This document discusses urban diffuse pollution from various sources such as road runoff containing oils, heavy metals from vehicle parts, and other toxic chemicals. It also mentions plumbing misconnections as a source of pathogens, nutrients, and detergents entering waterways. The document proposes investigating pollution sources through citizen science, catchment walkovers, and water quality testing. It advocates working with local partners on raising awareness, enforcement, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) projects like the Salmons Brook Healthy River Challenge to tackle urban diffuse pollution at its sources.

1. Urban Diffuse Pollution
Theo Thomas, Thames21
theo.thomas@thames21.org.uk

2. Urban Diffuse Pollution
Widespread, day to day
pollution
Catastrophic results – July
2013
Diffuse pollution significant factor
in the number of rivers failing WFD

3. Stormwater run off
Run off from roads, industrial,
parks, gardens, golf courses
On many tributaries vehicle use
is a greater contributor of
pollutants than industrial sites
or sewage treatment works
Oils – leaking engines
Heavy metals – copper from
brake pads & engine parts, lead
from bearings and tyres, zinc
from tyres
Other toxic chemicals – eg.
fertilisers on golf courses

4. Plumbing misconnections
So widespread could be considered diffuse
Pathogens
Nutrients
Detergents
Pharmaceuticals/cosmetics

5. Investigating pollution
• Citizen Science
• Locating polluting outfalls
from roads
• Catchment Walkovers
• Informal outfall spotting
• Best source of information
• Reporting pollution incidents

6. Further investigation
• University partnerships
• National Laboratory Service
• Other commercial laboratories
(ensure accredited by UKAS)
• Local Authority Environmental
Health Department

7. SW drainage maps
From local authority or water company

8. Partnerships
• Local authorities
Highways Dept
Planners
Building Control
Environmental Health
Flood Engineer
Comms Team
Parks Dept
Biodiversity Officer
• EA
• Water company
• Highways agencies
• Businesses
• Residents

9. Solutions
• Awareness raising
Public and authorities
• Enforcement
• SuDS

10. Salmons Brook Healthy River
Challenge
• Catchment Restoration Fund project
• Very few urban diffuse pollution
projects
• Creation of SuDS to tackle urban
diffuse pollution in Salmons Brook
Catchment
• Taking a holistic approach

11. Determine a need – The A10
Catchment walkovers
Local reports
Local Authority Officers
Water quality testing

12. Next steps…….
• Stormwater
drainage
maps
• Topographical
survey to
determine
feasibility
• Locate site

13. Next steps…….
• Liaise with partners
• Community engagement:
Inform – regularly!
Raise awareness
Dispel concerns
Consult?
Transparency
Volunteers to help with SuDS creation/maintenance
• Design SuDS – consultant
• Ecology survey
• Permissions

14. Case study – A10

15. Current challenges
• Identifying further funding
• Further water quality testing – access and sediments
• Liaising with partners:
TW, TfL, LBE
• Concurrent works
• Timescales
• Beasties!

16. SuDS – Idea to installation
• Where are your major roads or roads that drain to your river?
• Do you know of any rivers where problems have been observed?
• What kind of problems do you think there are?
• How would you determine what the problem is?
• Who do you need to involve?
• How would you secure the involvement of those you have
identified?
• Road run-off solutions?
• Misconnection solutions?
• Sediment solutions?
• Other problems?
• Is there space for SuDS?

17. • Sources –
Local Authority?
Highways
Flood management
Environment Agency/Defra?
Businesses?
• How would you make the case? What are the
drivers?
• Any planned schemes you can become a part of?
Funding

18. Future support
• Available to give guidance
(inc. misconnections campaigns)
• Join our SBHRC or Love the Lea mailing list
• Documents on RT forums
• Build a network of RT members driving SuDS in UK
• theo.thomas@thames21.org.uk

19. Evidence –
Lamb Drove, Cambourne, Cambridgeshire County Council
http://www.susdrain.org/case-
studies/case_studies/lamb_drove_residential_suds_scheme_cambourne.html
(Google search - Cambourne Lamb Drove SuDS
Heavy metals –
“We observed the greatest effects on several species of heptageniid mayflies
(Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae), which were highly sensitive to heavy metals
and were reduced by >75% at moderately polluted stations.”
HEAVY METALS STRUCTURE BENTHIC COMMUNITIES IN COLORADO MOUNTAIN
STREAMS
William H. Clements , Daren M. Carlisle , James M. Lazorchak and Philip C.
Johnson. Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University.
2000.
“Early developmental stages of fish are particularly sensitive to water pollution.
Heavy metals may affect various developmental processes during the embryonic
period, which results in a reduction of offspring quantity and quality.”
The effects of heavy metals on embryonic development of fish. Barbara Jezierska,
Katarzyna Lugowska, Malgorzata Witeska. Department of Animal Physiology,
University of Podlasie, Prusa 12, 08110, Siedlce, Poland 2009.