Managing water autumn 2016 by Relbon Limited

The on-line magazine for the water management industry

and its environment

Autumn

The first of eight new pumps being installed at the Foss Barrier

in association with www.fadsdirectory.com

2016

THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING FLOOD EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

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Contents Flood Risk

Flood Resilience Review

5-7

£420m flood defence strategy for Scotland

Emma Howard Boyd confirmed as Chair of the Environment Agency

The Flood Resilience Review

Boston Barrier flood defence scheme takes a significant step forwar The advantages and benefits of temporary flood barriers

Councils helps residents and businesses prepare for flooding Flood committee sets out next year’s commitments £36.5 million flood scheme begins in Hull

The Foss Barriers - Yorkshire will be better protected Flood Alleviation Works at Tregaron Innovation on the thames

Surface Water & SuDS

20 - 21

Hydro-Brake® Flow Control Series Launch Delivers Comprehensive Toolbox

River Restoration and Management1

28 29

32 33

WWT welcomes new invasive species law

Upgrading our Reservoirs

AquaDam integral to project success

Directory

Contact information

General Enquiries content@managingwater.co.uk Tel: 0845 2 575 575

Advertising advertising@managingwater.co.uk Tel: 0845 2 575 575

WWT welcomes new invasive species law

A new appointment at Hydrok

Upgrade Makes It Easy to Design for Optimum Flood

Weir removal will allow River Wandle to return to natural state

14 - 15

25- 26

Flow Controls Deliver SuDS Design for Challenging Llanelli Housing Development

The key role of SuDS

12 - 13

Who is Best Placed to Own SuDS?

Maintenance and Inspection Critical for Cornwall Highway Soakaways

The key role of SuDS in flood risk management

£36.5 million flood scheme begins in Hull

FloodSax to the rescue

Council help in flood preparation

31 www.fadsdirectory.com

32 34

Editorial articles@managingwater.co.uk Tel: 0845 2 575 575

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Flood Risk

Government pledges £12.5million for temporary defences after Flood Resilience Review Improved rain and flood modelling, a significant increase in new temporary flood defences and greater protection to infrastructure were all outlined in the government’s National Flood Resilience Review published on the 8th September. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom set out how lessons learnt from last winter’s floods have helped build a new approach so the nation is better prepared and more resilient to flooding, now and in coming years. The review included:

• £12.5 million for new temporary defences, such as barriers and high volume pumps, at seven strategic locations around the country. By this winter, the Environment Agency (EA) will have four times more temporary barriers than last year. • Utility companies’ commitment to increase flood protection of their key local infrastructure, such as phone networks and water treatment works, so they are resilient to extreme flooding. • A new stress test of the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea in England. For the first time, Met Office forecasts of extreme rainfall scenarios will be linked with Environment Agency modelling to provide a new assessment of flood risk. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

Last winter we saw just how devastating flooding can be. This review sets out clear actions so we are better prepared to respond quickly in the event of future flooding and can strengthen the nation’s flood defences.

Work is already underway towards £12.5 million of new temporary defences stationed around England, better protection for our infrastructure and new flood modelling that makes better use of data and technology.

We are absolutely committed to reducing the risk of flooding by

an expert group brought together from across industry and academia.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency added:

Click for the full report

investing £2.5 billion up to 2021 so we can help protect families, homes and businesses this winter. Ben Gummer, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, said:

This is an important step in the fight against flooding as these new measures will help to protect communities from the perils of extreme weather.

The government has made clear that we expect water and telecoms companies to work ever closer together to improve their preparation and response to flooding, making sure lifelines such as mobile phone masts and water treatment works continue to function even when the Great British weather is throwing its very worst at us. Sir Mark Walport, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

It is important that policy on flood risk is underpinned by credible and objective scientific evidence and analysis. This review used new modelling techniques to challenge our ideas around the frequency and location of extreme flooding.

