News & Articles
06-Jul-2010
Researchers at a site near Belfast installed a zero-valent iron filing based permeable reactive barrier to remediate a site contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE). Recent testing has shown that after more than 10 years after the barrier was installed the technique is still working with groundwater being successfully treated although iron precipitation has occurred within the iron filings. Permeable reactive barriers are used as a remediation technique to clean groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents, they can remain in the ground for many years but until recently their effective life-span was untested.
To learn more about the research project please visit http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es902737t
01-Jul-2010
The driest start to the year since 1929 sees many reservoirs in the North West of England at under half capacity. This has forced United Utilities, the public water supplier for the region, to apply to the Environment Agency for drought permits to increase the amount of water it can remove from lakes and rivers to maintain essential supplies to customers. The majority of the water supplied in the region is from rivers, lakes and reservoirs, the levels of which can drop off quickly in dry weather. The North West is less reliant on groundwater resources (~15% of the water supply), which do not respond as much to short periods of low rainfall. Groundwater resources may be used to augment water supplies in the North West.
The Environment Agency who will help United Utilities manage any drought conditions has advised that the North West is an exception and water supplies in the remainder of England and Wales are not greatly affected.
To read the Environment Agency press release please visit
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/121005.aspx.
28-Jun-2010
The lowest January to May rainfall total since 1964 has caused a steep decline in river flows and reservoir levels but groundwater resources may prevent significant water shortages. By the end of May, reservoir stocks were the lowest for the time of year since the 1991 drought and river levels approached seasonal lows in many impermeable catchments. In contrast groundwater levels followed their typical seasonal decline and remain within their normal range, largely as a result of significant recharge last autumn. If a dry summer follows the dry spring the importance of groundwater resources to buffer drought conditions will become evident.
To read the latest hydrological summary please visit the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology’s web site here
www.ceh.ac.uk/data/nrfa/water_watch.html
07-May-2010
The US EPA is providing open access to 30 years worth of toxicity data via a database called ToxRefDB. Data on tens of thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals, including public hazard, exposure and risk-assessment data, will be available to both scientists and members of the public. The database also contains toxicity information for pesticide risk assessments.
To access the database please visit http://actor.epa.gov/toxrefdb/faces/Home.jsp
30-Apr-2010
The Flood and Water Management Act, which will reform the way in which flood risk is managed in England and Wales, has been given Royal Assent and becomes law. The Act identifies new statutory responsibilities for managing groundwater flood risk, in addition to other sources of flooding, such as surface water inundation. Sustainable drainage systems, water company charges and drought measures are also covered by the legislation.
To read Defra’s press release please visit www.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/100409a.htm
To read our article about groundwater flooding and the Floods and Water Management Act visit www.groundwateruk.org/Flood-and-Water-Management-Act.aspx
Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next Page