Pollutants can impact organisms either directly by depleting oxygen levels for example, or indirectly by altering the ecosystem in which they live. This Review deals with: – Impacts of common pollutants on aquatic ecosystems – Methods used to assess the ecological impacts of pollution – Remediation by physical, chemical and ecological methods.

Published November 2018

Whilst water pollution incidents fell from 1902 in 2016 to 1827 in 2017, the level of fine increased substantially. Notably, Thames Water being fined £20m and United Utilities £666k. Whilst every effort should be made to prevent pollution such as the catchment based approach (CaBA) (Defra, 2013) and through targeted regulation (environmental permitting regulations), pollution events will unfortunately happen for whatever reason and in those circumstances assessment, remediation and restoration activities are essential. These are now driven to achieve certain standards through the restoration to baseline condition principal established through the Environmental Liability Regulations (HMSO, 2009).

Pollutants can impact organisms either directly by depleting oxygen levels for example, or indirectly by altering the ecosystem in which they live. To understand the impacts of various pollutants it is therefore important to have a basic understanding of the structure of lotic (running water) aquatic ecosystems and how the organisms within them interact with each other and their environment.

This Review of Current Knowledge (ROCK) deals with: Impacts of common pollutants on aquatic ecosystems Methods used to assess the ecological impacts of pollution Remediation by physical, chemical and ecological methods.