The Anglesey based Bridge Marine Science Group
(www.bridgemarinescience.co.uk) provides quality marine and environmental services on the international stage to meet the needs of organisations and businesses worldwide.
It is seeking to tender for a number of international water quality projects in Eastern Europe and elsewhere - you can view the wide range of skills required by downloading the matrix.
Any company or individual wishing to be associated with these bids can contact info@bridgemarinescience.co.uk for further details.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Water Efficiency in Domestic Market
The Environment Agency has published the report ‘Water Efficiency in the South East of England: Retrofitting Existing Homes’ which establishes the capacity for reducing water use in existing homes, considers the most effective ways of implementing water efficiency measures and assesses the costs and benefits of these approaches.
The five management measures selected for further analysis in this report were:
- Ultra low flush toilet replacement scheme.
- Variable flush retrofit devices.
- Low flow showers.
- Metering.
- Range of low water use fittings.
The report concludes that the highest water savings come from combined implementation strategies. For example, compulsory metering combined with fitting of variable flush retrofit devices and subsidising the end of life replacement of toilets with low flush models can achieve savings of 77.2 megalitres per day. The report concludes that improving water efficiency in existing homes can offset increased demand in high growth areas.
Meanwhile The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has published the report ‘Ofwat: Meeting the Demand for Water’ which concludes that Ofwat has not collected enough evidence on which water efficiency projects are most effective in helping consumers use less water. The report highlights that only 28% of UK households have a water meter. Therefore, 72% of consumers pay a fixed sum for their water supply and have no financial incentive to use water efficiently.
The five management measures selected for further analysis in this report were:
- Ultra low flush toilet replacement scheme.
- Variable flush retrofit devices.
- Low flow showers.
- Metering.
- Range of low water use fittings.
The report concludes that the highest water savings come from combined implementation strategies. For example, compulsory metering combined with fitting of variable flush retrofit devices and subsidising the end of life replacement of toilets with low flush models can achieve savings of 77.2 megalitres per day. The report concludes that improving water efficiency in existing homes can offset increased demand in high growth areas.
Meanwhile The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has published the report ‘Ofwat: Meeting the Demand for Water’ which concludes that Ofwat has not collected enough evidence on which water efficiency projects are most effective in helping consumers use less water. The report highlights that only 28% of UK households have a water meter. Therefore, 72% of consumers pay a fixed sum for their water supply and have no financial incentive to use water efficiently.
National Water Strategy
Back in April 2007 Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State for the Environment, announced that the Government would launch a consultation later in the year on a National Water Strategy. It is important for the Strategy to consider how the water sector can contribute to tackling climate change, including a combination of voluntary and mandatory measures.
"The water industry used 7,700 GWh of energy in its total operations during 2005/06, and emitted over 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. This is just under 1% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. The protection and restoration of water quality in the environment has a knock-on impact on energy requirements. While we have to keep improving water quality and the ecology it supports, we also have to ensure that current and future levels of demand are sustainable and can be provided at an acceptable cost – and that includes the cost of carbon.
Addressing diffuse pollution at source rather than in treatment works could result in energy savings, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although the water industry is under the climate change levy (CCL), it is not currently under any target to reduce its carbon emissions. This will have to change. The water sector would come under the proposed Energy Performance Commitment (EPC), if the Government decides to take this proposal forward.
In addition to the direct emissions from the water industry, there are very significant energy costs associated with many water uses in homes and businesses. Domestic hot water use – from baths, showers, taps and white goods but not from central heating – emits about 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year (over 5% of the UK’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions). Through greater water efficiency - a reduction of hot water use in households by just 15% would save the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road."
For more information, click here
"The water industry used 7,700 GWh of energy in its total operations during 2005/06, and emitted over 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. This is just under 1% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. The protection and restoration of water quality in the environment has a knock-on impact on energy requirements. While we have to keep improving water quality and the ecology it supports, we also have to ensure that current and future levels of demand are sustainable and can be provided at an acceptable cost – and that includes the cost of carbon.
