SPECIAL REPORT
THINK LEAK
TARGETS
The credit squeeze should not put pay to the wider strategy for better water quality
THINK LEAK
Much is focused on flood defence spending, source is a major and constant important long
with projected annual requirements doubling to term pollution risk. Existing technology is DETECTION
£1B per year by 2035. Otherwise, it is claimed developed and fully proven, whether for remote
that flooding as a result of climate change could or satellite CSO schemes. Small system footprints
cause up to £4B of damage annually. for low capital costs, no power requirement and
The EA’s funding settlement runs out in 2011, no moving parts ensure low running costs and
THINK
and these projections may be regarded as minimal maintenance, ideal for our strained
advanced lobbying. Against this, Hilary Benn, the economic times and we would be a lot nearer
Environment Secretary, has been cautioning over the overall water quality requirements.
tough economic conditions, resource allocations Bringing the highway drainage network fully
and quality of life. But in this jockeying for into the control framework should also be a
finance, are some fundamental requirements priority, as highways are a major source of
and methods for meeting WFD being forgotten? stormwater run off with associated sediments
and pollution. Installation of effective sediment
Still time to make a difference and silt management is being implemented on
There are several key ways we can get closer to the M25 in the 2009 widening programme.
meeting the WFD. For example, we could greatly Agriculture is also a major source of diffuse
improve control of stormwater volume and pollution, with phosphorous and ammonia
quality close to the fall point. The technology is entering from fertiliser and slurry spreading
already available, and more is being introduced. practices; identification and mitigation of these
SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) have requires investment and careful planning.
been identified by public and industry opinion We need to address retrospective measures
formers as an approach that should be for additional stormwater and CSO control,
implemented to control flooding. The especially in urban areas, instead of merely
responsibility for implementing SUDS measures looking at new projects. Although potentially
has been passed on to local authorities and a costly, major retrospective investments could
SebaKMT UK supply a full range of
£16M has been allocated to support it. bring large benefits, despite lacking in glamour. Water Leak location, Cable & Pipe
The full scope of SUDS methodology is often
locators and Cable Fault location
solutions.
misunderstood, and the philosophy of using the Use existing means more
most appropriate techniques in each application effectively
sometimes takes second place to a misplaced In conclusion, is our end of term report on our
assumption that totally natural means are the achievements for WFD in 2015 going to be
Telecom
Electrical Power
only applicable ones. In urban contexts, hard ‘could have done better’? Other EU countries are
engineered SUDS techniques may be the only in the same situation, but is it a sufficient
ones that can effectively be installed to control excuse? Have we had the means available to
hard surface run off and pollutants such as silts, make a better success of it, or have these been
sediments, hydrocarbons and others. sidelined to some extent while other agendas
Water Leak Detection
New tactics to suit the context are being put have been followed?
into practice by Welsh Water, for example, with With questions like these still open, we look
schemes to disconnect rainwater downpipes forward to the next five years with interest. ■■■
from the storm sewer system in built-up areas.
Paving over front gardens in urban areas is If you would like any further information on the
CCTV Pipeline Inspection
another problem that has attracted planning Hydro-Brake® Flow Control, Stormbloc®
attention. Finally, rainwater harvesting could be infiltration/storage blocks, StormBank® and
Cable & Pipe Location
integrated into all new build schemes. StormBank® Pro rainwater harvesters,
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Improvement in stormwater run off quality would urban rainwater control or any of Hydro
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receive a major boost if pollution from International’s stormwater, wastewater and
8 sales@sebakmtuk.com
+44 (0) 1249 816 181
uncontrolled CSOs was properly addressed. This sewage treatment systems, call 0800 269371
September 2009 Water & Wastewater Treatment 15