Orthophosphate Concentrations in the River Thames |
| |
| Authors: | J. H. Kinniburgh BSc MPhil M. R. Tinsley BSc J. Bennett BA PhD |
| |
| Affiliation: | Environmental Assessment and Reporting Manager, The Environment Agency, Almondsbury, Bristol, UK.;Formerly Water Quality Modeller, National Rivers Authority (Thames Region), Reading, UK.;British Geological Survey, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, UK. |
| |
| Abstract: | Observed concentrations of orthophosphate in the River Thames, from its source to its tidal limit, exceed 0.1 mg P/1 for most of its length; reasons for annual and seasonal variations are explained. By using data routinely collected by the Environment Agency throughout the Thames catchment, the orthophosphate load in the river, derived from agricultural sources and sewage-treatment works, is estimated.
A water quality model, TOMCAT, has been adapted to simulate observed data and used to estimate river concentrations if orthophosphate loads from sewage-treatment works are reduced. |
| |
| Keywords: | Agriculture eutrophication orthophosphate River Thames sewage-treatment works TOMCAT water quality model |
|
|