We were able to model what level of rainfall would be worse than anything that we have experienced but still possible for our climate. This information enabled us to look again at how bad coastal and river flooding could be under such extreme conditions to ensure we are better prepared. This work was overseen by www.fadsdirectory.com

We worked closely with the government on this review. I welcome these plans setting out how the country can become more resilient to flooding in future. The extra funding will help us to do even more for local communities so that we can better protect homes and businesses and respond even more rapidly and flexibly when extreme weather strikes. Managing flood risk is everyone’s responsibility. Find out if you are at risk, and how to protect yourself, on the GOV.UK website.

With the evidence of the National Flood Resilience Review, government will now turn its attention to investment after 2021, making sure funds are directed where they are needed most.

This builds on the £2.5 billion already being invested between 2015 and 2021 to strengthen our flood and coastal defences, as well as spending £1 billion on maintaining the nation’s flood defences over this Parliament. It was also announced this week that the government has already paid out over £1 million to more than 180 flood-hit farmers to help their business recovery after last winter’s storms. The government has approved more than £9 million worth of applications for funding, helping over 1,000 farmers across Northern England as part of the Farming Recovery Fund.

Following the National Flood Resilience Review, the government is launching four new trailblazing projects to develop, test and accelerate new ways of managing the environment; this will include a project in Cumbria, which focuses on natural flood management strategies and up-to-date modelling and data tools.

Read on for industry views - Pg 6 5

“Encouragingly, it includes a commitment to an integrated, cross-sector approach to protecting critical infrastructure through closer collaboration between water, telecoms and power companies. This will help develop longer term, permanent improvements in the resilience of service provision to communities in the event of extreme flooding.” “Ultimately, a more holistic approach that brings together multiple stakeholders working together across entire catchments is needed. Crucially, the Review makes the link between flood management, resilient infrastructure and urban regeneration. It is vital the opportunities to create social and economic value from improved flood management are maximised.” However, he also echoed concerns with regard to funding, saying that while the Review rightly advocates a strategic, long-term approach to flood management, “our hope is that funding too will increase in real terms in recognition of its importance.”

Jon Robinson, Director – Water, AECOM

“This report rightly emphasises the need to protect critical infrastructure during extreme flooding so the public, businesses and communities can continue to function. An integrated approach to infrastructure is absolutely key to achieving this level of resilience and we are pleased this has been acknowledged."

“I also welcome the commitment to flood planning beyond 2021. Managing the effects of severe flooding is an enduring, long-term challenge. So we should ensure we back the commitment to planning with an associated long term capital and maintenance investment programme, recognising that prevention costs are one eighth of those of post flooding restoration. The Autumn Statement provides the Government with the opportunity to set this out and demonstrate that it backs words with action.”

Nick Baveystock The Institution of Civil Engineers Director General

“Flood defences on their own are not enough to address increasing incidences of flooding. It is necessary to change our perception of water as a threat to our villages, towns and cities and start thinking about the water cycle at the earliest stages of planning and design processes.”

“With the right approach, water sensitive urban design will not only help protect communities and businesses, but bring about additional social and economic benefits. We will continue to support Government in piloting this new approach through the Cumbria Floods Partnership, and would welcome the opportunity to help explore and demonstrate what can be achieved in Sheffield as part of Government’s pilot scheme. It is crucial to keep up momentum to ensure we do not continue to see lives, homes and businesses blighted by flooding in years to come.”

Jane Duncan President of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Flood Risk

The acknowledgement within the Review, that severe flood events, similar or greater than those experienced in the Winter of 2015, are both likely to continue to occur and present society with significant challenges is welcomed. The FCERM community has long been of this opinion and communities such as those in Carlisle, that flooded in 2005, 2009 and 2015, will affirm this. One of the Review’s critical tasks was to improve the Government’s understanding of flood risk in England and JBA played a key role in assisting the Scientific Advisory Group to achieve this. It is pleasing that the Review recognises the importance and robustness of modelling, since the value of this aspect of flood and coastal risk management has been heavily and I think unfairly belittled in recent years. Before seeking to address it, it is critical to understand the scale of risk after all!

