Monitoring, Modelling And Mitigating Pollution Impacts In A Changing World: Science And Tools For Tomorrow's Rivers
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Biological and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
For centuries, human activities have impacted our rivers by shifting the sources and combinations of physical, biological and chemical drivers and pressures. However, our understanding of their impact on ecosystems has been limited by viewing each in isolation and not considering their combined effects. Significant reductions in some regulated pollutants (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) have been achieved in recent decades. However, even with these improvements, we are witnessing declining water quality of our rivers, and the resulting loss of freshwater species and biota. The picture that we see is made evermore complex by the increasing numbers of different types of emerging contaminants of concern (e.g. pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs, micro plastics etc.). This means that our freshwater species are being challenged by a bewildering combination of pollutant cocktails (mixtures) whose effects are poorly understood. At the same time, climate-change driven shifts in water quantity (more frequent floods, longer periods of low flow) and warming waters are expected not only to be influencing the function, physiology, abundance and biological timings of freshwater ecological communities directly, but also the delivery and potential toxicity of these cocktails respectively. It is not simply the water pathway that we need to consider, but also the re-mobilisation of contaminants and the changing patterns of exposure that potentially magnify the effects on biota (i.e. organism sensitivity). Our wastewater systems and combined sewer overflows transport these emerging pollutants from our cities and towns into our freshwater environment. Increasing urbanisation and changes in rainfall intensity and its seasonality, different catchment processes all have the potential to increase inputs of these emerging contaminants to the environment and freshwater species that live there.
Substantial knowledge gaps remain around the effects of hydro-climatic and land use changes in combination with the different mixtures of chemicals on freshwater species. Our research will address these gaps by embracing the digital revolution through innovative technologies and transformative data analytics to deliver a step change in our knowledge and understanding. Our approach has three strands. The first will turn a spotlight on a typical catchment encompassing rural to urban land uses through rigorous investigations that will deliver high temporal resolution data. This will provide new understanding of acute/event-based impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Secondly, we will use national scale datasets and cutting edge data analytics tools to investigate the impacts of longer-term exposure to pollutant cocktails across the UK on water quality and ecosystem health. This will provide new understanding of chronic/long term impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Thirdly, we will integrate our new evidence base and understanding into a risk-based probabilistic model. The model will allow the exploration of the relationships between environmental change, declining river quality, multiple pollutants and ecosystem impacts. Our research will develop the evidence base to understand changing pollutant sources, delivery pathways and the environmental tolerances and boundaries within which organisms can thrive and flourish (i.e. the ecosystem safe space).
Together, MOT4Rivers will inform priorities for policy, regulation and investment to design cost effective programmes of measures to promote and enhance sustainable freshwater ecosystems under a changing climate.
Substantial knowledge gaps remain around the effects of hydro-climatic and land use changes in combination with the different mixtures of chemicals on freshwater species. Our research will address these gaps by embracing the digital revolution through innovative technologies and transformative data analytics to deliver a step change in our knowledge and understanding. Our approach has three strands. The first will turn a spotlight on a typical catchment encompassing rural to urban land uses through rigorous investigations that will deliver high temporal resolution data. This will provide new understanding of acute/event-based impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Secondly, we will use national scale datasets and cutting edge data analytics tools to investigate the impacts of longer-term exposure to pollutant cocktails across the UK on water quality and ecosystem health. This will provide new understanding of chronic/long term impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Thirdly, we will integrate our new evidence base and understanding into a risk-based probabilistic model. The model will allow the exploration of the relationships between environmental change, declining river quality, multiple pollutants and ecosystem impacts. Our research will develop the evidence base to understand changing pollutant sources, delivery pathways and the environmental tolerances and boundaries within which organisms can thrive and flourish (i.e. the ecosystem safe space).
Together, MOT4Rivers will inform priorities for policy, regulation and investment to design cost effective programmes of measures to promote and enhance sustainable freshwater ecosystems under a changing climate.
