University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
River water temperatures swing hot to cold: open-source data reveals surprising patterns
Open data from sources such as the US Geological Survey are an essential scientific resource for understanding our environment in a warming world.
AI technology helps scientists detect which pollutants in England’s lakes are most harmful to life
Scientists have analysed water and biofilm samples from lakes across the country to find key links between the presence of pollutants and biodiversity loss.
Strategies for safe and equitable access to water: a catalyst for global peace and security
Experts have devised a blueprint to ensure safe, equitable and sustainable global access to clean water.
AI-driven approach reveals hidden hazards of chemical mixtures in rivers
AI can provide critical insights into how complex mixtures of chemicals in rivers affect aquatic life – paving the way for better environmental protection.
Forever chemicals found in bottled and tap water from around the world
Researchers found 10 'target' PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances)—chemicals which do not break down in nature—in tap and bottled water available for consumption in major cities in the UK and China. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were detected in over 99% of samples of bottled water sourced from 15 countries around the world. They observed […]
Suez to pilot Salinity Solutions’ low energy reuse technology in France
Salinity Solutions was formed as a spinout in 2021, and has developed a groundbreaking technology to reduce the environmental impact of water treatment.
Cloud engineering could be more effective ‘painkiller’ for global warming than previously thought
Cloud "engineering" could be more effective for climate cooling than previously thought, because of the increased cloud cover produced, new research shows. In a study published in Nature Geoscience, researchers at the University of Birmingham found that marine cloud brightening (MCB), also known as marine cloud engineering, works primarily by increasing the amount of cloud cover, accounting for […]
Scientists develop new approach to detect “forever chemicals” in water
Researchers have created a new way to detect ‘forever chemical’ pollution in water, via a luminescent sensor. So far, the sensor has been able to detect 220 micrograms of PFAS per liter of water, which works for industrial wastewater. The team will refine and integrate the prototype sensor chip to make it portable and more sensitive.
Drought conditions expose rivers to hotter water temperatures
As climate change warms the planet and droughts are anticipated to become more frequent and extreme, a new study reveals how reduced water flows and rising atmospheric temperatures are set to heat our rivers – creating major challenges for aquatic life, ecosystems, and society. Water temperature is an important control for all the physical, chemical, […]