WINW Newsletter available

The April 2008 WINW Newsletter is available for download:

Download here

Underground Assets Workshop Report

Aberystwyth, 26th February 2008

The aim of the event was for businesses and academics to offer their existing products and services as value for money solutions to the proposed issues (as suggested by Atkins – Tier 1 supplier to Dwr Cymru) and to discuss the potential for collaboration to develop new products or services where necessary.

The issues were locating underground assets, recording and reporting their position plus improvements to and automation of processes to monitor the condition of the underground elements of sewerage systems.

The event was a success in terms of group discussions and participation. The Workshop Report can be downloaded which includes highlights of those discussions and the recommendations following from them.

Great oaks from wastewater sludge grow

A new project in North Carolina will stop wastewater sludge going to landfill by converting it to pellets for use on forestry land. The thermal dryer used to create the pellets with less than 10% water content will be fuelled by methane produced at the wastewater-treatment plant.

View the full article at JournalNow.com

Innovation in Leak Detection

eSAY, a software company based in Salford, has won a £100,000 contract from water giant United Utilities to help stop leaks.

`Pinpoint' technology - which monitors and reports leaking mains - will be rolled out across the whole of the north west following a successful trial in Greater Manchester.

Pinpoint used on hand-held PDA devices enabled with Global Positioning System (GPS) allows engineers to file reports of leaks and defects from the field.

Read the full article on the Manchester Evening News

Recruiting Reviewers

Water and Environment Journal is seeking to increase its reviewer database. Reviewers peer-review technical papers to determine their suitability for publication and advise on any amendments or revisions necessary such that papers are credible and accurate; enhance knowledge and understanding of water and environmental issues; promote sustainable development and are a credit to the standing and reputation of CIWEM and the profession.

This is a great opportunity to be involved in the work of the Institution and be the first to read exciting new research. Applications are invited from anyone with suitable expertise in a subject within the scope of water and environmental management.

Reviewers can also enjoy free online access to Water and Environment Journal for one year and a 20% discount on Blackwell books! This includes access to full articles, you can request RSS feeds and updates straight to your desktop, search all full-text articles for key-words or phrases and sign up for table of contents e-mail alerts.

For more information or to submit your CV please contact Joanna Cooper jcooper@ciwem.org

THE STERN REPORT: THE CHALLENGE FOR WALES

Thursday February 28 Chwefror 2008
Holiday Inn, Caerdydd/Cardiff


IWA conference to include speakers from Welsh Water, Aberystwyth University, Manchester University, Welsh Assembly Government, Environment Agency Wales and Dow
Corning on:

• The Climate Change Imperative
• The Stern Report’s Implications for Wales
• Moving the Welsh Economy Towards the Stern Agenda
• Reconciling Economic Development with Environmental Limits
• Meeting the EU Carbon Reduction Target in Wales
• Climate Change: The Balance Sheet
• The challenge of climate change on water supply and wastewater treatment in Wales
• The Severn Barrage: a case study in climate change trade offs

Keynote address from Ieuan Wyn Jones AM.

To register please contact the IWA by email, download the booking form and programme or visit the IWA website

WINW Newsletter

Copies of the members' newsletter for January 08 can be downloaded here.

Send a message to the EGSi mailbox to subscribe.

Technical Workshop

Management of Underground Assets

Aberystwyth, 26th February

Aim - businesses and academics to offer their existing products and services as value for money solutions to the problems proposed and to discuss the potential for collaboration to develop new products or services where necessary.

Problems proposed – location of underground assets, recording and reporting their position. Improvements to and automation of processes to monitor the condition of the underground elements of sewerage systems.

Proposed by – Tier 1 supplier to Dwr Cymru

Eligibility – open to all, but preference will be given to SMEs from Objective 1 areas of Wales.

Contact Katharine York to register your interest.

Olympic Tender Opportunities

CompeteFor acts as a brokerage service between buyers throughout the London 2012 supply chain, and potential suppliers. Businesses of any size can use the CompeteFor brokerage service as a buyer or supplier of Games-related goods and services. You will first need to register the basic details of your organisation. This will allow you to view opportunities and gain access to Games-related business news and events. You will also be able to post opportunities as a buyer.

On-line seminar

Decision Support Tools for Field Engineers
2p.m. Wednesday, 30th January 2008

Interwise Online Seminar
Speaker: Dr John Brooke, Co-Director The e-Science North West Centre, Manchester

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems gather real-time data and provide possibilities for data analyses, but are mostly used for monitoring and to raise alarms. Water engineers in the field need an up-to-date view of the network for sound decision making with the aid of predictive tools - "What will be the effect of opening/closing this valve?”

Dr. Brooke will present a software prototype that presents the output of a simulation predicting flow in a water network via Google maps. This allows an engineer using a laptop or a PDA to visualise water flow in the network on a map of the district, viewing changes in pressure, movement of contaminants, flow rates etc. in a form which is related to the actual engineering task to be performed.

Instructions on how to join this online event can be found here. If you are an Interwise veteran or My Meeting Room user, the Meeting ID is 184531.

Utility seeks permission to extend Essex reservoir

Proposals for the first major reservoir project in the UK for nearly 30 years have been submitted to planning authorities in Essex.

Essex & Suffolk Water wants to enlarge its existing reservoir at Abberton by 60 per cent to help to safeguard future water supplies in Essex. The reservoir extension, which will be the largest reservoir project since Kielder Water in Northumberland was started 26 years ago, has been 15 years in the planning.

The scheme underlines the need for new water supplies in the South East of England, where population growth is pushing up demand. Thames Water is proposing to build a new reservoir in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, but it will be 2009 before the final plans are submitted to the Government.

Full article can be read at Times Online

How to Tender

A ‘How to Tender Seminar’ will be held at The Technium at Aberystwyth on Thursday 17th January, 10-2.

This will benefit companies who wish to learn more about tendering for small and large contracts in both the Public and Private Sectors.

If you would like to attend please reply to llprice@anturteifi.org.uk by 11th January.

Places will be reserved on a first come first served basis as numbers will be limited.

Agenda

• 10–10.30 Registration, Tea or Coffee

• Module 1 – Why Tender?

• Module 2 - The Stages and Thresholds of Procurement

Buffet and an opportunity for networking

• Module 3 – The Tender

• Module 4 – Finding Tenders and Future Help

Questions