Estimating nutrient concentrations from catchment characteristics across the UK

Abstract

Within a Geographical Information System (GIS) framework, the distributions of nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations at monitoring sites across the UK were examined and empirical relationships with catchment characteristics were established. The mean orthophosphate concentrations were linked strongly with the urban component, and less significantly with effective rainfall and agricultural coverage. This is of strategic importance in relation to phosphorus and the Water Framework Directive. Correspondingly, mean nitrate concentrations were linked to land-use types, base flow index and effective rainfall. Within-catchment residence times and effective-rainfall (runoff) were important in relation to nitrate. The issue of nitrate and the Water Framework Directive is more complex than that for orthophosphate and involves a strong agricultural as well as an urban component.

A model‐based assessment of non‐compliance of phosphorus standards for lakes in England and Wales

“…In contrast, Davies and Neal (2007), for example, were able to establish a simple regression relationship between phosphorus concentrations and percentage urban land use for river water quality sites from the Harmonised Monitoring Scheme in England and Wales. Establishing simple regression relationships seems to be possible for large river catchments where sewage effluents are more likely to be the dominant source and show a stronger correlation to the population density or the percentage urban land use.…”

Agriculture and Eutrophication: Where Do We Go from Here?

“…In the U.S., UK and Europe, there is a stronger correlation between river P concentrations and urban population densities than with land use [9,81,82], and the number and distribution of STW in river networks therefore have a large influence on bioavailable P supply in the water column during periods of active algal growth [18,70]. Even in rural areas, the ecological impacts of discharges from septic tank systems (STS) may be much greater than previously thought because their location, condition and effectiveness remain largely unknown [83].…”

Hydrological controls on DOC : nitrate resource stoichiometry in a lowland, agricultural catchment, southern UK

“…In a UK-wide study, Davies and Neal (2007) used linear regression to consider how catchment characteristics control mean nitrate concentrations in UK rivers. Nitrate concentrations were explained by land use (% arable and % urban), topography (expressed as % upland), effective rainfall (mm) and BFI.…”