Project in Brighton to protect drinking water from pollution – BBC

Report on the Wild Park Rainscape Project and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction and Project Overview

• A new environmental project, the Wild Park rainscape, has been implemented in Brighton to mitigate toxic pollution from road runoff.
• The primary objective is to capture and filter contaminated stormwater from the A27 before it reaches the chalk aquifer, which is the source for over 90% of the city’s drinking water.
• This initiative is a collaborative effort between the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC).
• The project directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, health, sustainable cities, and biodiversity.

2.0 Environmental Challenge and SDG Alignment

Stormwater runoff from roads has been identified as a significant source of pollution, posing a direct threat to water resources and public health. This challenge is intrinsically linked to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The contamination of the chalk aquifer by unfiltered runoff jeopardises the safety and availability of clean drinking water for the urban population.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The presence of toxic pollutants in the water supply presents a substantial risk to public health.

Initial monitoring by the University of Brighton confirmed that runoff contained higher-than-recommended levels of several contaminants, including:

1. Heavy metals such as lead and chromium.
2. Oil and tyre particles.
3. Microplastics.
4. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons from asphalt and tyres.

3.0 Methodology and Implementation

The project, which was planned over a six-year period, employs a nature-based solution to filter contaminants. This methodology supports the restoration of local ecosystems, aligning with SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• The rainscape infrastructure includes newly planted reed beds, wetland plants, trees, and a wildflower meadow.
• Contaminated water is channelled along a 1.2-mile (1.9km) route, passing through these natural filtration stages before reaching the ground.
• Laboratory tests conducted prior to construction indicated that this natural filtration process could effectively capture a significant amount of the contamination.

4.0 Outcomes and Multifaceted SDG Impact

The Wild Park rainscape is designed to deliver multiple benefits that advance a range of Sustainable Development Goals.

• Protection of Water Resources (SDG 6): The project’s core function is to safeguard the city’s primary drinking water source, ensuring cleaner and safer water for residents.
• Creation of Sustainable Urban Environments (SDG 11): By managing stormwater, the rainscape helps prevent flooding and enhances urban resilience. It also creates a new green public space for the community.
• Enhancement of Biodiversity (SDG 15): The establishment of a new wetland habitat and wildflower meadow provides a valuable new landscape for local wildlife, contributing to biodiversity.
• Climate Action and Adaptation (SDG 13): The project serves as a practical example of climate adaptation by using natural infrastructure to manage the effects of heavy rainfall.

5.0 Monitoring and Future Outlook

• The University of Brighton team will conduct long-term monitoring to assess the project’s ongoing success.
• The evaluation will measure the rainscape’s impact on:
  1. Water quality improvement in the aquifer.
  2. The rate of pollutant removal from runoff.
  3. Changes in local biodiversity.
• The project is considered a ground-breaking model for harnessing natural processes to protect critical resources and build sustainable, resilient urban infrastructure in line with global sustainability targets.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is the protection of drinking water. The “Wild Park rainscape” project is designed to “capture and filter polluted runoff before it reaches the chalk aquifer,” which supplies “over 90% of the city’s drinking water.” This directly addresses the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article highlights the health risks associated with water pollution. It mentions that polluted runoff contains a “dangerous mix of oil, tyre particles, heavy metals, and microplastics.” A professor is quoted saying, “it’s not just a scientific problem – it’s our drinking water, our children’s health, and our local environment at stake.” By removing these toxic substances, the project contributes to preventing waterborne illnesses and ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The project is an urban initiative located “on the edge of Brighton” to tackle a problem inherent to cities: “toxic road pollution.” It is a form of sustainable infrastructure designed to make the city more resilient and environmentally sound. Furthermore, the article states the project “is helping to prevent flooding,” which is a key aspect of creating safe and resilient urban environments.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The project involves creating a natural ecosystem to solve the pollution problem. The article describes the planting of “reed beds and wetland plants, trees, and a wildflower meadow.” This action not only protects the groundwater (an inland freshwater ecosystem) but also creates a new habitat, providing a “stunning new landscape for people and wildlife,” thus contributing to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.

  The project’s primary purpose is to filter “polluted runoff” and remove contaminants like “heavy metals,” “microplastics,” “Lead,” “chromium,” and “polyaromatic hydrocarbons,” directly aligning with this target to reduce water pollution.

• Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

  The initiative is explicitly designed to “protect the underground chalk aquifer.” It achieves this by creating a new wetland environment, thereby contributing to the protection and restoration of a critical water-related ecosystem.

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

  By filtering “toxic road pollution” and contaminants before they enter the drinking water supply, the project directly addresses the goal of reducing illnesses caused by water contamination.

• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters.

  The article explicitly mentions that the rainscape “is helping to prevent flooding,” which directly relates to mitigating the impact of water-related disasters in an urban area.

• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

  The creation of the rainscape, which includes “planting reed beds and wetland plants, trees, and a wildflower meadow,” is a direct act of restoring a local ecosystem and protecting the inland freshwater aquifer, which aligns perfectly with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Water Quality Monitoring: The article states that the university team “monitored runoff from the A27 and found water in the area contained higher levels of contaminants than recommended,” specifically naming “Lead,” “chromium,” and “polyaromatic hydrocarbons.” The plan for “long-term monitoring in the coming years to measure the rainscape’s impact on water quality” implies that the concentration of these specific pollutants in the water will be a key indicator of the project’s success.
• Pollutant Removal Efficiency: The article notes that “Laboratory tests showed that much of this contamination could be captured before it reached the soil.” The ongoing monitoring will measure “pollutant removal,” suggesting that the percentage of contaminants filtered out by the rainscape will be used as a performance indicator.
• Biodiversity Measurement: The university team will also measure the project’s impact on “biodiversity.” This implies that indicators such as the number and variety of plant and animal species in the new wetland and wildflower meadow will be tracked over time to measure the ecological benefits.
• Flood Mitigation: The claim that the project is “helping to prevent flooding” suggests that a potential indicator could be the reduction in the frequency or severity of local flooding events in the surrounding area.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.co.uk