Caroline Riley Partnership Manager Healthy Waterways Trust Diffuse Urban Pollution: Evidence-based approach to catchment management Caroline Riley Partnership Manager Healthy Waterways Trust

The River Mersey

The Salmon returned

The River Mersey But… still more to do

The Rivers Trust for the Mersey Catchment is The Rivers Trust for the Mersey Catchment

The Micker Brook

The Micker Brook River Mersey One waterbody In the Upper Mersey catchment Micker Brook flows into the River Mersey River Mersey Micker Brook

The Micker Brook Failing Water Framework Directive (WFD) Moderate Status Failing Element Pressure Reason for Failure Invertebrates Morphology Urbanisation Ammonia Intermittent sewage discharge BOD Mitigation Measures Unknown

The Micker Brook Delivering evidence-based pilot project To address Diffuse Urban Pollution issues Funded by United Utilities Catchment Wise Innovative approach Engaging the public locally Targeting issues found during a river survey

Partners

River survey Phase 1: Desk-top study Phase 2: Primary ground survey Phase 3: Wet weather sampling survey Phase 4: Data analysis – report findings Phase 5: Engagement

Prepare Desktop study Gather knowledge Prioritise Understand waterbody Plan and prepare team Arrange land access Logistics / H&S 12

Primary Ground Survey Waterbody-wide scale Target identified reaches Micker is Brook 21km 13

Identify points For further investigation in wet weather conditions…

Wet weather sampling

Wet weather sampling Analysed for: Nitrogen Ammonia Lead Copper Phosphate Silicate Mercury Zinc Nickel Lead Copper Chromium Cadmium Aluminium Arsenic Chloride

Wet weather sampling Also: Temperature Conductivity pH

Data collected Sources Types Severity  

Findings Urban run-off

Findings Farm waste Urban farm

Findings Possible misconnection Flagged up with United Utilities Engaged locally… Raw sewage

Local Residents Presented to a residents group near a suspected misconnection

In the Library Engaging the public in Cheadle Library on misconnections surface water flooding Working with Stockport council on surface water flooding Using a model to help demonstrate.

University of the 3rd Age Engaging with U3A on surface water issues and misconnections.

Engaging the public

Next Steps In Micker Brook Follow up investigations More public engagement opportunities In Mersey Basin Needs roll out to other urban waterbodies Nationally Training other catchment hosts in this technique

Future Less of this … and more of this

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