Addressing diffuse pollution at source rather than in treatment works could result in energy savings, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although the water industry is under the climate change levy (CCL), it is not currently under any target to reduce its carbon emissions. This will have to change. The water sector would come under the proposed Energy Performance Commitment (EPC), if the Government decides to take this proposal forward.
In addition to the direct emissions from the water industry, there are very significant energy costs associated with many water uses in homes and businesses. Domestic hot water use – from baths, showers, taps and white goods but not from central heating – emits about 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year (over 5% of the UK’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions). Through greater water efficiency - a reduction of hot water use in households by just 15% would save the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road."
For more information, click here
Ofwat to consult on future of Water Market
Joint research commissioned by the UK water regulator Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water shows that whilst most business customers (84%) are supportive of competition in principle, the same number also perceive 'barriers' to competition in the water industry. These include uncertainty about the way the market works and the inability of new entrants to secure a low cost wholesale price.
A comprehensive consultation by Ofwat into stimulating competition within the water industry, including the fragmentation of large water and sewage companies, was launched on Monday 16 July 2007.
Since a new law was passed in December 2005 allowing the 2,200 largest water users to choose which company provides them with water, a few new entrants have gained licences to supply water; however not a single customer has switched.
Critics claim the way the rules were drafted stifled competition while Ofwat is contemplating a range of improvements including reduction in the eligibility threshold to let smaller users switch water suppliers.
A comprehensive consultation by Ofwat into stimulating competition within the water industry, including the fragmentation of large water and sewage companies, was launched on Monday 16 July 2007.
Since a new law was passed in December 2005 allowing the 2,200 largest water users to choose which company provides them with water, a few new entrants have gained licences to supply water; however not a single customer has switched.
Critics claim the way the rules were drafted stifled competition while Ofwat is contemplating a range of improvements including reduction in the eligibility threshold to let smaller users switch water suppliers.
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Advantica pilots new burst finding technology
Advantica recently teamed with Hyder Consulting and Hydrosave UK to deliver a broad range of leakage consultancy and project management capabilities for Severn Trent Water.
The effort was designed to evaluate how a burst finding algorithm in the SynerGEE® Water software Calibration Module could contribute efficiencies to Severn Trent Water’s proactive leakage management.
The method was applied in a pilot of three district metered area (DMA) networks of different size, configuration and pipe material. Hydrosave completed initial leakage surveys and information was imported into Severn Trent Water’s SynerGEE® hydraulic models for each of the three DMAs.
The effort was designed to evaluate how a burst finding algorithm in the SynerGEE® Water software Calibration Module could contribute efficiencies to Severn Trent Water’s proactive leakage management.
The method was applied in a pilot of three district metered area (DMA) networks of different size, configuration and pipe material. Hydrosave completed initial leakage surveys and information was imported into Severn Trent Water’s SynerGEE® hydraulic models for each of the three DMAs.
British Hydro Association Annual Conference
Birnham Institute, Perth, Scotland
10-11 October 2007
This event will incorporate a diverse range of conference sessions, a technical exhibition and a gala dinner with after dinner entertainment. Further details, including booking forms, will follow shortly.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Presenters are invited to submit a 200 word extract no later than 14 July 2007 together with their contact details (name, address, email, phone, fax) to BHA, by email to info@british-hydro.org or by fax to 01202 886609. There will be sessions covering the following topics:
The UK Hydro mix
An up-to-date review of the types of hydropower available for development in the UK. Types of hydropower to be considered: Tidal impoundment and the Severn Barrage, Pumped Storage, Micro hydro, Conventional storage and run-of-river hydro and Hydro in water supply and wastewater systems.
This session will be part of the opening session with the keynote speakers in
attendance.
Trouble at t’mill
We continue to encounter barriers to development of hydro despite the
Government’s commitment to increasing generation from renewable sources.
