RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
TACKLING ROAD RUNOFF POLLUTION: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
George Woollard, Technical Director at Keyline Civils Specialist, discusses insights on road runoff pollution and the role the supply chain can play in solving this critical environmental issue.
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oad runoff pollution is the “Cinderella issue” of water quality. Sitting in the background ignored, while the likes of sewage overflows and agricultural
runoff get the spotlight.
It was inevitable, however, that heads would soon turn towards road runoff pollution and its impact on the environment. With 18 percent of water body failures in England linked to road runoff, it’s one of the most significant contributors to the water quality issues the UK is facing.
The construction industry has more influence than most on the resolution of this urgent problem, and builders merchants hold a unique position – as the bridge between manufacturers and contractors – to initiate the steps that need to be taken to implement solutions.
The impact on the environment Road runoff – the chemicals and debris which gather on the road surface and are pushed into waterways through outfalls – has a critical impact on ecosystems. In the short
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term, the acute impact of road runoff can, in severe cases, lead to the death of aquatic life. The more insidious, long-term effects cause mutations, altering behaviours and leading to reproductive issues in wildlife.
This is an issue causing significant harm to our environment. It’s also a problem that is very treatable. The construction and civil engineering industry has the tools and the expertise to tackle road runoff pollution. But it’s a problem of such a scale – some estimates put the number of outfalls at one million, dwarfing the 15,000 storm sewer overflows – that it requires collaboration, both within the industry and outside of it. In an attempt to start bridging those gaps and building communication channels, Keyline Civils Specialist organised a roundtable discussion – bringing together individuals from across industries with the ability to make a difference. With leading manufacturers, civil engineering experts, academics, government representatives and third-sector parties present, we were able to discuss in-depth the problem we face. From the challenges in
addressing road runoff pollution to potential solutions, no stone was left unturned; the insights provided on the day have since been distilled into a whitepaper.
Challenges of solving road runoff
Potential roadblocks on the path to solving road runoff were a focus of discussions. In every case, collaboration was viewed as necessary to resolve them.
Data and monitoring pose a significant challenge – though we have an idea of how serious and widespread road runoff is, the lack of data means the exact scale of the problem is still unknown. Monitoring road runoff is particularly difficult due to its weather- dependent nature – it only happens when it’s raining.
Working together to locate the outfalls by sharing information and developing a consistent approach to sampling were identified as simple but important steps to take to improve the approach to monitoring. Monitoring of road runoff, unlike air
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2024
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