tryptophan and Algae. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Used by the Environment Agency to mointor for sewage pollution in rivers and coastal systems. This sensor triggered the alarm for the illegal discarge of insufficiently treated sewage into bathing waters by Southern Water. This resulted in the issuing of a £126m fine by Ofwat in June 2019. |
| URL | https://chelsea.co.uk/products/vlux-minisonde/ |
| Title | Jubilee River/River Thames water quality data set |
| Description | Telemetry data of developed in-situ deployment of the Chelsea Technologies V-Lux fluorescence-based sensor on the River Thames at Taplow, Maidenhead between July 2021 and present. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Contribution to completion of PhD thesis. Testing and development of sensor product. |
| URL | https://telemetry-data.com/open?profile=TaplowUWE1 |
| Title | Water quality of urban surface freshwater in Kolkata, India, June 2018 to December 2019 |
| Description | This dataset comprises field sensor physicochemical and optical/fluorescence measurements, as well as laboratory microbiological and chemical analysis, for urban surface water samples. Samples were collected at different locations throughout the urban area of Kolkata, with the latitude and longitude of all sample location provided within the spreadsheets. Samples/data were collected across three separate field surveys undertaken in June 2018 (file 1), March 2019 (file 2) and December 2019 (file 3). This dataset forms a case study of the water quality of three different types of urban surface freshwaters within the city of Kolkata, India. This case study was created to deploy a prototype multichannel fluorimeter and assess its ability to identify waters with a high bacterial load and biological contamination events through the use of Peak T fluorescence. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset comprises field sensor physicochemical and optical/fluorescence measurements, as well as laboratory microbiological and chemical analysis, for urban surface water samples. Samples were collected at different locations throughout the urban area of Kolkata, with the latitude and longitude of all sample location provided within the spreadsheets. Samples/data were collected across three separate field surveys undertaken in June 2018 (file 1), March 2019 (file 2) and December 2019 (file 3). This dataset forms a case study of the water quality of three different types of urban surface freshwaters within the city of Kolkata, India. This case study was created to deploy a prototype multichannel fluorimeter and assess its ability to identify waters with a high bacterial load and biological contamination events through the use of Peak T fluorescence. |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/9bc3dce7-7c2b-49dd-9b76-819267d7a352 |
| Description | GCRF Agri-Tec Madagascar |
| Organisation | University of Antananarivo |
| Country | Madagascar |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At UWE Bristol the Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB) connects academic research with industry, government and non-government organisation stakeholders through knowledge exchange and innovation. Darren Reynolds' (PI) research is interdisciplinary and holds grants from Innovate UK, Newton Bhaba, NERC and BBSRC. Research focusses on working with UK and international partners that develop and provide technological solutions in the agri-food, health and water sectors. One such technology is electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS), which Darren Reynolds, Robin Thorn and Gillian Clayton (Co-I) have over 35 years of combined experience researching and implementing in healthcare, water and food production sectors. Recent research involved the development of an antimicrobial fogging unit to prolong the shelf-life of fresh produce (Thorn et al 2017) and this approach was highlighted as one of the investable innovations for food systems by the Global Knowledge Exchange and Rockerfeller Foundation in 2017 (Reynolds was a lead contributor). The proposed team are highly experienced in working with international academic and non-governmental partners. For 5 years, Mark Steer (Co-I) has worked alongside Jean-Luc Raharison (Co-I) and Jean Freddy Ravaivoarisoa (Co-I) as a member of the Lemur Conservation Network that is a project of the Madagascar Section of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. The Lemur Conservation Network at Sadabe seeks to develop novel and innovative ways to promote the coexistence of people and wildlife in Tsinjoarivo, promoting research, education, conservation, and development, ensuring the future of ecosystem and human health. A key challenge is to transform the food system of Madagascar. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Successful project outcomes will be 1. Development and deployment and eventual demonstration of a solar powered ECA technology unit in Madagascar, coupled with proof-of-concept data demonstrating its capability to extend the shelf-life of locally grown/harvested fresh food produce. 