Managing the risks associated with Dissolved Organic Matter
The UK derives a substantial proportion of its drinking water from upland catchments. Waters draining these areas are often coloured due to the presence of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM), derived from the decomposition of plant material and soil organic matter. This causes problems for the water industry. Our scientists carry out local to national scale assessments of soil condition, and test out innovative management practices that can maintain and restore our soils and peats, thus helping protect water resources.
Case study: Working with Scottish Water to deal with Dissolved Organic Matter
A team of water and catchment scientists, led by UKCEH, have delivered the FREEDOM project, funded by NERC and Scottish Water. Over 2018, the team worked to establish the main drivers of changes in DOM in Scottish Water’s drinking water sources, and the physical and biological processes that affect DOM levels within reservoirs.
The resulting knowledge fed into a tool to equip catchment managers, plant operators and strategic planners with a better understanding of where, and by how much, DOM concentrations are likely to change in future in order to inform future management decisions.
Case study: Catchment management for water quality
Our scientists collaborated to develop a Catchment Management Modelling Platform (CaMMP). They explored integrated modelling approaches to deliver holistic solutions to inform policy development and implementation. The CaMMP web-based platform provides improved access to and integration of data and models that help address key questions in catchment management for water quality and wider ecosystem services. Partners in the project included ADAS, Atkins, CREW, The James Hutton Institute, and the University of Reading.