• PhD Earth Sciences - Hydrogeology, University of Birmingham (1989)
• MA Chemistry, University of Oxford (1984)

• 2007-present: Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences – Contaminant Hydrogeology, University of Birmingham
• 1997-07: Lecturer in Earth Sciences – Contaminant Hydrogeology, University of Birmingham
• 996-97: Area Hydrogeologist, Environment Agency, Leeds
• 1994-96: Area Hydrogeologist, National Rivers Authority, Leeds
• 1989-93: Post Doctoral Research Associate, Waterloo Centre for Groundwater Research, University of Waterloo, Canada

Postgraduate modules – MSc Hydrogeology

• Organic contaminant hydrogeology (MSc)
• Groundwater and contaminated land remediation (MSc)
• MSc research project supervision

Undergraduate modules – BSc/MSci Geology Programmes

• Human impact on the geological environment ESCM 328/448 (Years 3, 4)
• Hydrogeology ESCM 221 (Year 2)
• Global environmental issues GGM 103 (Year 1)
• Project / dissertation supervision (Years 3, 4)

Potential students interested to work in Dr Rivett’s research group should email him briefly outlining their main area of research of interest and a CV.  His current PhD research students are below:

• Armstrong-Pope, N., PhD in progress (part-time).  Determination of risks posed by potential radiological-contaminated groundwater discharges to coastal shoreline and river receptors. Funded by Sellafield Ltd.
• McMillan, L., PhD in progress. Groundwater quality: Rigorous sampling and interpretation of long-screen wells. NERC case studentship supported by Waterra and the Environment Agency.
• Batty, T. PhD in progress. Metal sorption to Triassic sandstone: the utility of the Kd concept. NERC case studentship supported by ESI.

A selection of current and recent research projects are provided below:

Hyporheic zone (Groundwater - surface-water interactions)

• Assessment of winter motorway runoff to a surface water infiltrating to groundwater. Funded by the Environment Agency
• Determination of risks posed by potential radiological-contaminated groundwater discharges to coastal shoreline and river receptors. Funded by Sellafield Ltd.
• Use of the urban hyporheic zone for contaminant attenuation – the SWITCH study site. EC Framework 6 SWITCH (Sustainable Water Is Tomorrows’ Cities’ Health) Project also funded by the Environment Agency.
• Modelling the development of gas concentration profiles in the hyporheic zone and their importance for hyporheic exchange flows.
• Mass flux and natural attenuation of chlorinated solvent plumes in the hyporeheic zone (various funders and field sites)

DNAPLs, chlorinated solvents and VOCs

• Development of urban groundwater supplies at risk from chlorinated solvent contamination. Supported by MWH Global with Severn Trent Water.
• Review of unsaturated-zone transport and attenuation of volatile organic compound (VOC) plumes leached from shallow source zones. In collaboration with BGS funded by AkzoNobel
• Use of longitudinal Streamtube monitoring approaches to determine TCE contaminant fate within the SABRE intra-source/plume test cell. In collaboration with BGS funded by CL:AIRE and the Environment Agency.

Groundwater monitoring and contaminant transport

• Groundwater quality: Rigorous sampling and interpretation of long-screen wells. NERC case studentship supported by Waterra and the Environment Agency.
• Organic contaminant transport through a thin clay aquitard influenced by palaeo-heterogeneities. Funded by: Environment Agency, Celtic Technologies Ltd, Waste Management Research Ltd, Cleansing Service Group Ltd.
• Metal sorption to Triassic sandstone: the utility of the Kd concept. NERC case studentship supported by ESI.
• Review of nitrate attenuation. In collaboration with ESI on behalf of the Environment Agency.