2. This extension of fresh produce shelf life will have significant impact in enabling subsistence farmers to (1) store produce for longer reducing known periods of macro and micronutrient deficiencies (2) generate a produce surplus for local sale providing a source of income. This will increase resilience on small-scale farms, through the reduction of crop/fresh food produce spoilage [WP 3 and 4]. Short-term impacts will be tThe uptake & installation of ECA technology within Sadabe, Madagascar enabling improved food quality (reducing food-borne illnesses) and quantity (reducing spoiled produce). The long-term impact would be to enable subsistence farmers to transport and sell fresh food produce at local markets, with a reduced risk of spoilage when stored, and an extended shelf-life. Initially this will benefit subsistence farmers and communities around Sadabe, with the potential to the benefit other communities. This will enable nutritious foods to be more widely available for a greater proportion of the community and reduce the rates of malnutrition and disease. Future research opportunities building on the current technology understanding and alternative implementation have already been identified: • A follow-on round for the Agri-tech catalyst (round 10) funded by the GCRF KTN Agrifood Africa Programme (https://ktn-uk.co.uk/news/funding-available-for-uk-and-african-organisations-to-collaborate-on-agri-tech-innovation-in-africa) Utilising existing academic (UWE and University of Antanarivo), NGO (UWE and Sadabe) and technology provider (Centrego Ltd) collaborations to form a new consortia will enable UK technology providers to build a greater understanding of the requirements needed for implementing low cost and low-energy technologies in LICs/LMICs. This transfer of knowledge / technology will also aim to demonstrate the benefits of ECA technologies for maintaining the quality of fresh food produce Connecting Centrego Ltd (the ECA UK technology provider) and subsistence farmers in Madagascar through a non-government organization (Sadabe), will allow for both partners to benefit through collaborating in development of a fit-for-purpose low-cost agricultural technology platform. This will provide Centrego Ltd. with access to field trial data, and feedback around the uptake, use and effectiveness of the ECA units. Engaging with Sadabe will enable Centrego to expand access to other communities and subsistence farmers in Madagascar, and help bridge the global technology gap. A successful project is expected to work towards Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 15 through increasing community access to high quality, nutritious fresh produce. Ultimately transformation of the food systems will increase economic growth through providing the capability to sell fresh food produce directly benefitting farmers and families, by maximising crop yield. Increased efficiency reduces the need to expand farm sizes, reducing deforestation rates, decreasing the rate of soil erosion whilst maintaining fertile soil. |
| Impact | still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Ganges Monitoring |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have led an expedition to monitor the quality of the river Ganges which included the British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham. All partners collected data, all partners shared data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Water quality sampling and analysis, water quality monitoring, data collection, data analysis. |
| Impact | in process |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ganges Monitoring |
| Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have led an expedition to monitor the quality of the river Ganges which included the British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham. All partners collected data, all partners shared data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Water quality sampling and analysis, water quality monitoring, data collection, data analysis. |
| Impact | Currently in process |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ganges Monitoring |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have led an expedition to monitor the quality of the river Ganges which included the British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham. All partners collected data, all partners shared data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Water quality sampling and analysis, water quality monitoring, data collection, data analysis. |
| Impact | in process |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ganges Monitoring |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | School of Earth and Environmental Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have led an expedition to monitor the quality of the river Ganges which included the British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham. All partners collected data, all partners shared data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Water quality sampling and analysis, water quality monitoring, data collection, data analysis. |
| Impact | https://goldschmidt.info/2019/abstracts/abstractView?id=2019003672 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Redistributed Manufacturing in Healthcare |
| Organisation | Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Manufacture of Potable and Sterile Water for Emergency Medical, Humanitarian and Healthcare Applications Using Electrochemical Activation Production Technologies. UWE Bristol; academic lead and project coordinator. Will undertake laboratory and field based experimental investigations. The aim is to develop prototype ECA technology for mobile, 'on-demand' production and processing of disinfectant (sterilisation fluids), potable and sterile water. Such fluids are required in medical/ healthcare settings for wound-irrigation, cleaning/disinfecting instruments, as well as skin preparation and wound care, collectively helping to improve medical care and patient outcomes. Objectives: • To repurpose and adapt ECA technology for mobile, on-demand medical fluids • To understand the quality of medical fluids required in resource constrained settings • To assess the quality of disinfectant, potable and sterile water produced from protype ECA technology • To trial