About the event

A road can be a mucky place: oil, paint, metal, tarmac, tyre dust, gritting salt, and fuel residue all collect on its surface. When rain falls, this toxic cocktail is often washed in our country's rivers, either directly or through a storm drain. Once there, it can damage the habitats and harm the wildlife; a problem that will worsen as our climate shifts towards longer dry periods and more intense rainfall.

In this talk, Jo Bradley from Stormwater Shepherds UK will delve into this complex issue. She'll introduce the sources of highway runoff pollution, and explain how it harms our groundwater and watercourses. She'll also explore possible solutions, including why good design and ongoing maintenance are needed when you're using a treatment system.

Jo spent 28 years at the Environment Agency, where she focused on many pollution prevention topics. In the last decade, her attention has been on pollution from urban surfaces and roads - she spent four years with SDS Limited, where she worked on stormwater treatment devices for sustainable drainage system (SuDS) schemes. Since September 2020, she has been Director of Operations for Stormwater Shepherds UK; in this role, she is dedicated to the pursuit of better stormwater management, and the development of a funding mechanism to deliver it.

This event is part of Watercress and Winterbournes, a Landscape Partnership Scheme that is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating seven local chalk streams.