bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Use of Audit Surveys in River Maintenance
Authors: EXTON DENISE M. , CROMPTON JUDITH L. 
Published: July 2007

The use of river corridor surveys (RCS) prior to major river maintenance works is now widely accepted within the water industry as a means of integrating the requirements for nature conservation with river‐management practices. This paper outlines the audit procedures introduced by the National Rivers Authority (NRA), Wessex Region.The introduction of follow‐up or audit surveys in 1988 allowed an assessment of the effectiveness of RCS in protecting and enhancing habitats. The method and results of the audit are discussed, confirming the usefulness of audit in ensuring success in the most cost‐effective manner. The audit also identified training needs and failures in implementing enhancement recommendations. Audit has led to a more consistent standard of environmentally‐sensitive maintenance work. A revised method for audit surveys is detailed.
Precast Concrete Blocks for High‐Velocity Flow Applications
Authors: BAKER R. 
Published: July 2007

Precast concrete blocks can be used as erosion protection to a surface subjected to high‐velocity water, for example a dam spillway.The paper describes model testing carried out on flat and wedge‐shaped blocks in a purpose‐designed facility at the University of Salford, where an open channel discharge intensity of 0.5 m2/s can be accelerated to a velocity of 7.5 m/s.The failure modes of tied and untied flat concrete blocks have been investigated under different laying and bedding conditions. The model results are compared to the findings from prototype studies. Results from experiments on wedge‐shaped blocks of a Soviet design are also presented and confirm the Russian experience that the wedge shape is inherently stable at large discharges, a block of 100‐m thickness being stable under a discharge intensity of 20 m2/s.
Pollution from Fish Farms
Authors: JONES J. G. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTFish farms are continuing to grow in numbers and in size. They cause concern because of their location in areas of high‐quality water, frequently in the headwaters where there is little dilution for large volumes of effluent. This jeopardizes the water quality, and may affect the ecology of the river ‐ migratory fish in particular.The use of chemicals for the treatment of disease is causing concern, particularly if the river is used for potable abstraction. Little information is available on the low‐level effects and the detection of chemicals such as antibiotics and hormones. The chemicals are not controlled nationally, the only control being through consents.With the continued growth of the fish‐farm industry, problems are likely to increase in the future unless a responsible attitude to their development is adopted.
Flood Frequency Analysis for the 1988 Truro Floods
Authors: ACREMAN M. C. , HORROCKS R. J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTIn January 1988 the city of Truro experienced a severe flood from the River Kenwyn. The return period of this event was initially estimated at 350 years using the methodology recommended in the Flood Studies Report1. In October of the same year a second flood, of even greater magnitude, occurred. The subsequent investigations employed a variety of flood frequency estimation techniques including one which uses descriptive information on the history of flooding, obtained from local newspapers and journals, in addition to recent flow records. The return periods of the two events were reassessed to be 50 and 100 years respectively. This flood frequency behaviour was found to be markedly different from the regional average for the South West of England.
Galvanic Corrosion of Lead Solder in Copper Pipework
Authors: GREGORY R. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe galvanic corrosion potentials of thirty‐eight different waters were measured on site, using ‘Oliphant’ corrosion cells, for lead‐tin solder coupled to copper. A wide range in corrosion potential was found, and the chloride‐sulphate ratio had the most significant effect on corrosion potential. Tests to reduce corrosion potentials by dosing sulphate, silicate, zinc and orthophosphate were carried out. Zinc dosing, especially in combination with ortho‐phosphate, was the most effective treatment for all waters, but posed problems.Contamination of tapwater by galvanic corrosion of lead solder occurs early in the life of new plumbing, and risk of exposure to contamination can be reduced by flushing before drawing dietetic water. Best‐of‐all, lead‐tin solder should not be used.
The Application of a Computer‐Based System in the Development of Objective River Maintenance
Authors: FITZSIMONS J. , PIMPERTON A. J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTDuring recent years the need for more objective ways of planning river maintenance work has been highlighted by (a) a greater emphasis on justifying budgets, (b) the requirement to provide ‘levels of service’ indicators, and (c) the growing concern from conservationists. This has prompted the development of a computer system within the Severn Trent Authority, known as the Rivers Information and Maintenance System (RIMS), which is described in this paper. This system allows engineers who are responsible for the maintenance of about 3500 km of main river in the STWA area to assess the costs, benefits, and ultimately the environmental impact, of carrying out such works as dredging, tree work and weed control.
