A study to show the effects of Wigan’s Wastewater Treatment Works upon the water quality of the river Douglas.

Abstract

The use of chemical analyses and macroinvertebrates is well established as indicators
of freshwater pollution. Macro invertebrates require specific habitat conditions in
order to survive in an ecosystem. If specific requirements are not met it is unlikely the
species will be able to survive and therefore will not be existent in the ecosystem.
Using this theory along with chemical analyses from the site an idea of the rivers
water quality can be obtained to give an idea of the pollution at the site and possibly
its sources.
In this study the water quality of the river Douglas will be monitored to ascertain the
effects that the Wigan Wastewater Treatment Works is having on the water quality.
The use of chemical analyses such as Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand
and nitrate levels along with biological analyses such as Biological Monitoring
Working Party score, Average Score Per Taxon, Lincoln Quality Index and Shannon-
Wiener Index will be used to show that the river Douglas’ water quality is being
impacted upon negatively by the discharge from the Wigan Wastewater Treatment
Works.
Following the results of this study, further studies will be suggested along with
improvements for the study carried out.