Case
Environmental Science - field study
- Module
- Environmental science
- Institution
- University Of Central Lancashire Preston (UClan)
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Ryan MulcahyField study
The River Brun was used as the sampling site for a field study; this is located within
the grounds of Thompson Park, in Burnley. The area of the river that the study was
being conducted on consisted of a stretch being exactly 1 mile long; starting from the
bridge (play area) of Thompson Park leading up to another bridge situated by the
Queen Victoria Road (A6114).
As a group, there were four main objectives; this were to take readings from the river
to check for pollution, analyse the samples for contaminants and to identify what
organisms are located within the sampling site and count each specimen that was
found; which was then placed into a Talley chart.
Starting from the sampling site, the water was shallow ranging from 6 inches deep
on the near side to 12 inches deep on the far side; there was also a small island in
the middle of this river. At point 1 on the map, the start of the potential water pollution
causes then became apparent, as there was a plant pot, a bottle and an unknown
pipe, which could contribute to sewage. Point two, shows a trolley that has been
dumped into the river, this could lead to polluting the water. Point 3 shows a fizzy
can drink that can leak substances into the river. Point four shows yet another can
and also a plank of wood, leaving wood in water can cause it to rot. Point 5 shows
more drift wood, plastic, bottles and another trolley that was been dumped into the
river. At point 6 there appears to be a metal pipe long in width and length; this pipe
was leaking out an unknown substance, this can greatly affect the surrounding
water, as this could be poisonous to organisms. Point 7 shows where the aqueduct
has come to needing repair as it is also leaking what appears to be water down into
the nearby flow of the river; the canal is also ‘dirty’ so this water could contaminate
river. This leakage is also adjacent to point 6.
Point 8 on the map indicates where the most litter and debris has been found. This
includes half of a pipe hanging out of the water, which could indicate sewage
leakage; two unknown water sources that are coming from a side tunnel and litter.
The unknown water sources could potentially be carrying harmful contaminants.
Point 9 on the map indicates a plastic bottle, plastic and another trolley. Point 10 has
low moving sediment murky water, which makes the clarity of the water low. Point 11
also has an unknown water pipe leaking out an unknown source. Point 12 locates
where a bin bag was dumped. Point 13 then shows a plastic bin bag that has been
Page 1 of 11
, Ryan Mulcahy
Field study
dumped. Point 14 shows a submerged water bottle. Point 15 shows a sunken metal
plank and debris of wood. Point 16 indicates where a car wheel trim has been
placed. Point 17 has a Magners bottle submerged and a bike; and the final indicator,
point 18 has a pigeon nest and fasces.
These items and leakages can have a negative impact on the river quality as this
can cause contamination to living organisms and can affect the clarity of the river
flow. Items such as plastic bags and plastic can be caught around fish, ducks and
other amphibian’s mouths; this can potentially asphyxiate them. Plastic bags and
plastic can trap organisms inside them; birds, fish, can swallow litter, ducks etc. and
cause them to get sick and or potentially die. Objects such as trolleys, metal sheets
and broken glass can cut birds and fish, which can cause infection and potentially
death.
Conditions of the River Brun were average for that time of year. The weather was
mildly windy, clear sky, sunny with no rainfall. The depth of the sampling site was 6
inches on the shallow side (near side), and on the far side the depth doubled to 12
inches. Flowrate on the near side was 0.167 m/s, the middle was 0.356 m/s and the
Page 2 of 11
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