The Impact of Intensive Dairy Farming Activities on River Quality: The Eastern Cleddau Catchment Study
Authors: SCHOFIELD K. , SEAGER J. , MERRLMAN R. P. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTPollution from farm wastes has been one of the principal causes of deterioration in river quality in recent years. However, little is understood of how, and which, farming activities affect the chemical and biological quality of rivers. To address this problem, a field study has been initiated in the Eastern Cleddau catchment, West Wales, to investigate relationships between land use, farm waste management practices and river quality.Water quality of small tributaries in this area is poor, and intensive chemical monitoring has shown that discharges from farmyards are a major source of pollution. Rainfall has been shown to exacerbate this effect either through field runoff or wastes washing directly from the farmyards. The status of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in these tributaries is poor and, typically, only a few pollution‐tolerant species are present.Small tributaries from farms appear to affect both the water chemistry and biology of larger watercourses, although this effect may be quite localized.Future research will look at ways to reduce the impact of farm wastes on river quality. This will provide the basis for producing recommendations and guidelines for catchment management aimed at minimizing pollution of rivers from farming practices.
The Application of Physicochemical Treatment to an Overloaded Sewage Works
Authors: JONES K. , SMITH D. E. , THOMAS C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe application of physicochemical treatment (PCT) to an overloaded sewage‐treatment works is described. Two methods were evaluated: (i) the ‘Clariflow’system marketed by Energy and Waste Systems Ltd, and (ii) an ‘in‐house’system of dosing chemicals into existing tanks. Both methods increased the efficiency of primary sedimentation, thereby reducing the organic load applied to biological filters and improving final effluent quality. Some indication of the cost‐benefit relationships was obtained.
The Production of High‐Quality Effluents in Sewage Treatment Using the Biocarbone Process
Authors: LILLY W. , BOURN G. , CRABTREE H. , UPTON J. , THOMAS V. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe Biocarbone process is a new system for water and effluent purification in which biological treatment and physical filtration take place in the same reactor. Because the use of the process for tertiary treatment of sewage effluent had not been fully investigated, a pilot‐scale evaluation was undertaken at Severn Trent's Wigston sewage‐treatment works. This paper presents the results.The study corroborates performance information published by the manufacturer. It shows that the process is an alternative to conventional technology for producing fully‐nitrified tertiary effluents having low biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids (SS) concentrations.
Identifying Land Contaminated by Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Solvents
Authors: EASTWOOD P. R. , LERNER D. N. , BISHOP P. K. , BURSTON M. W. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper provides a method of identifying land contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents by sampling and analysing soil gas. Relationships are presented which enable levels of soil gas contamination to be related to levels of soil and groundwater pollution. Two case studies are presented. Soil gas surveying of an industrial site with severe groundwater pollution demonstrated that standards for contaminated land are insufficient to protect groundwater. Solvent levels in groundwater were one to two orders of magnitude higher than UK permitted concentrations in drinking water, whereas soil contamination values did not reach polluted levels. Surveying of a site occupied by a disused fire station showed significant differences in patterns of soil gas and groundwater pollution. This is explained by direct pollution of groundwater though the well at the site and/or possible flow of polluted groundwater to the site from adjacent areas.
The Effect of Hydrogen Sulphide on CHP Engines at Countess Wear Sewage‐Treatment Works, Exeter
Authors: FULTON A. C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe combined heat and power (CHP) system at Countess Wear sewage‐treatment works, Exeter, has been very successful. However, there is a persistent operational problem caused by the acidification of engine lubricating oils by hydrogen sulphide present in digester gas.The background to the problem is described, and particular emphasis is placed on the use of ‘total base number’(TBN) as a monitoring parameter and the application of ferric chloride as a gas‐scrubbing agent. The economics of CHP are questioned at sites where the hydrogen sulphide level in the digester gas exceeds 2000 ppm.
Greenock/Gourock/Port Glasgow Drainage Scheme and Long Sea Outfall Design
Authors: HUNTER J. C. , SCOTT A. Y. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe paper describes the design and construction of a comprehensive drainage scheme which is based on a system of intercepting sewers, headworks, and a long sea outfall. Details are given of the fabrication, discharge arrangements and construction of the outfall, together with measures used for long‐term protection of the pipeline. The layout and design of the headworks and the changes made to the original design to meet changing environmental requirements are given. The paper briefly outlines the existing sewerage system and goes on to describe the proposed interceptor sewerage system for the connection of the flow from the existing outfalls to the headworks. Difficulties encountered in construction are highlighted.The authors indicate their view on the suitability of the present design, and recognition is given to the likelihood that additional facilities may be required in future. The difficulties which could arise in the provision of such facilities are also highlighted.
