University of Exeter
University of Exeter 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.
Pioneering river restoration declared a success
A year on from the completion of a three-year project on the National Trust's Holnicote Estate in Somerset to reconnect a section of a river to its floodplain—the innovative "Stage 0" river restoration technique, first pioneered in Oregon, U.S.—has been heralded a success. The "ctrl-alt-delete" of the river was the first large-scale attempt to reset […]
Iran’s water policy is discriminatory and an example of ‘environmental racism,’ study says
Iran's water policy is discriminatory and an example of environmental racism, with specific regions and ethnic groups deliberately impoverished, damaged and threatened by policymakers, a new study says. Water scarcity lies at the core of Iran's environmental crises. Approximately 28 million of Iran's 85 million residents reside in water-stressed areas, a situation identified as "water […]
Microplastics limit energy production in tiny freshwater species
Microplastic pollution reduces energy production in a microscopic creature found in freshwater worldwide, new research shows. Paramecium bursaria contain algae that live inside their cells and provide energy by photosynthesis. The new study, by the University of Exeter, tested whether severe microplastic contamination in the water affected this symbiotic relationship. The results showed a 50% decline […]
University of Exeter ‘leading the way’ towards a circular economy with Ellen MacArthur Foundation
A new partnership between the University of Exeter and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been announced today that will accelerate the University’s vision of transitioning to a circular economy.
Wastewater alert: research highlights antimicrobial resistance risk
As the dumping of untreated wastewater into the sea sparks pollution warnings, new research has identified a “significant risk” of increasing antibiotic resistance associated with wastewater systems across the UK. A research team, led by the University of Exeter, has carried out the most comprehensive assessment of risks posed by antibiotics in the environment in […]
Little Ice Age study reveals North Atlantic reached a tipping point
Scientists have used centuries-old clam shells to see how the North Atlantic climate system reached a "tipping point" before the Little Ice Age. The Little Ice Age – a period of regional cooling, especially in the North Atlantic – lasted several centuries, ending in about 1850. A long-standing theory suggests initial cooling in this period […]
New bacteria in UK waters as temperatures rise
Rising temperatures are causing a "growing diversity" of Vibrio bacteria in the sea around the UK, new research shows.
Antarctic ice sheet retreat could trigger chain reaction
The Antarctic ice sheet was even more unstable in the past than previously thought, and at times possibly came close to collapse, new research suggests.
Rock glaciers will slow Himalayan ice melt
Some Himalayan glaciers are more resilient to global warming than previously predicted, new research suggests.