Samia Richards

Soil and Water Chemistry Evironmental Scientist
E: samia.richards@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Samia is an Environmental Scientist specialised in point sources of pollution and water quality where septic tanks can act as multiple points of pollutants impacting surface water quality increasing phosphorus, nitrogen and microbial loads to water courses. Samia is also has wide experience in microbiological, physical and chemical characterisation of soil and water of catchment systems.

 

Research

Samia’s current work is focused on Resource Recovery from Wastes, tackling current worldwide sustainability problems (Phosphorus amendment) through the identification of nutrient-cycling pathway to maximise soil quality and crop productivity using wastes (food and crops anaerobic digestates and biomass ash) for bio-fertilisers production.

She is also working on rainwater harvesting system as part of decentralised wastewater treatment – global innovation for sustainable rural communities project. A collaboration project between the Scottish Government and India. As India faces high rain variability, shortage in water availability and over-exploitation of groundwater water, a development of rainwater harvesting system as part of wastewater treatment and recycling system to service a rural school in rural South India.

Samia’s work also is also focused on small point source of pollutants and their phosphorus, nitrogen and microbial contribution to water courses in catchments.  These point sources of pollutants are linked to water quality issues in which phosphorus plays an important role as a major pollutant when it enters fresh water system as a point source discharge. This work involved in finger printing septic tank effluent (physicochemical and microbial characterisation) from residential tanks in the North East of Scotland to determine the ecological impacts from septic tanks acting as multiple points of pollutants. Also, developing source tracers to identify source of pollutant and estimating septic tank effluent relative contribution to catchment phosphorus load to target mitigation measures.

Past research

Samia has also worked on characterisation of organic and inorganic phosphorus in UK soils, investigation P dynamics and mobility in soils and water and its impact on water quality.

Soil erosion control measures and the effect on water quality and natural environment. Investigating riparian buffer strips as a barrier against sediment and nutrients transport into stream waters.

Characterisation of organic and inorganic phosphorous in UK soils, investigating P dynamics and mobility in soils and water and the impact as a pollutant on downstream watercourses.

Investigating the biodegradability of stream dissolved organic carbon exported form upland catchment which is converted to carbon dioxide by biological processing and it role as a climate force effect.

Remediation of stream pollution using low cost biosorbents to sequester heavy metal in aquatic environment.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Roberts, D.; Torrance, L.; Stirton, G.; Britton, A.J.; Craig, C.-A.; Kyle, C; Newman, C.; Macaulay, C.; Fielding, D.; Watson, H.; Pohle, I.; Robertson, J.; Maxwell, J.; Irvine, K.; Sutherland, L-A.; Dawson, L.A.; Shepherd, L.; Miller, P.; Ellis, R.; Richards, S.; Blok, V.; Hackett, C.; Kettle, H. (2018) Women in Science, The James Hutton Institute, 25pp

Technical / contract reports

Conference papers

  • Richards, S.; Withers, P.J.A.; Paterson, E.; Stutter, M.I. (2017) Removal and attenuation of sewage effluent combined tracer signals of phosphorus, caffeine and saccharin in soil., BSSS Early Careers Researcher Conference, Lancaster, UK,19-20 April 2017.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Gimona, A.; Pohle, I.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2020) A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using bayesian belief networks., EGU General Assembly 2020 Online, 4-8 May 2020, EGU2020-8229. Abstract.
  • Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Pohle, I.; Gimona, A.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2019) Modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers – a decision support tool., SAGES’19 Conference ‘Global Climate Challenges for a Blue Green Economy: Scientific Evidence; its Relevance; Societal Solutions’ John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh, 27-28 November 2019. Book of Abstracts, p16.
  • Glendell, M.; Stutter, M.I.; Gimona, A.; Richards, S.; Troldborg, M.; Baggaley, N.; Lilly, A.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Macleod, C.; Pohle, I.; Poggio, L. (2018) Modelling of phosphorus pollution risk to watercourses in Scotland using Bayesian Belief Networks., European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018 (EGU 2018), Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018. EGU2018-1938. (Poster).
  • Stutter, M.I.; Richards, S.; Lumsden, D.; Shand, C.A.; Baggaley, N. (2013) Soil susceptibility to P losses by leaching: from geochemistry to working with farmers., 7th International Phosphorus Workshop, Sweden, 09-13 September 2013. 1. Transport pathways of P from soil to water – partitioning ad dominance of different flow paths. Abstract
  • Richards, S.; Withers, P.A.J. (2013) Phosphorus (P) in household detergents and point source pollution., LuWQ2013 International Interdisciplinary Conference on Land Use and Water Quality, “Reducing Effects of Agriculture”, The Hague, The Netherlands, 10-13 June 2013.
  • Richards, S.; Withers, P.A.J.; Stutter, M.I. (2013) Phosphorus in household detergents and pollution from septic tanks., Annual Postgraduate Student Competition, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, March 2013.
  • Richards, S.; Withers, P.J.A.; Stutter, M.I. (2013) Phosphorus in household detergents and pollution from septic tanks detergent ., LuWQ2013 International Interdisciplinary Conference on Land Use and Water Quality, “Reducing Effects of Agriculture”, The Hague, The Netherlands, 10-13 June 2013.
  • Richards, S.; Stutter, M.I. (2012) Phosphorus status – Lunan diffuse pollution., CREW DP Lunan Water Diffuse Pollution Monitoring Project Workshop, Finavon Hotel, Angus, UK, 14 March 2012. (Poster)