ECA prototype technology in a resource constrained environment |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh [UoE]; academic partner and translational arm of the UoE Medical School. UoE will provide expert guidance on medical fluid use and have clinical experience of working with Electrochemically Activated (ECA) products. • Centrego Ltd. [CT]; technology company with proven record of developing small-scale, low-energy ECA products (mainly for domestic/commercial settings). CT will develop/re-purpose core ECA technology for production of disinfectant (sterilisation fluids), potable and sterile water. • Portsmouth Aviation Ltd [PA]; defence engineering business with track record of integrating technology into robust engineering solutions, including within resource constrained environments. PA will integrate prototype technology provided by Centrego Ltd. for field trials. • The Royal College of Surgeons [RCS]; professional organisation and charity that seek to advance patient care through facilitating research and informing policy. The RCS will provide real-world experience and expert guidance on medical fluids types and standards required in clinical settings. • Water for People and Peace [WPP]; non-profit organisation that provide relief of poverty, deprivation and disease for populations that have inadequate access to safe drinking water. WPP will provide humanitarian context/expertise, facilitating trialling prototype unit(s) in a logistically constrained setting (refugee camp; Lesbos, Greece). |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Redistributed Manufacturing in Healthcare |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Usher Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Manufacture of Potable and Sterile Water for Emergency Medical, Humanitarian and Healthcare Applications Using Electrochemical Activation Production Technologies. UWE Bristol; academic lead and project coordinator. Will undertake laboratory and field based experimental investigations. The aim is to develop prototype ECA technology for mobile, 'on-demand' production and processing of disinfectant (sterilisation fluids), potable and sterile water. Such fluids are required in medical/ healthcare settings for wound-irrigation, cleaning/disinfecting instruments, as well as skin preparation and wound care, collectively helping to improve medical care and patient outcomes. Objectives: • To repurpose and adapt ECA technology for mobile, on-demand medical fluids • To understand the quality of medical fluids required in resource constrained settings • To assess the quality of disinfectant, potable and sterile water produced from protype ECA technology • To trial ECA prototype technology in a resource constrained environment |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh [UoE]; academic partner and translational arm of the UoE Medical School. UoE will provide expert guidance on medical fluid use and have clinical experience of working with Electrochemically Activated (ECA) products. • Centrego Ltd. [CT]; technology company with proven record of developing small-scale, low-energy ECA products (mainly for domestic/commercial settings). CT will develop/re-purpose core ECA technology for production of disinfectant (sterilisation fluids), potable and sterile water. • Portsmouth Aviation Ltd [PA]; defence engineering business with track record of integrating technology into robust engineering solutions, including within resource constrained environments. PA will integrate prototype technology provided by Centrego Ltd. for field trials. • The Royal College of Surgeons [RCS]; professional organisation and charity that seek to advance patient care through facilitating research and informing policy. The RCS will provide real-world experience and expert guidance on medical fluids types and standards required in clinical settings. • Water for People and Peace [WPP]; non-profit organisation that provide relief of poverty, deprivation and disease for populations that have inadequate access to safe drinking water. WPP will provide humanitarian context/expertise, facilitating trialling prototype unit(s) in a logistically constrained setting (refugee camp; Lesbos, Greece). |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | New Sensor |
| Description | New Fluorescent based sensor (V-Lux) for monitoring bacterial activity in freshwater systems |
| Type Of Technology | Detection Devices |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | A new tool that can be used to assess bacterial quality of fresh waters |
| URL | https://www.chelsea.co.uk/products/marine-science/fluorometers/v-lux-multi-parameter-fluorometer |
| Title | Oasis Drinking Water Treatment Unit |
| Description | The process at the heart of the system is a patented water filtration and treatment process that produces DWI and WHO standard water purity. Advanced Filtration Here the supply water can be treated for impurities in all but the microbiological load. Through a series of steps source water quality can be improved to reduce turbidity, remove Iron, Manganese, Ammonium, Nitrates, Nitrites, adjust Hardness and pH for example. This is a key step to ensure the water quality is good enough to enter the next Module. Microbiological; the Oasis Drinking Water Treatment Unit completely removes all microbiological load from the water using a combination of Ultra-filtration membranes and our unique disinfection solution which is created within the unit itself from an electrolysis process and injected into the water flow to keep the whole system clean and clear of biofilm. This in turn increases the module efficiency. This will remove such contaminants as mycobacterium, fungi, viruses, bacterial endospores, gram-positive/negative bacteria, including all pathogens currently considered high risk (i.e. MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, norovirus, H5N1 avian flu, H1N1 swine flu, HIV, polio virus and Legionella). This whole process is fully automated performing its own controlled dosing, backwashes and when appropriate enhanced cleaning with no additional cleaning products needed. |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | This system is now CE marked and is approved for sale throughout the UK and the EU. |