Organisations
- University of Stirling (Lead Research Organisation)
- Joint Nature Conservancy Council (Collaboration)
- SouthWestSensor Ltd (Collaboration)
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Collaboration)
- Scottish Water (United Kingdom) (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- UK Water Industry Research (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- UK Water Partnership (Project Partner)
- NHS Highland (Project Partner)
- Scottish Government (Project Partner)
- The Alan Turing Institute (Project Partner)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Project Partner)
- Lightwater Sensors (Project Partner)
- British Water (Project Partner)
- Southwest Sensors Ltd (Project Partner)
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Project Partner)
Publications

Olin B
(2024)
River Flashiness in Great Britain: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis
in Atmosphere
Description | EPSRC IAA funding |
Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | University PhD scholarship |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2023 |
End | 09/2027 |
Description | DEFRA |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Development of opportunities to test ideas |
Collaborator Contribution | Steering Committee Advice and support |
Impact | Collaboration, advice and opportunities |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | DEFRA |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Development of opportunities to test ideas |
Collaborator Contribution | Steering Committee Advice and support |
Impact | Collaboration, advice and opportunities |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | JNCC |
Organisation | Joint Nature Conservancy Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Discussion of opportunities, capability demonstrations |
Collaborator Contribution | Steering Committee |
Impact | Partnership building |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | SEPA |
Organisation | Scottish Environment Protection Agency |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Sharing data and discussion on results and implications University of Stirling and SEPA have a Sustainable Growth Agreement |
Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the Steering Committee Data Sharing |
Impact | None yet directly from the project |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Scottish Water |
Organisation | Scottish Water |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | 1) Hydro Nation Chair Programme - £3.5 million R&I programme funded by Scottish Water to support SW to deliver net zero 2) MOT4Rivers provides key intelligence on impact of complex pollutants and interactions with climate extremes on river ecosystem health, and identify key mitigation measures that can be implemented |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding Support for Sensor Flow Trough Systems (£185,000) Match funding for PhD studentship (£35,000) Access to R&I team to support project Secondment from Scottish Water to support data sharing, visualisation between SW and MOT4Rivers Attendance and support at Steering Committee Data Sharing |
Impact | Growing the partnership |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Scottish Water |
Organisation | Scottish Water |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | 1) Hydro Nation Chair Programme - £3.5 million R&I programme funded by Scottish Water to support SW to deliver net zero 2) MOT4Rivers provides key intelligence on impact of complex pollutants and interactions with climate extremes on river ecosystem health, and identify key mitigation measures that can be implemented |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding Support for Sensor Flow Trough Systems (£185,000) Match funding for PhD studentship (£35,000) Access to R&I team to support project Secondment from Scottish Water to support data sharing, visualisation between SW and MOT4Rivers Attendance and support at Steering Committee Data Sharing |
Impact | Growing the partnership |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | SouthWestSensors ltd |
Organisation | SouthWestSensor Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Validation of sensor equipment |
Collaborator Contribution | provision of sensors for the project contribution and advice to the project |
Impact | partnership building |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | UKWIR |
Organisation | UK Water Industry Research Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Attendance at Steering Committee meetings |
Collaborator Contribution | Data sharing - CIP data Attendance at Steering committee Funding towards a PhD studentship |
Impact | Partnership building |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Key Note 30th Anniversary of GeoEcoMar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | KeyNote at the 30th Anniversary of Romania's Institute for Marine Research - including the Danube |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://black-sea-maritime-agenda.ec.europa.eu/geoecomar-international-conference-2023-celebrating-3... |
Description | Mott MacDonald |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | one hour presentation on the Hydro Nation Chair, Forth-ERA, including MOT4Rivers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | NERC Freshwater Quality programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation as part of the NERC Freshwater Quality programme: MOT4Rivers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://water.leeds.ac.uk/events/ |
Description | Presentation to Contain and Anglian Water |
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 | Presentation on Hydro Nation Chair and Forth-ERA Digital Observatory, including MOT4Rivers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | The International Environmetrics Society conference, Peterborough Canada |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | for this annual conference, I organised a session with colleagues on environmental digital twins, I gave the opening lecture |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | invited lecture at University of madrid joint with the Royal spanish mathematical society |
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 | A digital earth - contributing to delivering net zero, nature plus and a sustainable world was the title of my lecture to this audience, as part of an industry engagement event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | invited presentation at world water day 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave an invited talk that presented the challenges facing digital water "digital environment for water resources" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | the international association of hydrogeologists Ineson event, London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Digital earth systems: drawing intelligence from disparate data streams and models was my talk, intended to challenge the audience concerning preparedness for the increasing volumes of data. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |