Innovative new techniques developed by APEM are being used to tackle fine sediment pollution in rivers, says the company’s head of hydro-ecology.
Dr David Bradley and Dr Peter Stone recently presented at a British Hydrological Society conference that was the first in the UK to address the issue of quantifying, mitigating and managing fine sediment pollution in rivers.
Speaking on what was called “hydro-ecology and the fine sediment conundrum”, Dr Bradley said it was important to use a weight-of-evidence approach when assessing the relative impacts of water resource activities and excessive inputs of fine sediments on river ecology.
He described how APEM is using innovative techniques to support water company abstraction investigations and guide appropriate investment in environmental improvement measures.
One of the techniques that APEM has pioneered is the use of satellite imagery and high resolution aerial imagery to identify sources of pollution by fine sediments across whole river catchments.
The company’s catchment management lead, Dr Peter Stone, explained how these tools are ideal for surveying large areas and can provide the field-scale resolution needed to support practical work on the ground.
Dr Bradley said:
Understanding the degree to which river ecology is impacted by pollution from the landscape relative to abstraction by water companies is crucial before investment can be justified that will make real environmental improvements.
“The conference was extremely stimulating and by bringing together the key researchers and practitioners in the field it has made a real contribution.
A special issue of Rivers Research and Applications will be produced in 2017 with peer-reviewed articles from the conference.
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