We are a group of 3 Year 9 students from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. Our STEM project is to investigate the amount of water pollution in Faversham Creek.

We have now finished our project and want to share our results. Visit the Report page to find out more.

Hello,

Thank you for your query. I’ll try to cover the topic as best as I can. I work in Environmental Management and cover East Kent, including the Creek and River Swale. One of our main responsibilities is to respond to reports of pollution from members of the public. We have a variety of ways we can assess and determine the best response. Most pollution investigations begin with a simple desk-top assessment of the area. This includes identifying sensitive receptors, for example drinking water zones or Sites of Special Scientific Interest. If the risk to the environment is considered high then a site visit will be conducted.

When on site we have a variety of tools to assess and measure levels of pollution. Taking a portion of pollutant or ‘sample’ using a metal can is a great way to understand the chemistry and potential impact on the receiving area. The samples are sent away to our National Laboratory in Exeter for analysis. In-situ readings or ‘determinands’ can be recorded using a multi-meter probe. This will give us an idea of the dissolved oxygen, ammonia, temperature, pH, conductivity and salinity. From here, an Environment Officer or Specialist Advisor can decide on the most appropriate remedial course of action.

Alongside our reactive work, we have a dedicated team called Sampling and Collection, who carry out routine monitoring. They focus particularly on areas that may cause water pollution. For example, monitoring water quality downstream of industry or sewage discharges. Any poor results can be flagged which allows us to investigate and give appropriate advice and guidance.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Matt Drinkwater

Environment Officer

East Kent Land & Water

Environment Agency | Rivers House, Sturry Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 0AA