Goal 14: Policies, processes and practices

The following page outlines specific policies, process and practices in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14 Life below water

Reducing marine pollution 

Our policies and processes help ensure that we prevent and reduce marine pollution of all kinds, which includes our policies on plastics and reducing the effect of land-based activities. 

We have processes to prevent polluted water entering the water system, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university. As detailed in the Code of Practice for Design Teams, Sustainable Urban Drainage systems to drain surface water and minimise pollution need to be specified in the project. 

Our project tracker requires all building projects to: 

• Reduce the total demand of potable water. 
• Reduce storm water run-off and minimise negative environmental impact by using Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. 

We ensure that we adhere to UK government guidelines on water discharge and standards to uphold water quality and protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and welfare. We also have a target of zero pollution incidents for emissions and discharges. 

Maintaining aquatic ecosystems 

We have several plans to minimise physical, chemical and biological alterations of related aquatic ecosystems.  

For all new building construction and operations, we have an Environmental Sustainability Project Tracker which has several sections (pg 4,7) that focus on minimising any impacts that could alter related aquatic ecosystems. 

Our training procedures also provide regulation and guidance to ensure the correct use and disposal of biological or chemical substances that may be toxic to aquatic health. We take actions to minimize impacts on nearby aquatic ecosystems, and this includes COSHH training procedures.  

Monitoring the health of aquatic systems 

We have conducted ground-breaking research by monitoring microplastic pollution in UK’s rivers. Our monitoring has shown current estimates are severely underestimating actual levels, and we have found that this issue originates upstream in river catchments. These findings are now being used to advocate for tighter regulations on waste flowing into urban waterways.   

We also undertake regular monitoring of the health of our local aquatic ecosystems: 

Firs Environmental Research Station and Botanical Grounds Pond 

The pond, ~ 6x4m in area, ~1m deep with a marginal shelf, is ornamental in nature with flag stones around the edge. The back of the pond has various stones and marginal plants providing exit and entry for wildlife. The rockery behind also provides sites for amphibian hibernacula.The pond contains no fish and is maintained with promoting nature in mind, with minimal disturbance. Excessive algae and duckweed; Lemna minor is removed in summer and excess decaying plant material and leaves are removed in autumn. Planting is largely ornamental with Nymphaea water lilies and Iris. Native plant species include Bogbean; Menyanthes trifoliata, Marsh Fern; Thelypteris palustris, Lesser Bullrush; Typha angustifolia and Amphibious Bistort, Persicaria amphibia. There is a healthy population of newts, frogs, dragon and damselflies, and many other insects, crustacea and amphipods. There are also visits from Mallard ducks, Grey herons and other local birdlife. 

The Botanical Grounds Pond allows us to collaborate with local community partners and students to maintain this shared aquatic ecosystem, using it as a source of practical and academic knowledge exchange.  

Michael Smith Quad Pond 

There is a pond in Michael Smith Quad. A survey carried out in 2022 found that the onsite pond was assessed to be in moderate condition due to the pond having good water quality based upon visual appearance, less than 10% of the pond being covered with duckweed or filamentous algae, an absence of fish and non-native plant species, and at least 50% of the ponds area being covered by both marginal and aquatic plants where the pond is less than 3m deep. 

Water disposal guidelines

Our university has water quality standards and guidelines for water discharges (to uphold water quality in order to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and welfare). Our policies surrounding water quality standards are outlined in our policy on the Management of Water Systems and the Control of Legionella. We have implemented these guidelines in order to protect and mitigate risks to human health. We have also registered licenses with the Environmental Agency for water discharges relating to our Jodrell Bank campus. 

Watershed management 

We have implemented a watershed management strategy based on location specific diversity of aquatic species. One of the commitments of our new Environmental Sustainability strategy (Section 5.6) is to ensure zero reportable pollution incidents to air, land and water across the University estate.  

Our Design Code of Practice (Section 9.1.16) and Environmental Sustainability Project Tracker includes watershed management strategies through targets for sustainable urban drainage (as part of design and construction). These strategies ensure that flow rates of water runoff in our urban environment are decreased and water quality is improved which has a positive impact on a range of aquatic life. This includes reducing flow into our local River Medlock on campus and, at Jodrell Bank, reduces flow into our local water courses, protecting the great crested newt – a protected species that relies on aquatic life.

Aquatic stewardship

We support a wide range of practical ongoing and ad hoc programmes of work to encourage and maintain good aquatic stewardship practices.

We are working with UK, Cambodian and Indian government agencies on reducing arsenic from ground-water systems; enhancing community engagement with rivers and canals; and working with UK water regulators to combat microplastic pollution in rivers and oceans.

Our Sustainable Seafood Policy commits us to a programme of work that adopts the Marine Stewardship Council’s sustainable fish standard. This means that any fish on the Marine Conservation Societies endangered list will not be accept or used in any café restaurant or processing site across the University. The University has also signed up to the Sustainable Fish Cities Pledge. This ensures that we will commit to take the appropriate steps to buy sustainable seafood, to protect precious marine environments fish stocks and support good fishing livelihoods.

Collaborating to maintain shared aquatic ecosystems

We collaborate with the local community across a variety of efforts to maintain shared aquatic ecosystems.

We’ve partnered with the River Stewardship Company which works with local communities to repopulate Sphagnum Moss in the nearby Peak District to increase water retention in highlands and reduce flooding downstream.

We’re also working with Manchester City Council on the project, Our rivers our city. As part of this, there is a range of local community collaboration on work such as river restoration and habitat enhancement.