Mains water leakage: implications for phosphorus source apportionment and policy responses in catchments
Gooddy, Daren C.; Ascott, Matthew J.; Lapworth, Dan J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7838-7960; Ward, Robert S.; Jarvie, Helen P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4984-1607; Bowes, Mike J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934; Tipping, Edward ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-6512; Dils, Rachael; Surridge, Ben W.J.. 2017 Mains water leakage: implications for phosphorus source apportionment and policy responses in catchments. Science of the Total Environment, 579. 702-708. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.038
Before downloading, please read NORA policies.Preview |
Text (Open Access Paper)
Gooddy mains water leakage.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (736kB) | Preview |
Abstract/Summary
Effective strategies to reduce phosphorus (P)-enrichment of aquatic ecosystems require accurate quantification of the absolute and relative importance of individual sources of P. In this paper, we quantify the potential significance of a source of P that has been neglected to date. Phosphate dosing of raw water supplies to reduce lead and copper concentrations in drinking water is a common practice globally. However, mains water leakage (MWL) potentially leads to a direct input of P into the environment, bypassing wastewater treatment. We develop a new approach to estimate the spatial distribution and time-variant flux of MWL-P, demonstrating this approach for a 30-year period within the exemplar of the River Thames catchment in the UK. Our analyses suggest that MWL-P could be equivalent to up to c.24% of the P load entering the River Thames from sewage treatment works and up to c.16% of the riverine P load derived from agricultural non-point sources. We consider a range of policy responses that could reduce MWL-P loads to the environment, including incorporating the environmental damage costs associated with P in setting targets for MWL reduction, alongside inclusion of MWL-P within catchment-wide P permits.
Item Type: | Publication - Article |
---|---|
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.038 |
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Rees (from October 2014) Shore |
ISSN: | 0048-9697 |
Additional Keywords: | GroundwaterBGS, groundwater, phosphate, eutrophication, mains water leakage, health, policy, Point source pollution, Surface water interaction |
NORA Subject Terms: | Ecology and Environment Hydrology |
Date made live: | 07 Feb 2017 09:59 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516134 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |
Document Downloads
Downloads for past 30 days
Downloads per month over past year