Topics can include: Planning, Abstraction licensing and application charges, The Renewables Obligation - what next?, The Public’s perception of hydro, Initial equipment and upfront costs, Innovative ways of overcoming barriers, New markets and products, Research and development, Approach to global markets, How to keep abreast of competition and Innovations and designs (including the opportunity to meet with visitors from overseas who have a role in their countries’ hydro sectors).
Exhibition
Companies interested in exhibiting should contact the BHA on 01202 880333 or
email info@british-hydro.org or by fax to 01202 886609.
Sponsorship
For a higher profile at this important event, why not take advantage of sponsorship
opportunities. For more details of the sponsorship package available, please contact the BHA on 01202 880333.
10-11 October 2007
This event will incorporate a diverse range of conference sessions, a technical exhibition and a gala dinner with after dinner entertainment. Further details, including booking forms, will follow shortly.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Presenters are invited to submit a 200 word extract no later than 14 July 2007 together with their contact details (name, address, email, phone, fax) to BHA, by email to info@british-hydro.org or by fax to 01202 886609. There will be sessions covering the following topics:
The UK Hydro mix
An up-to-date review of the types of hydropower available for development in the UK. Types of hydropower to be considered: Tidal impoundment and the Severn Barrage, Pumped Storage, Micro hydro, Conventional storage and run-of-river hydro and Hydro in water supply and wastewater systems.
This session will be part of the opening session with the keynote speakers in
attendance.
Trouble at t’mill
We continue to encounter barriers to development of hydro despite the
Government’s commitment to increasing generation from renewable sources.
Topics can include: Planning, Abstraction licensing and application charges, The Renewables Obligation - what next?, The Public’s perception of hydro, Initial equipment and upfront costs, Innovative ways of overcoming barriers, New markets and products, Research and development, Approach to global markets, How to keep abreast of competition and Innovations and designs (including the opportunity to meet with visitors from overseas who have a role in their countries’ hydro sectors).
Exhibition
Companies interested in exhibiting should contact the BHA on 01202 880333 or
email info@british-hydro.org or by fax to 01202 886609.
Sponsorship
For a higher profile at this important event, why not take advantage of sponsorship
opportunities. For more details of the sponsorship package available, please contact the BHA on 01202 880333.
First zero-liquid discharge ethanol plant in the US
The production capacity of the U.S. ethanol industry was a mere 2.2 billion gallons per year when U.S. Water Services and Utility Chemicals Inc. merged in 2000. In the seven years since then, U.S. ethanol producers have added nearly 4 billion gallons of production capacity and U.S. Water Services has intuitively stepped up its operations to parallel that growth. While its original focus was on chemical sales, the challenges and opportunities presented by the ethanol build-out led the company to change its business philosophy and focus more on engineering, equipment and consulting services aimed at providing complete solutions to a company's water needs.
It is hardly surprising that a water services company would grow with the ethanol industry. As more dry-grind corn-based ethanol plants spring up in the Midwest, the demand for solutions to water issues follows. Challenges such as water discharge restrictions, shortages of available water resources and the increased sizes of production facilities are making water one of the most important considerations in ethanol plant construction or expansion.
The solutions to these problems range from conducting environmental studies to minimizing water discharge impact to—in extreme cases—the complete elimination of water discharge. Water availability concerns can be addressed in a number of ways. A 30% reduction in water used per gallon is becoming critical as the industry continues to grow, and the size of the ethanol plants increases. Most of the dry-mill plants built to date have used groundwater to supply their plants. The underground aquifer size and the number of users already on the aquifer will limit how much water a plant can take.
Minimizing fresh water intake is the first step in keeping a plant from outstripping its available water supply. More efficient use of that water is one way to reduce demand, but another possible solution is grey water. By utilizing water that has already been used in another process, the need for fresh water coming into the system can be reduced.
Although the Ethanol group is working on improvements in process technology in the corn-based ethanol sector, they is also preparing for the next generation of ethanol production—cellulosic ethanol. The commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production isn't yet a reality but the research and development is underway.
