Water Info Hub: water challenges

What are water challenges?

Everything about managing water is complex and interactive, especially within large cities like London. It affects and involves all residents and businesses. Covering the freshwater supply, flooding, river health, waste water and pollution, it is a big subject.

Our users have identified certain topics, introduced here, that they really care about. These priorities have influenced the information, data and tools available in the hub.

Water quality

People living locally to polluted rivers are often concerned about the rivers' bad odour and colour, and the lack of biodiversity. This happens due to chemicals (for example phosphorus or nitrates) and contaminants such as debris, wet wipes and other rubbish that poses a risk to biodiversity and public health.

Water Data Explorer icon Water Data Explorer ❐ Explore maps related to
water quality on the
Water Data Explorer.

Geonetwork metadata ❐ Explore datasets related to
water quality on the Geonetwork
metadata catalogue.

Flooding

Flood events can increase the risk of contamination from sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial substances, leaked motor oil and household chemicals, causing deterioration in water quality.

Water Data Explorer icon Water Data Explorer ❐ Explore maps related to
flooding on the
Water Data Explorer.

Geonetwork metadata ❐ Explore datasets related to
flooding on the Geonetwork
metadata catalogue.

Urban drainage

Drains and the drainage systems in our towns and cities are a vital part of urban infrastructure; their purpose is to collect rain runoff from roads, roof gutters and downpipes and direct it into a piped drainage system or a combined sewer network. They are particularly important in removing excess water in periods of heavy rainfall.

Water Data Explorer icon Water Data Explorer ❐ Explore maps related to
urban drainage on the
Water Data Explorer.

Geonetwork metadata ❐ Explore datasets related to
urban drainage on the Geonetwork
metadata catalogue.

Drought

Explore maps showing components relating to the hydrological cycle and the provision of water to people and for the environment.

Water Data Explorer icon Water Data Explorer ❐ Explore MAPS related to
water resources on the
Water Data Explorer.

Geonetwork metadata ❐ Explore datasets related to
water resources on the Geonetwork
metadata catalogue.

People's use of space and its performance

Water bodies are part of wider natural spaces and it is important to consider how these perform for people and from an environmental perspective. There is a need to understand the complex interactions what the performance of natural spaces and how it affects people's use of these spaces.

Water Data Explorer icon Spatial Data Explorer ❐ Explore maps on the
Spatial Data Explorer.

Geonetwork metadata ❐ Explore datasets on the
Geonetwork metadata catalogue.

Water challenges

Explore water challenges, educational resources and publications