CASE STUDY:
Reservoir management to reduce DOM production
UKCEH scientists led the FREEDOM project and its follow-on project FREEDOM-BCCR, supported by NERC and Scottish Water, which explored the impact of increasing concentrations of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in catchments and strategies to mitigate them. Reservoirs draining peatlands and coniferous forests, and those subject to excessive algal production, can exhibit anomalously high concentrations of DOM.
Our scientists worked with Scottish Water to understand the underlying causes of recent widespread increases in DOM in their reservoirs. They also explored the potential for interventions such as peatland restoration within catchments and reservoirs to relieve stress on water treatment system, guiding decisions about potential investment in treatment plants.
Research highlighted the complexity of controlling DOM concentrations in reservoirs. Some treatments targeting DOM but not nutrients had the potential to exacerbate in-reservoir DOM production. Conversely, alternative measures may prove more effective in nutrient-rich systems. This kind of research informs water companies’ decisions about water treatment systems, processes and costs.