Commitment to innovation

More pleasing is the Review’s commitment to a continued programme of long-term modelling improvements and the new science and analytical techniques that will be required to support this. The Review’s recognition that the way flood risk is described affects the public’s understanding and perceptions is also satisfying. This understanding is not new (see abstract from CIWEM journal) and the proposed delivery of an Environment Agency autumn awareness campaign to be delivered locally to communities at risk of flooding, must be supported by sustained awareness campaigns so that communities can take ownership of their risk and better prepare for it. An important element of this should be a focus on and communication of the need to manage residual flood risk - report on the flooding in Cumbria following Storm Desmond.

It is vital also that the Review’s attention to improving resilience of local infrastructure is delivered – the flooding of an electricity substation at Caton Road, Lancaster (2015) and its impacts on communities shows remarkable resemblance to the inundation of the Walham sub-station, Gloucestershire (2007). The commitment to invest £12.5 million to increase the Environment Agency’s stock of temporary flood defences is also beneficial and will be welcomed by those unprotected communities remaining at flood risk – but can this really be considered to be a strategic outcome from the Review? It was not many months ago that the Environment Agency’s policy appeared to be to withdraw from its deployment of temporary flood defences. This clearly marks a significant rethink in policy that should be informed by existing evidence:

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Flood Risk

temporary barrier schemes are bespoke to and designed for specific sites; they cannot be stored in strategic stocks across the country like sandbags but must be close by ready for timely deployment.

Emma Howard Boyd confirmed as Chair of the Environment Agency

Resilience

Whilst the Review then has touched upon some of the approaches to flood and coastal risk management - awareness, avoidance, resilience and preparedness (and it may have been beneficial for the Review to have been structured along these lines) it is in respect of resilience that the Review has perhaps missed the greatest opportunity. The “pilot for innovative flood defence and urban development in Core Cities” is noted and is critical for such conurbations. But why is the Review silent on tackling issues such as “no betterment” to flooded properties upon recovery; or measures necessary to bring private (non-public) money to Government’s partnership funding of flood defences? And why limit innovative flood defence and urban development to Core Cities? There is a plethora of Local Plans in preparation currently and it should be incumbent upon Government (local and national) and consultees such as the Environment Agency to work more closely to integrate flood management with spatial planning. UK Government funding through the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Innovation Fund supported the LifE Project (Longterm initiatives for Flood Risk Environments) as far back as 2007.

Has the National Resilience Review then not missed a golden opportunity to put its weight fully behind established research - that evidences opportunity for improved flood resilience for all at risk communities, whether in Core Cities or not, through new approaches to the design of buildings, neighbourhoods, and regions?

Marc Pinnell, JBA Consulting

Emma Howard Boyd has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Environment Agency and will take up the post today (Monday 19 September). Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

Emma brings unrivalled experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the Environment Agency and I very much look forward to working with her. Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

It’s an honour to be appointed Chair of the Environment Agency. It is a fantastic organisation making a real difference to the environment, wildlife and local communities. There are big challenges ahead - ensuring the country is more resilient to extreme weather, protecting and enhancing the environment, and promoting sustainable growth - I look forward to playing my part.

Employment Opportunities

Salix are a specialist company providing design and construction services nationwide for river restoration, wetland habitat creation plus scour and soil erosion protection using Bioengineering solutions throughout the UK. We are currently looking for passionate and capable staff to join our growing team: Site Supervisors & Site Operatives We currently have positions for site based staff with varying degrees of experience and qualifications. We are looking for highly motivated staff who are prepared to work nationally for the leading company in this field. Design Support Ideally the candidate will have at least 5 years’ experience of river restoration and/or bioengineering design and implementation. The candidate should have a background in environmental engineering, fluvial geomorphology or similar. A degree is a minimum qualification. Based in Swansea, South Wales but with a requirement for working nationally at times.

