title: Nutrient fluxes from domestic wastewater: A national-scale historical perspective for the UK 1800-2010.
abstract: Nutrient emissions in human waste and wastewater effluent fluxes from domestic sources are quantified for the UK over the period 1800-2010 based on population data from UK Census returns. The most important drivers of change have been the introduction of the water closet (flush toilet) along with population growth, urbanization, connection to sewer, improvements in wastewater treatment and use of phosphorus in detergents. In 1800, the population of the UK was about 12 million and estimated emissions in human waste were 37kt N, 6.2kt P and 205ktorganicC/year. This would have been recycled to land with little or no sewage going directly to rivers or coastal waters. By 1900, population had increased to 35.6 million and some 145kt N were emitted in human waste but, with only the major urban areas connected to sewers, only about 19kt N were discharged in sewage effluent. With the use of phosphorus in detergents, estimated phosphorus emissions peaked at around 63.5ktP/year in the 1980s, with about 28ktP/year being discharged in sewage effluent. By 2010, population had increased to 63 million with estimated emissions of 263kt N, 43.6kt P and 1460ktorganicC/year, and an estimated effluent flux of 104kt N, 14.8kt P and 63kt organic C. Despite improvements in wastewater treatment, current levels of nutrient fluxes in sewage effluent are substantially higher than those in the early 20th century.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK. Electronic address: psn@ceh.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naden
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carnell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dragosits
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK.
authors.forename: Jacky
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaplow
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tipping
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: History of sewerage; Human waste; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Sewage effluent; Wastewater treatment