| URL | https://portsmouthaqua.com/how-oasis-drinking-water-treatment-works/ |
| Title | Omnis+ range - low-cost system to continuously monitor sewage, pollution and algae, delivering live water quality data straight to phones, tablets & desktops |
| Description | Most water monitors are expensive, require to be installed by engineers or operated manually, have limited data output, are inflexible and are battery or mains powered. The Omnis+ system combines Chelsea Technologies class-leading sensors with a low-cost buoy which is self-powered and can be left unattended, providing live data and notification alerts straight to PC, tablet or phone. This means the Omnis+ system can solve business challenges and address issues raised via the live data received before potential losses occur. The Omnis+ system uploads readings at regular time intervals and can be configured according to your requirements. This real-time data is represented graphically as part of your custom dashboard - allowing you to quickly compare parameters and gather information across multiple sites. Preset alerts can be triggered to keep you informed of sudden changes, extreme levels, or irregular data. Whether in the office, on site, or travelling between locations, the Omnis+ system app and online dashboard allow you to review data when it suits you. Built specifically for Android and iOS devices, as well as offering multi-browser support, the app will fit around your schedule and working routine. Any release of sewage or slurry to an aquatic environment will introduce bacteria which will then grow rapidly and multiply. These bacteria use up oxygen in the water, causing dissolved oxygen levels to drop rapidly. When dissolved oxygen levels fall rapidly, this is extremely harmful to the aquatic environment, with visible symptoms such as fish dying en-masse also regularly in the news. Because human sewage leads to Tryptophan activity, we can measure such spillages of human waste into aquatic environments with a Chelsea Technologies UviLux Tryptophan sensor, which is included in the Omnis+ sewage detection system. Our tryptophan sensor can help identify leakage from sewer pipes in river locations, and, if put together with other Chelsea sensors such as an OBA (optical brightening agents) sensor, even ultimately differentiate whether it is due to farming or human activity. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Initital sales, growth of business |
| URL | https://chelsea.co.uk/chelsea-technologies-announces-new-water-quality-alert-system-for-sewage-pollu... |
| Title | PAqua 1000D-2 Fresh Water Purifica?on System |
| Description | decentralised water treatment platform for producing drinking water |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | We have taken a concept to a minimum viable product |
| URL | http://www.portsmouthaqua.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1000D-2.pdf |
| Description | AQUA˜360 - Water for All: Emerging Issues and Innovations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event is designed to enable cross fertilisation of new ideas for the delivery of sustainable, resilient, energy efficient and smart water management to address climate change, rapid urbanisation and water pollution and secure safe and sufficient water and sanitation for all. AQUA˜360 invites contributions on the following themes and topics: Water Quality (including, but not limited to, analysis, fate and consequences of conventional and emerging contaminants in surface and groundwater, urban (green) water infrastructure water quality issues, antimicrobial resistance, remote and real time monitoring, sensors, modelling, case studies); Water Quantity (including, but not limited to, studies on urban water consumption and availability, demand supply balance, demand management approaches including water efficiency enablers, greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting); Water Treatment (lab and field scale studies on innovative treatment processes, their optimisation and modelling, energy efficient/solar desalination, synthesis and application of Nano adsorbents/materials); Wastewater Treatment (including, but not limited to, innovations into primary to tertiary biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, nutrients and energy recovery approaches, treatment facilities operation and maintenance optimisation, process modelling, and decision-making); Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability (including, but not limited to, evaluation approaches, integrated water management, systems approaches, water distribution (including intermittent water supply) and wastewater collection networks analysis, life cycle analysis, economics, policy, institutional and social aspects, transition from centralised to decentralised systems and vice versa in the developing and the developed world, and innovative sanitation options); Water Smart Cities and Climate Change Adaptation (flood and drought risk quantification and management approaches); Water for Food (efficient irrigation, water recycling and reclamation for agricultural use, and desalination of seawater and brackish water for irrigation); Aqua Net Zero (approaches to reduce greenhouse gases including carbon foot print at water utility and domestic scales, innovative strategies to reduce and recover energy from water systems); and Digital Water (application of data science, including (but not limited to) AI, deep learning, mega data, data virtualisation, data governance etc, for water management). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://iwa-network.org/events/aqua%E2%89%88360-water-for-all-emerging-issues-and-innovations/ |