If you are interested in working for the leading company and innovator in this exciting field, then please forward a brief CV highlighting your qualifications, experience and a short statement of what you feel you could bring to the Salix team. Please send your details to info@salixrw.com

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Flood Risk

£420m flood defence strategy for Scotland More than 10,000 families are to benefit from a ten year strategy to protect homes in many of Scotland’s most flood-prone communities. The plan is the result of grant funding totalling £420 million and follows an agreement reached between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The cash will be used to deliver 40 new flood protection projects and support local flood risk management plans.

More than 130 flood protection studies will be carried out to help find potential solutions for another 26,000 residential properties currently at risk. The announcement was made in July as the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, fulfilled her pledge to return to Newton Stewart following an earlier visit in the aftermath of flooding at Hogmanay. Councillor Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability said:

“Protecting communities is at the heart of what local government does and is the reason why local government has committed this substantial resource for flood protection. Climate change, and the associated increase in flooding events, poses a significant national risk. This is why investment in flood protection schemes and associated infrastructure is critical to protecting vulnerable householders, businesses and communities, and why the strong working relationship between local and Scottish Government is so important.” Authority

Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Dumfries and Galloway Dundee City East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh Eilean Siar Falkirk Fife Glasgow Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian 8

Funding in £Million

0.967 7.104 2.195 0.194 0.085 1.707 5.799 0.994 0.429 0.746 0.100 0.242 0.363 2.952 0.370 1.456 2.510 0.415 0.071 1.530 1.808 0.085 1.416 0.962 0.370 1.620 0.007 0.064 0.299 1.277 0.242 0.114

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“Earlier this year I saw first-hand the devastating effects of mother nature as storms battered our communities.

“Last December is on record as the wettest and saw levels at rivers across Scotland overflow. When I visited Newton Stewart on New Year’s Eve I met local butchers Kenny and Yolanda Owen at John D Owen & Son on what would have been their busiest day. “Tragically all their stock was knee deep in water which not only has a massive impact on the business but also on the wider community who were relying on them. As I walked down the high street what struck me was the resilience of this small community as they supported each other.

“Seven months on and the community have rallied round and businesses are getting back on their feet and returning to normal. However, the implications of the storm will be felt for a while yet and we need to work together to minimise any potential future disruption.

“This agreement will give local authorities the certainty they need to deliver the actions set out in their Local Flood Risk Management Plans to help protect individuals, business and communities from the danger of flooding.”

Nicola Sturgeon

Flood Risk

Boston Barrier flood defence scheme takes a significant step forwards The Environment Agency has asked the Secretary of State to grant powers to construct and operate the Boston Barrier through a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) today.

The Boston Barrier scheme is part of a phased approach to reduce the risk of tidal flooding to approximately 14,300 properties in Boston over the next 100 years. Copies of the submitted TWAO documents have been made available to interested parties and members of the public will be given the opportunity to give their views on the proposals over a period of 6 weeks.

The TWAO, if granted, would allow the construction of a new tidal barrier with a moveable gate across the River Witham and a new building to enable operation of the barrier. It would also authorise the construction of new flood defence walls on both banks of the Haven, a replacement gate across the entrance to the existing Port Wet Dock and enable the Environment Agency to execute ancillary works, including dredging of the river. Adam Robinson, Boston Barrier Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

The barrier will give the area one of the best standards of tidal flood defence outside of London, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like as many people as possible to see the Transport and Works Act application and talk to us about anything theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re uncertain about.

The barrier will have the ability to control water levels along The Haven in the future, but only once appropriate subsequent approvals and works have been sought and granted.

Although Water Level Management (WLM) originally formed a part of the Boston Barrier project, it was agreed by a Lincolnshire County Council Executive Committee in early 2015 that the further work required to take WLM proposals forward should not delay the tidal flood defence project.

Cllr Peter Bedford, leader of Boston Borough Council, said:

The main objective for the Boston Barrier has always been to protect this area from flooding. That must remain the main priority. We know all too well from bitter experience that there is no quick fix after flooding. In Boston it took 2 full years of misery and millions of pounds for many to return to anything like normal after the 2013 flood.