It is hardly surprising that a water services company would grow with the ethanol industry. As more dry-grind corn-based ethanol plants spring up in the Midwest, the demand for solutions to water issues follows. Challenges such as water discharge restrictions, shortages of available water resources and the increased sizes of production facilities are making water one of the most important considerations in ethanol plant construction or expansion.
The solutions to these problems range from conducting environmental studies to minimizing water discharge impact to—in extreme cases—the complete elimination of water discharge. Water availability concerns can be addressed in a number of ways. A 30% reduction in water used per gallon is becoming critical as the industry continues to grow, and the size of the ethanol plants increases. Most of the dry-mill plants built to date have used groundwater to supply their plants. The underground aquifer size and the number of users already on the aquifer will limit how much water a plant can take.
Minimizing fresh water intake is the first step in keeping a plant from outstripping its available water supply. More efficient use of that water is one way to reduce demand, but another possible solution is grey water. By utilizing water that has already been used in another process, the need for fresh water coming into the system can be reduced.
Although the Ethanol group is working on improvements in process technology in the corn-based ethanol sector, they is also preparing for the next generation of ethanol production—cellulosic ethanol. The commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production isn't yet a reality but the research and development is underway.
United Utilities fined £8.5m by Ofwat
The Water group has been fined by industry watchdog for "repeatedly" breaching trading rules during 2005-06. Ofwat found United Utilities failed "to establish prices by market testing" for eight deals with associate companies.
By not inviting companies to compete for contracts, United Utilities' customers could end up paying higher prices than necessary. Market testing enables water companies to obtain the best combination of price and quality of service for their business needs.
Ofwat estimates that the value of the trading arrangements that compromised the rules was "significant", at around £95m in the period October 2005 to March 2007. This is equivalent to around 8% of the company's turnover for the 2005-06 financial year.
The fine will have no impact on customers' bills, which are governed by price limits set in 2005, but will be borne by United Utilities' shareholders. In December last year, United Utilities undertook a legally binding agreement with Ofwat to stop trading arrangements that breached compliance rules with associate companies on or before April 30 this year.
By not inviting companies to compete for contracts, United Utilities' customers could end up paying higher prices than necessary. Market testing enables water companies to obtain the best combination of price and quality of service for their business needs.
Ofwat estimates that the value of the trading arrangements that compromised the rules was "significant", at around £95m in the period October 2005 to March 2007. This is equivalent to around 8% of the company's turnover for the 2005-06 financial year.
The fine will have no impact on customers' bills, which are governed by price limits set in 2005, but will be borne by United Utilities' shareholders. In December last year, United Utilities undertook a legally binding agreement with Ofwat to stop trading arrangements that breached compliance rules with associate companies on or before April 30 this year.
Infrastructure growth limited to 1% this year
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has raised its predicted output this year but followed by a slowdown next year. An anticipated cooling in the housing market, together with poor delivery of planned investment by the water industry and the Highways Agency, will constrain growth, particularly next year.
The commercial sector is forecast to remain the motor of construction growth over the next three years, although the pace is expected to slow next year and in 2009 as the current tranche of orders is completed. Leisure-related output is foreseen to strengthen next year and in 2009 as Olympic projects gather pace.
The CPA predicts that public housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) output will recover over the next three years but warns that the government’s waning enthusiasm for upgrading social housing to the decent homes standard by 2010 will limit progress.
Less road construction and a weaker than expected pick-up in water industry investment are expected to limit infrastructure growth to 1% this year and the same next year. For more on this visit http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=30&storycode=3090106&c=0
The commercial sector is forecast to remain the motor of construction growth over the next three years, although the pace is expected to slow next year and in 2009 as the current tranche of orders is completed. Leisure-related output is foreseen to strengthen next year and in 2009 as Olympic projects gather pace.
The CPA predicts that public housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) output will recover over the next three years but warns that the government’s waning enthusiasm for upgrading social housing to the decent homes standard by 2010 will limit progress.
Less road construction and a weaker than expected pick-up in water industry investment are expected to limit infrastructure growth to 1% this year and the same next year. For more on this visit http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=30&storycode=3090106&c=0
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