Forty-year trends in the flux and concentration of phosphorus in British rivers

Civan, Aylin; Worrall, Fred; Jarvie, Helen P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4984-1607; Howden, Nicholas J.K.; Burt, Tim P.. 2018 Forty-year trends in the flux and concentration of phosphorus in British rivers. Journal of Hydrology, 558. 314-327. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046

Abstract/Summary

Given the importance of phosphorus (P) in the eutrophication of natural waters, this study considered the long-term time series of total phosphorus (TP) and total reactive phosphorus (TRP) in British rivers from 1974 to 2012. The approach included not only trend analysis of fluxes and concentrations but also change point analysis. TP and TRP concentrations and fluxes in British rivers have declined since the mid-1980s. Over the last decade of the record the majority of individual sites did show significant downward trends in TP and TRP concentrations but, in 28% of cases for TRP concentration and 14% of cases for TP concentration, the decadal trend was a significant increase. Out of 230 sites, 136 showed a significant step decrease in TRP concentration; no sites showed a significant step increase. The modal year for the step changes for both TRP concentration and flux was 1997. Step changes are likely associated with improvements made at sewage treatment works to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The decrease in TRP concentration due to the step change were in the range of 0.68% and 89% with a geometric mean of 22%, with the rest of the decrease accounted by long-term, persistent downward trend.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0022-1694
Additional Keywords:	total reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus, change point analysis, sewage treatment
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Hydrology
Date made live:	20 Feb 2018 11:55 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519293

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.046

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0022-1694

Additional Keywords:

total reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus, change point analysis, sewage treatment

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Hydrology