| Description | Autumn Research Symposium, Abisko Scientific Research Station Sweden |
| 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 | WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER START OF SYMPOSIUM 17.00-17.15 - Introduction, Jan Karlsson 17.15-17.45 - Environmental communication in the online era - lessons from 20 years in journalism. Andy Ridgway, Senior Lecturer in Science Communications, University of the West of England 17.45-18.15 - Speed talks (elevator talk - two minutes and one PowerPoint slide each) Sources of winter CO2 fluxes. Josefine Walz Did trees grow during the early Holocene on Mount Njullá? Christian Bigler Forty years of global phenological change. Ellen Esch - postponed to 2nd day Evaluating recent C accumulation in a changing arctic climate: rapid ecosystem responses. Bror Holmgren Winter ecology: do plants stay active throughout the long cold season? Niki Leblans Role of aquatic networks in the landscape C cycle. Dominic Vachon How do airborne lasers help to understand lakes in the arctic. Cristian Gudasz The vole and lemming year in Abisko as seen from a drone. Matthias Siewert Metabolic regimes of Arctic streams and rivers. Ryan Sponseller 18.15-19.00- Welcome mixer & tundra bar (ANS dining room) 19.00- Dinner (ANS dining room) THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 07.00-08.00 - Breakfast (ANS dining room) BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES & ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS 08.15-08.45 - Arctic Soil Biogeochemistry. Philip Wookey, Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling 08.45-09.00 - Laboratory modelling of the microbial mediation of organic matter processing in freshwater systems. Eva Perrin, PhD Student, University of the West of England 09.00-09.15 - Ambient reducing capacity of dissolve organic matter as determined by mercury (II) abiotic reduction: influences of different DOM origins in Nordic lakes from Arctic Circle to sub-circle. Tao Jiang, Researcher, SLU Umeå/Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, China 09.15-09.30 - Silencing a key flavonoid biosynthetic enzyme in Betula pendula decreases foliar condensed tannins, with consequences for leaf-feeding Epirrita autumnata larvae. Paula Thitz, PhD Student, University of Eastern Finland 09.30-10.00 Coffee break (ANS dining room) and fresh air 10.00-10.30 - Methane mitigation by the lake microbiome. Ruth K. Varner, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire 10.30-10.45 - Light vs. nutrient effects of DOM on benthic production in Boreal and Arctic lakes. Megan Fork, Post Doctoral Researcher, CIRC, Umeå University 10.45-11.00 - Seston fatty acid composition in two Swedish mountain regions with different nutrient limitation regimes. Ann-Kristin Bergström, Professor, CIRC, Umeå University 11.00-11.15 - Diel patterns of CO2 in streams: what biogeochemical processes can we derive? Gerard Rocher-Ros, Researcher, CIRC, Umeå University 11.15-11.30 - Community coalescence and its implications for permafrost systems. Sylvain Monteux, Post Doctoral Research, Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 11.30-11.45 - Discussion 12.00-13.00 - Lunch (ANS dining room) 13.30-16.30 - Excursion of Stordalen Mire SPECIAL EVENING 17.30-18.15 - Evening presentation of climate fiction by artist Olav Westphalen 18.15-19.00 - Tundra bar (ANS dining room) 19.00 - Dinner (ANS dining room) FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 07.00-08.00 - Breakfast (ANS dining room) NEW FRONTIERS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH 08.15-08.45 - Crossing paths with interdisciplinary research - A personal perspective. Darren Reynolds, Professor in Health and Environment, University of the West of England 08.45-09.00 - Plans for a mid-range remote-sensing GHG emission flux measurement campaign in Abisko. Uwe Raffalski, Associate professor, Swedish Institute of Space Physics 09.00-09.15 - Can we use archived air filters to study temporal dynamics and interactions between organisms in a subarctic ecosystem? Edvin Karlsson, Post Doctoral Research, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University 09.15-09.30 - The downwind effect of evaporation changes in the Arctic. Obbe Tuinenburg, Assistant Professor, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, University of Utrecht 09.30-09.50 - Expert Assessment on environmental change in the Torneträsk catchment. Didac Pascual, PhD Student, Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science. Lund University 09.50-10.00 - Discussion and end of symposium 10.00-10.30 - Coffee break (ANS dining room) 10.30-11.00 - Guided tour ANS (optional). Keith Larson |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.arcticcirc.net/arcticnews/2019/6/5/registration-open-autumn-science-symposium-11-to-13-s... |
