Research commissioned by the Environment Agency predicts that eutrophication in rivers will increase with climate change, but can be mitigated with better water management. It sets out a national scale picture of flow related changes in phosphorus concentrations and indicates where the Agency may need to target intervention to meet phosphorus standards in the future. Phosphorus is considered the primary driver of eutrophication and this study looked at how future changes in river flow may alter the dilution of phosphorus as a first step to understanding wider eutrophication risk. Changes in phosphorus concentrations during the summer and low flow periods were shown to have greater rates of increase than annual averages. The work has resulted in a national scale picture of flow related changes in phosphorus concentrations and indicates where we might need to target intervention to meet phosphorus standards in the future. Click here to see the report.

Phosphorus has been recognised as a critical element in relation to sustainability issues on environmental, economic and social levels. Considerable efforts are going into recovery and reuse not least in Europe. The Scope Newsletter provides a real insight into these initiatives.