title: Water quality functioning of lowland permeable catchments: inferences from an intensive study of the RIVER KENNEt and upper River Thames.
abstract: This paper brings together information on the water quality functioning of the River Kennet and other parts of the upper River Thames in the south east of England. The Kennet represents a groundwater fed riverine environment impacted by agricultural and sewage sources of nutrient pollution. Descriptions of the general water quality of the area, nutrient sources, sinks and within river processes are provided together with biological responses to driving issues of agriculture, sewage treatment and climatic change. Models are developed and applied to assess the key processes involved for a highly dynamic system and to provide initial estimates of the likely responses to environmental change. Furthermore, the economic aspects of pollution control are reviewed, together with legislation issues, which are presented within the context of a landmark case known as the 'Axford Inquiry', the implications of which extend to regional and national dimensions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the present state of knowledge, key issues and future research on the science and management of groundwater fed nutrient impacted riverine systems.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK. c.neal@ceh.ac.uk
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nea
authors.forename: Helen P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Jarvie
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D004739:England; D005068:Eutrophication; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010539:Permeability; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants; D011640:Public Policy; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014867:Water; D010758:Phosphorus