Title: Remediation of Agricultural Diffuse Water Pollution by Farm Ponds and Wetlands
115th of March 2006
Remediation of Agricultural Diffuse Water
Pollution by Farm Ponds and Wetlands
Fabrice Gouriveau PhD, School of GeoSciences
Supervisors Dr. Kate Heal Dr. Graham Russell
(School of GeoSciences) Dr. Andrew Vinten
(Macaulay Institute)
2CONTENTS
- Background
- Objectives of the Study
- Study Sites
- Materials Methods
- Anticipated Research Outcomes
3BackgroundAgriculture and diffuse water pollution
- Agricultural water pollution NO3-, P,
pesticides, faecal pathogens from arable fields,
grasslands, farmyards, etc. - Diffuse pollution spread over catchment,
significant collective impact difficult to
identify and contain - Degradation of water quality aquatic
ecosystems siltation, toxicity to organisms and
eutrophication - High costs loss of profit for fisheries, paper
mills, tourism water filtration/treatment loss
of biodiversity enjoyment
4BackgroundMitigation of agricultural diffuse
water pollution
Among other Best Management Practices
Ponds and Wetlands are recommended to catch
contaminated farm runoff and improve its quality !
5BackgroundMitigation of agricultural diffuse
water pollution
- Ponds and wetlands improve water quality by
- Uptake, inactivation of pollutants by
microorganisms plants - Adsorption on the surfaces of plants, sediments,
litter - Settling of suspended solids
- Die-off of pathogens
Good treatment efficiency but variable temporally
and spatially !
Negative impacts ecosystems, safety, health,
GHGs, pollution
Many questions long-term performance, optimal
design, carrying capacity, impact on
biodiversity, etc.
6Objectives of the Study
- Assess the water treatment performance of farm
ponds/wetlands - Assess the ecology of farm ponds/wetlands
- Assess the socio-economic aspects of farm
ponds/wetlands - Develop a model for farm ponds/wetlands
7Study Area
8Study Sites
9Materials Methods
- 1) To assess water treatment performance of farm
ponds - Monitor water quality at inlet, outlet (samplers,
probe) - Describe hydraulic balance (flow meters, tracers)
- Assess sedimentation rate sediment quality
(cores) - Manipulate water level hydraulic residence time
10Materials Methods
- 2) To assess the ecology of farm ponds
- Vegetation surveys (quadrats)
- Macroinvertebrate surveys (kick sampling)
11Materials Methods
- 3) To assess socio-economic aspects of farm
ponds - Collect data on construction/maintenance costs
and benefits (questionnaires, databases) - Assess farmers "acceptance" of treatment ponds
- 4) To develop a model of ponds/wetlands
- Adapt, calibrate and run an existing model
12Anticipated Research Outcomes
- Information on how ponds perform water treatment
and on the factors influencing their performance - Information on the impacts of the ponds on
biodiversity - Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of
ponds/wetlands - Recommendations for optimum pond design and
management - Modelling of the pond system
- Communication and technical tools for farmers,
SEPA
13Thanks for your attention !
Questions and Suggestions are very welcome !