Dr Rivett’s professional memberships and other professional activities include the following:

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology – Editorial Board member (2006-08; 2009-12)

Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology – Editorial Board member (2000 – 03; 2008-11)

Chair (incoming) of the British Chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) (2012 - …)

The Geological Society of London

• Council of the Geological Society – Member (2006 - 09)
• Geological Society Professional Committee – Member (2006 – 08)
• Science Council – Advisory Group on Sustainability – Member representing the Geological Society (2005 – 06)
• Hydrogeological Group - Chairman (2004 – 06)
• Geological Society Science Committee – Member (2004-06)
• Hydrogeological Group Committee - Member (2001 – 06)
• Society Fellow (1998 - …)

CL:AIRE Technology and Research Group (TRG) Advisory Group Member (2008 - …)

Member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) (1992 - ..)

Member of the International Association of Hydrogeological Sciences (IAHS) (1999 - ..)

Sellafield Ltd. Land Quality Independent Peer Review Panel member (2008 – to date)

SABRE (Source Area Bioremediation) Dti – BioLink research project – Scientific advisor (2005-09)

EPSRC Peer Review College Member (2003-05) (2006-09) (2012 -…)

PhD examiner (25 occasions, 10 universities)

Consultancy / research project work for various environmental – hydrogeological consultancy companies, industry and regulatory agency organizations

Conference or conference session convening – numerous UK and several international meetings

Short courses – Leader and contributor to University of Birmingham and other short courses on contaminated land and groundwater contamination and remediation

See a full list of Dr Rivett's publications (PDF 683KB)

A selection of journal publications since 2007

Rivett, M.O., Ellis, P.A., Mackay, R., 2011. Urban groundwater baseflow influence upon inorganic river-water quality: the River Tame headwaters catchment in the City of Birmingham, UK.  Journal of Hydrology, 400, 206-222.  doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.01.036     

Rivett, M.O., Wealthall, G.P., Dearden, R.A., McAlary, T.A., 2011. Review of unsaturated-zone transport and attenuation of volatile organic compound (VOC) plumes leached from shallow source zones. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 123, 130–156. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2010.12.013

Cuthbert, M.O., Mackay, R., Durand, V., Aller, M.-F., Greswell, R.B., Rivett, M.O., 2010. Impacts of river bed gas on the hydraulic and thermal dynamics of the hyporheic zone. Advances in Water Resources, 33, 1347–1358. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.09.014  

White, R.A., Rivett, M.O., Tellam, J.H., 2008. Paleo-roothole facilitated transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through a Holocene clay bed. Environmental Science & Technology, 42, 7118-7124.  Doi: 10.1021/es800797u  

Rivett, M.O., Thornton, S.F., 2008. Monitored natural attenuation of organic contaminants in groundwater: principles and application. Water Management, 161(6), 381-392. doi: 10.1680/wama.2008.161.6381

Rivett, M.O., Buss, S.R., Morgan, P., Smith, J.W.N., Bemment, C.D., 2008. Nitrate attenuation in groundwater: a review of biogeochemical controlling processes. Water Research, 42, 4215-4232. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2008.07.020

Rivett, M.O., Ellis, P.A., Greswell, R.B., Ward, R.S., Roche, R.S., Cleverly, M., Walker, C., Conran, D., Fitzgerald, P.J., Willcox, T., Dowle, J., 2008. Cost-effective mini drive-point piezometers and multilevel samplers for monitoring the hyporheic zone. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology , 41(1) 49-60.    doi: 10.1144/1470-9236/07-012  

Rivett, M.O., Smith, J.W.N., Buss, S.R., Morgan, P., 2007. Nitrate occurrence and attenuation in the major aquifers of England and Wales. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology 40(4), 335-352.  doi: 10.1144/1470-9236/07-032

Rivett, M.O., Clark, L., 2007.A quest to locate sites described in the world’s first publication on trichloroethene contamination of groundwater. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology, 40(3), 241-249.   doi: 10.1144/1470-9236/06-047

Ellis, P.A., Mackay, R., Rivett, M.O., 2007. Quantifying urban river–aquifer fluid exchange processes: A multi-scale problem.  Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 91, 51-80.   doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2006.08.014 

Ellis, P.A., Rivett, M.O., 2007.  Assessing the impact of VOC-contaminated groundwater on surface-water at the city scale.  Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 91, 107-127. doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2006.08.015