Streamwatch
The Streams / Project Background / Funding / The Equipment / Contact Us
The Streams
With the help of pupils from local schools and the Friends of Chichester Harbour, this project monitors the water quality of six streams draining into Chichester Harbour. These streams and sampling sites were in the following locations:
- Bosham mill stream, sampling site next to Bosham church. Map Ref. SU804038
- Cutmill stream, sampling site just upstream of A259. Flooded at high tide. Map Ref. SU798053
- The brook, Emsworth West, sampling site just upstream of culvert on shoreline just west of the end of Warbington Road. Flooded at high tide. Map Ref. SU739054
- Fishbourne stream, sampling site on bend of stream towards east side of wetland meadow next to Chichester Harbour. Map Ref. SU839045
- Langstone, the Lymbourne, sampling site on the shoreline just downstream of where the culvert drains into the harbour. Flooded at high tide. Map Ref. SU720049
- Nutbourne stream, sampling site upstream of the ford. Map Ref. SU777054
Due to the lie of the local landscape and geology these streams are all located along the northern 'boundary' of the Chichester Harbour area. There is a stream that is regularly monitored by the Environment Agency and this is the Ems in Emsworth.
Project Background
It is the Conservancy's policy to learn about what is happening in the harbour through collecting real data rather than through presumptions. People who use the harbour have, for a long time now, reported how the quantity of seaweed seems to be high, and most probably excessive for the ecosystem. Increased growth of seaweed is an indication of pollution by nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate.
In recent years the Environment Agency announced that 97% of the nutrient enrichment of the sea water in Chichester Harbour comes in on the tide from the Solent. Popular local opinion is that nutrient enrichment also occurs within the harbour, not only from the treated water discharged from the sewage treatment works but also direct from the land around the harbour through the streams draining into it.
The six streams were sampled for water quality once a month and the data published on this site.
Expert help for developing this project was kindly given by Dr Paul Wright and colleagues of Southampton Solent University.
Funding
The project was supported financially by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Equipment
Sampling each site involved taking the following measurements once a month, using the equipment listed:
| Measurement | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Stream Flow | Flow Meter Ohio impeller stream meter |
| Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) | Dissolved oxygen meter From CA Clase Oxi 315i set |
| Conductivity | Conductivity meter From CA Clase Cond 315i set |
| Nitrate | Camlab Pocket Colourimeter for Nitrates Plus chemical |
| Phosphate | Camlab Pocket Colourimeter for Phosphates Plus chemical |
| Air and Water Temperature | Digital thermometer From education resources |
| Water Clarity | Subjective assessment on sliding scale |
| Invertebrates | Stream net, rigid tray and ID guide ID guides from Field Studies Council Dipping from education resources |
Contact Us
If you would like to get in touch to discuss this project please contact:
Judi Darley
