Brighton Council pioneers project to tackle aquifer contamination by road runoff

(by Karma Loveday)

Brighton and Hove City Council and the University of Brighton have moved into the monitoring phase of a pioneering project to protect 90% of the city’s drinking water – and the health of the chalk aquifer that supplies Brighton – from toxic road pollution.

The council has built the Wild Park Rainscape beside the A27 to capture and filter runoff polluted with road-related contaminants (including oil, tyre particles, heavy metals and microplastics) before it reaches the aquifer. The project was delivered by The Aquifer Project – which sits under The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere, a designation that recognises the area’s unique natural and cultural value and promotes sustainable development.

Research found that 80% of the pollutants could be removed as solids, and plants and natural processes used to treat the rest. The rainscape combines grey and green solutions, with two vortex separators removing the bulk of the solids, while planted basins of reeds and grasses, along with sunlight and microbes, are harnessed to break down remaining pollutants.

The project also has a social dimension, creating new ponds and green spaces for the residents of Moulsecoomb, one of Brighton’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The University of Brighton team will continue long-term monitoring to measure the rainscape’s impact on water quality, pollutant removal and biodiversity. Along with protecting the aquifer, the work aims to provide a science-based model for cities worldwide facing similar stormwater challenges.