| Description | Business Engagment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Recycling at Perseverance Works has improved by 7% since Professor Darren Reynolds and Dr Gillian Clayton from the Centre of Research in Biosciences at the University of the West of England confirmed that our water is just as high quality as bottled water. Three taps were used for the analysis, in Units 18, 19 and 21. The water hardness, microbiological, chemical and metallic quality of the water were analysed by by an independent accredited drinking water laboratory: Wessex Water, in Bristol. Results confirmed that our tap water is comparable in quality to samples provided by leading bottled water brands Evian and Smartwater! In 2019, our recycling saved 180 trees, 37,780 kg of CO2 and provided 23 meals for vulnerable people. Thanks to your efforts, we were given a Recycling Award from our recycling company Paper Round. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.perseveranceworks.co.uk/2020/03/pw-recycling-up-by-7/ |
| Description | Challenges for fresh water systems: sensors and treatment technologies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | One day workshop at the BOSE Institute Kolkata, India. Workshop addressed academics, NGO's and policymakers to discuss and explore some of the challenges that face India's freshwater systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.jcbose.ac.in/conferences |
| Description | Connecting the Culm - Giving Our Rivers a Voice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This short, snappy film by Professor Darren Reynolds from the University of the West of England, Bristol talks about the importance of freshwaters, their role in the carbon cycle and new ways to monitor their health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://connectingtheculm.com/library/ |
| Description | European Geophysical Union |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Advancing understanding of hydrochemical and ecological processes controlling fate of natural organic matter, nutrients and pollutants in freshwater and engineered systems using state-of-the-art methods. The last two decades have brought a major technological advancement in collection of water quality and biogeochemical data in rivers, lakes and engineered systems using automated in situ wet-chemistry analysers, optical sensors and lab-on-a-chip instruments. Furthermore, our ability to characterise different fractions of natural organic matter has increased thanks to a range of analytical methods e.g. fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and chromatography combined with new data mining tools (Self-organising maps, PARAFAC analysis). Matching the water quality measurement interval with the timescales of hydrological responses (from minutes to hours) led to discovery of new hydrochemical and biogeochemical patterns in streams along with improved understanding of the underlying processes e.g. concentration-discharge hysteresis and diurnal cycling. We are now at the frontier of further advancing this understanding for a wide range of solutes and particulates in streams, rivers and lakes using rapidly developing technology of wet-chemistry analysers, optical sensors and lab-on-the-chip instruments. We need to understand better how organic matter links with other biogeochemical cycles (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen, sulphur and iron) and processes in aquatic systems. In particular there is a growing need to monitor the advances in application of novel organic matter characterisation tools, understanding the origins, pathways, transformations and environmental fate of organic matter in aquatic environments and identification of robust numerical and statistical tools for data processing and modelling. This is an exciting opportunity to gain new knowledge of hydrochemical and ecological functioning of freshwater and engineered systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/session/32089 |
| Description | Giving Our Rivers a Voice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our rivers are vital for us and our wildlife, but they are under huge amounts of pressure. In this fascinating film, we'll be meeting Darren and Eva, researchers from the University of the West of England, who are championing the importance of rivers and doing critical work to measure the health of our rivers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYNWaYNNlE |
| Description | Indo-UK workshop on monitoring and analysis strategies for anthropogenic pollutants in environmental and waste waters |
| 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 | Indo-UK workshop on monitoring and analysis strategies for anthropogenic pollutants in environmental and waste waters. Disciplines: Environmental Science; Environmental Chemistry; Analytical Chemistry; Water Quality Regulation and Monitoring. Venue: Royal Orchid Convention Centre, Bangalore, India Under the Researcher Links scheme offered within the Newton Fund, the British Council, in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, will be holding a four day workshop on the above theme at the Royal Orchid Convention Centre, Bangalore, India on 12-15 November 2018. The British Council Researchers Links' programme provides opportunities for early career researchers (ECRs) from the UK and internationally to interact, learn from each other and explore opportunities for building long-lasting research collaborations. During the workshop, ECRs have the opportunity to present their research in the form of a poster presentation and discuss it with established researchers and other ECRs. One of the main focuses of the workshop is establishing and building on links for future collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.hutton.ac.uk/events/indo-uk-workshop-monitoring-and-analysis-strategies-anthropogenic-po... |
| Description | Industry/Policy Maker Water Sensing Conference (London) |
