EQ/01/A/270 Integrated Constructed Wetlands (£1m programme)

We propose a comprehensive research programme to investigate the speciation and fate of chemical and biological contaminants (CBCs) in Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs).

This project is with UKCEH and SUEZ, we’re leading.

EQ/01/A – CIP4 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) (£2m programme)

This proposal aims to understand the possible impact of the release of treated effluent and sludge from water industry assets on receiving environments. Building on the findings of our CIP3 AMR programme into antimicrobial resistance (AMR), this project will focus on the transformations of AMR from raw influent to treated effluent and sludge and into the receiving aquatic environment.

This project is led by UKCEH. We’ll undertake research in understanding of fate of antimicrobial agents in water systems and their impacts on the environment.

IPC2 Innovative Pathways Control Programme (£1.3m)

The aim of this investigation is to understand the effectiveness of social prescribing provision and green infrastructure improvements on changes in water quality (pharmaceuticals) at WRCs and the environment within the Somer Valley. This project is funded by Wessex Water, working in collaboration with the faculties of Science and Humanities and Social Science at the University of Bath. 

The objectives for this investigation are:

• To understand the amount and type of pharmaceuticals entering the WRC catchment via sewer, either through consumption or direct disposal. Wide ranging groups of pharmaceuticals will be tested, including over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications and antihistamines, antimicrobials and a range of non-communicable disease (NCD) related medications. Non-target screening/suspect screening mass spectrometry will enable retrospective data analysis for new pharmaceuticals where required.
• To understand how effective wastewater treatment processes at Paulton and Radstock WRCs are in removing pharmaceuticals.
• To utilise secondary data to understand how effective social prescribing is in reducing medicine prescriptions.
• To assess the environmental risk of pharmaceuticals discharged into the receiving watercourses from Paulton and Radstock WRCs.
• To explore and evaluate educational interventions targeting inappropriate pharmaceutical disposal in Somer Valley

Centre for Doctoral Training in Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems for Environmental Health Protection (Red-ALERT CDT) (£1.8m)

The NERC funded Red-ALERT CDT was awarded to the University of Bath, who leads in partnership with Cardiff University, University of Exeter, Bangor University and UK CEH. This CDT, funded from September 2024 to September 2030, will welcome three cohorts of students across all institutions. 

Red-ALERT will not only advance the emerging Water-Based Epidemiology field and train the next generation of environmental leaders, but it will also have, due to its strong cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary character, major impacts in wider engineering, public and environmental health, across natural and social sciences.

Establishing a new effect-directed analysis platform for understanding exposure risks of hazardous chemicals and their mixtures

Harmonisation and standardisation of wastewater-based epidemiology for public health protection and epidemic preparedness across the 4 nations (£101K)

This MRC funded project addresses the disjointed nature of current WBE initiatives that has resulted from poor integration of data linking to traditional clinical health surveillance. This lack of cohesion undermines effective disease surveillance and response efforts, especially concerning emerging epidemic and pandemic threats.

The interdisciplinary team, drawn from the university, government agency (with responsibilities for healthcare and environment), and industry sectors, comprises highly experienced researchers. Collectively, our expertise covers all areas of science, social sciences, public health, epidemiology, data analysis and modelling, relevant to WBE.

Quantifying the combined nutrient enrichment, pathogenic, and ecotoxicological impacts of livestock farming on UK rivers (£1.1m)

Livestock farming is the dominant farming type and source of organic matter pollution in UK freshwaters, with over 9.65M cattle and 32.7M sheep on 10M hectares of grassland, representing 57% of all agricultural land in the UK.

There is thus an urgent need to understand interactions between these stressors, environment and management in driving changes in UK freshwater quality.

NERC funded QUANTUM will address this substantial knowledge gap, allowing us to better understand livestock farming as a key driver of changing UK quality in the livestock-dominated catchments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and throughout the north and west of England. This new knowledge will help us create models that can better predict how UK freshwater quality functions in the presence of these multiple stressors, and how it is likely to change in future in response to climate change and mitigation efforts.

PAthways of Chemicals Into Freshwaters and their ecological ImpaCts (PACIFIC) (£488K)

The NERC funded PAthways of Chemicals Into Freshwaters and their ecological ImpaCts (PACIFIC) project will focus on understanding the link between sources of anthropogenic chemicals and their pathways, fate and ecological impacts in freshwater ecosystems, with an emphasis on freshwater microbial ecosystems and the functions they perform.