Insights into Domestic Demand from a Metering Trial
Authors: RUSSAC D. A. V. , RUSHTON K. R. , SIMPSON R. J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractDetailed metering trials together with a survey of property type, household size, and appliance ownership have provided an opportunity to study domestic demand in detail. The data are presented in a number of alternative ways to highlight the relationship between demand and features of the individual households. The uncertainties inherent in using small samples to estimate demands for an area are discussed, and the usefulness of ACORN classifications to characterize an area is examined.
The Liability of Engineers in Design and Construction under English Law: An Engineer's View
Authors: JERRAM D. S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractActions by employers against their professional advisers are on the increase. With the recent changes in the water industry it is possible that the trend will continue, if only because the new private owners can be expected to be less tolerant than their predecessors. This development is compounded by the complicated technical progress with which water engineers are required to be familiar in an industry which demands skills of a high order.The paper reviews some of the situations in which professional liability can arise, with reference to appropriate case law. The present state of the law in this field is the product of accidental and haphazard development of litigation, with a period of great uncertainty having now become more settled by some recently decided cases.
Probabilistic Modelling in the Water Industry
Authors: METCALFE A. V. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe water authorities in England and Wales, which have now become water companies, recently had to provide anticipated costs for maintaining the water supply and sewerage systems over the next 20 years. Probabilistic models and statistical inference provide an opportunity to quantify the uncertainty in such exercises. Their use in a study undertaken by a water authority in the north‐east of England is described and illustrated with interim data which were available at an early stage in the exercise.
Cyanobacterial (Blue‐Green Algal) Toxins and their Significance in UK and European Waters
Authors: LAWTON LINDA A. , CODD G. A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe cyanobacteria (blue‐green algae) which commonly produce mass developments in fresh and saline waters are capable of producing toxins. These compounds have been responsible for the deaths of animals, birds and fish in many countries, and have been linked with several forms of human illness through skin contact and ingestion. Evidence has accumulated over the past decade that cyanobacterial toxins occur commonly in European waters which contain cyanobacterial mass growths. This paper summarizes the recent published occurrence and types of cyanobacterial toxins found in European waters with reference to poisoning incidents.Cyanobacterial blooms were particularly abundant in the warm dry summer of 1989 in the UK. The deaths of sheep and dogs and the cases of human illness that were ascribed to cyanobacterial toxins were followed by a more intensive and wider investigation into the extent of cyanobacterial toxicity in UK waters than had hitherto been undertaken. Of the cyanobacterial blooms sampled from over 90 freshwaters, approximately two‐thirds were toxic (lethal) according to mouse bioassay. Short‐term and long‐term needs for the recognition, quantification and management of problems which can be caused by potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria in water‐bodies used for recreation, aquaculture and potable supply are briefly discussed.
Development of a New Water Supply for Fort William
Authors: JOHNSTONE J. M. C. , RENNIE G. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe development of a new water supply source for the Fort William/Corpach and Caol area in the West Highlands of Scotland is described with particular reference to the hydrological and groundwater investigations. Attention is given to a study to reduce the level of leakage and to the analysis of improvements in water quality between well and direct river abstraction. The effect on fisheries in the River Lochy is described, and a preliminary design identified for the recommended scheme.
Contaminated Land: Implications for Water Pollution
Authors: FLAVIN R. J. , HARRIS R. C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe water environment is often neglected in the assessment of the impact of contaminated land and its redevelopment. The lack of effective legislative controls over derelict contaminated land areas and the poor appreciation of water pollution by developers and planning authorities in the undertaking and controlling of site redevelopment has severely hindered effective clean‐up and protection of groundwater and surface waters.The formation of the National Rivers Authority, the publication of the House of Commons Environment Committee's report and the implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have given the subject a new impetus. The preparation of registers by local authorities, which identify contaminated land areas, could be enhanced by the National River Authority's assessment of key sites. It is hoped to initiate clean‐up by cooperation, but the testing of legislative powers has been encouraged by the Government, if only to reveal their inadequacies.
Recently Recognized Concerns in Drinking Water Microbiology
Authors: WATKINS J. , CAMERON SHONA A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA wide range of pathogenic micro‐organisms may be found in wastewater and effluents associated with animals. Bacterial indicators may not always be adequate to demonstrate their presence in raw and treated waters. Some pathogens have only recently been recognized as causing problems in water, either by their resistance to disinfection or their ability to grow in aquatic systems. Much time and effort is being spent on improving existing methods and developing new methods which will improve (a) our ability to detect pathogens, (b) our understanding of their distribution in the environment, and (c) the efficacy of water treatment in removing them.
Vacuum Sewerage – The Four Crosses Experience
Authors: ASHLIN D. E. , BENTLEY S. E. , CONSTERDINE J. P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe paper describes the installation of a vacuum sewerage system in a village on the Welsh border west of Shrewsbury. Reasons are given for the choice of system, design criteria, and installation experience, together with observations on the system's performance over the last four years.The scheme is self‐contained in that it has a dedicated sewage‐treatment works in the form of a proprietary rotating biological contactor, and it is about to be extended in a second phase of vacuum sewerage.
