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GEG6226 and GEG7226
Assessment 1: Explain why combined sewer overflows are a ‘significant environmental problem’ for many cities, 50%, 1500 words
Hand in: 27th March
What do you need to do?
Explain why combined sewer overflows are a ‘significant environmental problem’ for many cities. London’s proposed solution to this problem is the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Critically assess the problem of combined sewer overflows and contrast the Thames Tideway Tunnel management plans with the management plans of at least one other international city.
Your essay should:
- Identify the pollutants associated with combined sewer overflows (CSO) and urban runoff.
- Briefly describe the impacts of the identified pollutants on receiving waters.
- Describe and critically evaluate the Thames Tideway Tunnel project and compare with the plans of at least one other international city.
- Based on the evidence you have provided your conclusion should include your personal view of whether the Thames Tideway Tunnel is a sustainable approach to managing CSOs and urban run-off.
How can you do well in this assessment?
- The coursework will be assessed using the Coursework (general) marking criteria.
- You will need to access both current primary and grey literature on the subject.
- Although the report relates to London you will also find literature relating to other urban areas to be informative and relevant (e.g. for defining and explaining the pollutants associated with urban runoff).
- You may decide to focus on one or more international cities – but your choice should enable you to demonstrate an understanding of the pros, cons and co-benefits of different approaches.
Qualities of a good assessment
- Demonstrates engagement with all suggested resources plus own literature searches
- Good balance of content between the three elements of the essay (identifying pollutants, describing their impacts and evaluating management plans).
- Good choice/s of alternative management approach/es which allows you to demonstrate an understanding of the different management approaches that can be used, their pros/cons and sustainability.
- Concise, scientific writing, rich with information and well-referenced (references are not included in the word count).
- Use of appropriate, well-chosen figures or tables (Figures, tables and captions are not included in the word count). Tables should be used to summarise or synthesise data or literature.
Features of a poor report may include
- Limited depth of knowledge on the types of pollutants and impacts caused by CSOs and road run-off
- Lack of background reading and/or failure to engage with suggested resources
- A poor or limited choice of alternative management approaches
- Poorly structured report lacking introduction or conclusions
- Poor balance of content
- Weaknesses in structure/ expression
When and how will you get feedback?
Assessment workshops will provide opportunities for formative, verbal feedback before coursework submission. Unless otherwise notified expect to receive written feedback within 15 working days of coursework submission. In addition, please use Advice and Feedback hours for additional support.
Which marking criteria will be used to evaluate your work?
Coursework (general)
What software may be used to complete this work?
MS Word or other desktop publishing programs.
Statement about the use of generative AI on this assessment
B
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Limited use authorised
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The use of generative AI Tools is not part of the assessment design. Limited use of Generative AI tools is authorised in this
assessment in line with the School of Geography guidance.
Permitted limited use:
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Using AI to revise by preparing summaries of your own notes;
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Helping you to understand a challenging concept or reading more clearly by generating a plain English explanation or providing examples;
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Exploring the general ideas about a topic to identify search terms and keywords for your search strategy using the Library database.
REMEMBER: the reproduction of generative AI outputs - e.g. text, code, images etc. produced in response to ‘prompts’ - whether paraphrased/modified or cited directly in the assessment is NOT an authorised use of generative AI software for this assessment and represents academic misconduct.
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Preliminary Reading and Useful Websites
Gaspari J, Zghieb S, Cladiere M, Rocher V, Moilleron R, Chebbo G (2012) Priority pollutants in urban stormwater: Part 2 – Case of combined sewers. Water Research, 46(20), 6693- 6703.
Millier HKGT & Hooda PS (2011) Phosphorus species and fractionation: Why sewage derived phosphorus is a problem. Journal of Environmental Management, 92: 1210- 1214.Riechel M et al (2016) Impacts of combined sewer overflows on a large urban river – Understanding the effect of different management strategies. Water Research, 105: 264-273.
Snook D & Whitehead PG (2004) Water quality and ecology of the River Lee: mass balance and a review of temporal and spatial data. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8(4): 636- 650. Stovin VR, Moore SL, Wall M & Ashley RM (2012) The potential to retrofit sustainable drainage systems to address combined sewer overflow discharges in the Thames Tideway catchment. Water and Environment Journal, 27: 216-228.
Sun, C.; Rao, Q.; Chen, B.; Liu, X.; Adnan Ikram, R.M.; Li, J.; Wang, M.; Zhang, D. Mechanisms and Applications of Nature-Based Solutions for Stormwater Control in the Context of Climate Change: A Review. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 403.
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040403
Tedoldi D, Chebbo G, Pierlot D, Kovacs Y, Gromaire MC (2016) Impact of runoff infiltration on contaminant accumulation and transport in the soil/filter media of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems: A literature review. Science of the Total Environment, 569: 904-926.
Thames Tideway Tunnel website: https://www.tideway.london/m
Thames 21: https://www.thames21.org.uk/sustainable-drainage-systems/