Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/J017116/1
[WATER] Securing resilient public water supply from groundwater resources at transient risk from uncertain DNAPL chlorinated solvent contamination
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr M Rivett, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- RATIONALE: Water company public-supply wells in urbanised catchments are often at risk from uncertain, transient and long-term contamination from third-party sites contaminated with DNAPL (dense non-aqueous phase liquid) chlorinated solvent sources. Despite potential contamination, use of urban groundwater has become increasingly attractive to water companies. A water company goal may not necessarily be to secure the ideal of pristine uncontaminated urban water, but to reduce the likelihood and scale of treatment required. Identification of a supply well's risk to solvent deterioration and factoring that into multi-million pound decision-making processes on new site location, treatment needs or well abandonment is key alongside all other considerations. Such issues are of concern to our case partners Severn Trent Water (STW) and, the Environment Agency (EA) who primarily have regulatory interests, eg Water Framework Directive (WFD) compliance. Our university collaboration of Birmingham (Rivett) and Sheffield (Lerner) with the above partners linked to the University of Arizona (Brusseau) has significant complementary expertise to contribute to the goal of Ensuring water resource security highlighted under this NERC call Water priority. GOAL & FOUNDATION: The proposed research will substantially contribute to a water industry goal of securing resilient public water supply from groundwater resources at transient risk from uncertain DNAPL chlorinated solvent contamination. The work is underpinned by: a decade of development and proven application of our BOS (Borehole Optimisation System) model tool; (ii) academic and case partner expert knowledge on the Midlands sandstone aquifers (Birmingham, Nottingham and Coventry) where the research will be based and where our case partners have relevant live issues to manage that will benefit from the research. AIMS & APPROACH: Our approach and research aims are: (1) To develop reverse (supply well centred) probabilistic riskbased management modelling tools (enhanced BOS model) that may robustly predict and manage transient water-quality risks and associated uncertainties posed by DNAPL contaminants. (2) To better understand the nature and uncertainty of time-variant interactions between supply wells and surrounding DNAPL sources and to develop their effective incorporation to modelling tools (BOS). Key transient processes are the slowly declining DNAPL source-term (drawing on the U. Arizona link) and varying flow regimes. (3) To undertake short/long-term, variable-rate abstraction concentration-time series sampling tests primarily at STW supply wells in order to validate the developed BOS modelling tool (particularly its transient capabilities) using both archive data and the new more targeted datasets. BENEFITS: The research yields water industry/consumer benefits. These include reduced costs due to more confident resource management decision making, including: water treatment or well abandonment, treatment needs, optimisation of well location and abstraction strategy, targeted influence on polluters. It will inform the EA in addressing regulatory requirements of WFD, eg Article 7 via a recommendations report. Key deliverables will be: the enhanced BOS software which can be used in other cities and for other pollutants; high impact journal papers based on each aim to disseminate the science; knowledge transfer and outputs more relevant for the practitioner community, including applied journal paper(s), EA Science Summary and a CL:AIRE Research Bulletin and linked website dissemination. TRAINING: The student will receive excellent training from the project that involves five highly regarded institutions: three universities including University of Arizona expertise to draw on relevant North American research; STW - a leading international water company; and, the EA who will provide staff at National (more policy) and Regional (more technical - scientific) levels.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/J017116/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £67,596
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £13,812 | £48,285 | £5,500 |
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