| 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 | Professor Reynolds chaired this conference (Institute for Mechanical Engineers) Chelsea Technologies is pleased to announce the introduction of a new conference -Tryptophan Fluorescence 2020 on the 23rd January 2020. The conference offers the opportunity for practitioners and aquatic scientists to learn about the latest advancements in the exciting field of Tryptophan. Following 50 years of research on aquatic fluorescing organic matter in ground, surface and wastewater systems, attention turned to Tryptophan, a new and promising approach to water quality monitoring in aquatic systems. While initial research over a decade ago focussed on correlating Tryptophan Fluorescence to other water quality markers, such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), or as an indicator of sewage/faecal contamination in waterways, it is now increasingly being recognised as a valuable water quality parameter in its own right. Recent research demonstrates that Tryptophan Fluorescence correlates to bacterial activity prior to cell growth. The Tryptophan conference will feature talks from academic pioneers, cutting-edge researchers and leading industrialists, who together have driven world leading science and innovation that could lead to a paradigm shift in the way we monitor our aquatic systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://chelsea.co.uk/tryptophan-fluorescence-2020/ |
| Description | Innovation Workshop |
| 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 | The innovation workshop, offers the opportunity for attendees to have detailed conversations with the presenters and for the presenter to gain feedback and insight from the audience. This will be through focused round table discussions and breakout groups. These discussions could lead to future collaborations to develop or exploit new technologies with an end user. This workshop aims to address challenges related to water sensors as identified by the water industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.swig.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Innovation-workshop-v9.pdf |
| Description | Interntional Workshop (Brazil) - Invited Keynote talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The overall aim of the project is to develop a sustainable and affordable technology model to provide recovery of nutrients, water and energy from waste streams for the development of organic farming and rural communities. The specific objectives of the project are: - Identify the traditional practices of organic agriculture, including the reuse of water, energy use, and the management of the natural resources, such as solar irradiation and manure as soil conditioners and fertilizers; - Evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of the water-waste-energy-food (WWEF) system model to recovery of nutrients, energy and water from farming waste streams; - Increase the capacity of small farmers and cooperatives, in particular women and youth, to develop sustainable technologies for organic farming; - Support policy and appropriate regulatory instruments to enhance rural development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://wwef-nexus.org/ |
| Description | National Bioblitz Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A BioBlitz is a 24-hour event in which teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=899597370670427 |
| Description | School Visit (Bristol) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Primamry School (Bristol) visit for science week - The importance of water to us all |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Schools Visit (Bristol) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Primamry School visit for science week - The importance of water to us all |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Sensors for Water Interest Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The workshop will provide an update on the drivers coming through from UK environmental monitoring policy, and how sensor and communications technologies are addressing these challenging requirements for permanent, semi-permanent and portable monitoring systems, both in the sensing and communications hardware and data delivery to the client. The workshop will include presentations from organisations implementing policy, monitoring system users and providers, and academic presentations on novel remote monitoring systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.swig.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Remote-environmental-monitoring-draft-lflt-v8.pdf |
| Description | The UK Disinfection Forum (WRc Swindon) |
| 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 | All UK water companies hold regular meetings for the disinfection of drinking water via a technical committee. I was invited to talk about our decentralised technoloical approach to drinking water production. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Tryptophan Fluorescence 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | When it comes to water monitoring, more of the same is not an option. It is time to do things differently. Tryptophan 2020 explored how UK industry, academia and NGOs are working together to develop and implement new technologies for monitoring the quality of our waters. This fantastic complimentary event, which was held at 'The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), brought together people from across science and industry to discuss the latest advancements in Tryptophan, a new and promising approach to water quality monitoring in aquatic systems. With over 40 attendees, the event heard talks ranging from monitoring incident response to the ecological status of rivers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://chelsea.co.uk/tryptophan-fluorescence-2020-hosted-by-chelsea-technologies/ |