The Roadford Scheme: Planning, Reservoir Construction and the Environment
Authors: GILKES P. W. , MILLMORE J. P. , BELL J. E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractRoadford reservoir completes South West Water's major three reservoir strategy quadrupling storage in the region.The paper examines how environmental issues have impacted on the scheme and demonstrates how effective planning and management can minimize effects and concerns on a major civil engineering project.Strategy changes from river regulation to gravity water mains have given reduced environmental impact on rivers and a lowering of power costs, also giving environmental gain. The setting of strict environmental protection measures within contracts and a determined policing policy during construction have produced low levels of pollution incidents during construction.The paper highlights the benefits of working with environmental groups to secure a successful conclusion not only of the construction element but how that construction can be blended into its local environment. Costs are identified and the authors point to the substantial public relations benefits that can be gained with the successful management of environmental issues.
The UK's Environmental Strategy and Its Likely Impact
Authors:   THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CENTRAL DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe Environment White Paper entitled ‘This Common Inheritance’, published in September 1990, set out for the first time a comprehensive statement of the Government's environmental policies and its strategy for their implementation. It established a number of principles on which that strategy is based, the key one being that we have a duty to hand on our world in good order to future generations.Another principle is that we must only act on the best available scientific evidence, but if that evidence is inconclusive we must take precautionary action. In applying this principle, the Government is aware of the need to promote scientific research to ensure that the results are given wide and clear dissemination.Everyone is involved in protecting and improving the environment. Many businesses are already investigating ways of reducing damage to the environment that, in fact, make good commercial sense. Local authorities, voluntary groups and individuals can and do help.
Treatment and Disposal Scheme for the Sewage of Athens
Authors: ANDREADAKIS A. D. , CHRISTOULAS D. G. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe sewage from the Greater Athens area is discharged without treatment to the nearby Saronicos Gulf. Recently the Greek government decided to implement an appropriate treatment and disposal scheme, on the basis of a study of the hydrodynamic behaviour of the Gulf and the fate of the discharged pollutants. The study was conducted with the aid of suitable hydrodynamic and water quality models for a number of alternative treatment schemes, ranging from primary treatment to biological treatment with seasonal nitrogen removal, combined with outfalls of different lengths. The results indicate that, although none of the examined schemes will lead to an immediate substantial impact, the scheme that includes biological treatment with seasonal nitrogen removal can eliminate the danger of serious ecological disturbances at a reasonable cost.
Evaluation of Methods for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Control in Sewage Effluents
Authors: HARREMOËS P. , SINKÆ O. , HANSEN J. L. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe design parameters for the City of Copenhagen sewage‐treatment works were established on an experimental basis, and parallel studies of six pilot plants were made over a two‐year period. The key parameters are (a) the rate of nitrification and denitrification, (b) temperature, and (c) BOD: N ratio in the influent. The data obtained from different methods had to be normalized with respect to the fraction of nitrifiers, temperature, and concentrations of substrates in order to achieve consistent results. The results indicated a substantial inhibition of the nitrifiers, i.e. a 20–30% reduction of the reaction rate. Significant savings were made possible by a comprehensive analysis of the temperature conditions.
New Technologies in the Belgian Drinking Water Sector
Authors: DESMED A. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe internationalization of the European market means that the new technologies used in the Belgian water supply sector are very similar to those used in other European countries. Belgian experience of the following new technologies is described in this paper: denitrification, automation, remote reading of water meters, network cartography, directional drilling, leak detection, and experiments with new materials and equipment.
Fluvial Redistribution of Chernobyl Fallout: Reservoir Evidence in the Severn Basin
Authors: ROWAN J. S. , BRADLEY S. B. , WALLING D. E. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTSediments in the Chelmarsh pump‐storage reservoir have provided a valuable record of the 137Cs levels associated with suspended particulates transported by the River Severn since 1965. The presence of Chernobyl‐derived 137Cs and 134Cs within the sedimentary record of the site, despite the absence of any direct fallout on the local area, confirmed that radiocaesium from the Ukrainian reactor accident has been mobilized from the upper reaches of the Severn basin where atmospheric deposition was relatively high. The incorporation of Chernobyl radiocaesium within these sediments can be used to date the 1986 fallout episode, and the established geochronology indicated variable rates of post‐1986 sediment accumulation. As radiocaesium is strongly bound to fluvial particulates, this mechanism of redistribution has not adversely affected the quality of the drinking‐water source at the site which was studied.