In an ideal world, with endless finance, we would have all the bells and whistles. But the priority, now and here and in these cash-strapped times, is whatever we can get which works to protect against flooding as soon as we can get it. I have every confidence in the experts and professionals from the Environment Agency who tell us that the multimillion pound tidal flood alleviation barrier is the best it can be for Boston at this time; an assurance sought by our MP from ministers and an assurance given. The fact is that had the barrier been in position in 2013, it would have prevented that flood. It will give among the best protection from tidal flooding of anywhere in the country.

The Boston Tidal Barrier

The Boston tidal barrier is a ÂŁ100.7 million scheme programmed to be delivered by 2019, which will provide improved flood protection to over 20,000 homes and businesses, protecting against tidal surges such as the 2013 event which flooded over 820 homes and businesses. The barrier has the ability to be utilised in the future to control water levels in the Haven generating economic and environmental benefits for Boston and aiding navigation between The Witham and The Black Sluice Navigation,

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The advantages and benefits of temporary flood barriers

Flood Risk

Flooding is becoming an increasing global concern. In the USA, it is considered the #1 natural disaster risk and in the UK alone it is estimated that around 2 million houses are at risk from flooding.

Local councils and national agencies are benefiting from government funds and subsidies. The main focus is on improving infrastructure, sea defences and significant civil works. There is however, a shift towards using temporary barriers and there are distinct benefits from doing so. We generally know when and where flooding is likely to take place and we are generally aware when we would expect to see higher tides and storm surges. With this foresight in mind and with well thought-out planning and provisioning we are able to implement a flood mitigation plan that includes holding inventory of flood barriers and any necessary ancillaries.

At Vikoma, we have utilised 50 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in manufacturing with the launch of our new range of flood barriers

Much like a port would plan and mitigate against oil spill, the flood risk and mitigation planning allows for the most appropriate barriers and defences to be put in place and stakeholders allocated specific tasks with and roles during, pre and post flooding.

Over the last 12-18 months, a number of new technologies and methods of flood containment have been commercialised. This includes air filled tubes, water filled tubes, rigid barriers and industrial plastic barriers of various guises. A temporary flood barrier is an ideal way of provisioning against flood damage due to the mobility and fast deployment of some of the solutions available. A well designed and manufactured flood barrier can control flood water levels in excess of 1m. The barriers provide an ideal method of deflecting water into non-risk areas which is a common approach used in flood situations.

It is clear that in many cases, the only practical solution is to modify or create infrastructure to protect against increasing flood risk. Similarly, the fact remains, a temporary flood barrier can provide a comprehensive and portable solution that can enable significant cost savings and enable existing infrastructure to be maintained with the security of having measures in place when required.

At Vikoma, we have utilised 50 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in manufacturing with the launch of our new range of flood barriers 10

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For more information on flood barriers and provisioning against flood please feel free to contact us: Scott Cruttenden Sales & Business Development Manager. scruttenden@vikoma.com +447971 348 664

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Flood Risk

Councils help residents and businesses prepare for further flooding as winter looms Highway flood damage repair programme well underway in Northumberland

Councils are helping residents and businesses to prepare for the looming possibility of more major flooding later this year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as a new survey reveals the real extent of last winter's devastation. A snapshot survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, shows over 15,000 (15,237) homes and businesses were flooded in just eight areas.

Cumbria saw 6,568 homes and 897 businesses flooded; Leeds 298 and 375; Calderdale 2,135 and 945; Lancashire 2,090 and 533; North Yorkshire 404 and 96; York had about 350 and 157; Northumberland 197 homes and 90 businesses, Kirklees 37 and 65.

Such was the damage last winter that even now councils are continuing to help flood-hit households and businesses recover from the devastation wreaked by storms Desmond, Eva and Frank. Staff have been working hard all year with volunteers and local community groups, keeping residents up to date with regular postings on their websites and through social media and special flood-watch apps.

Councils have visited flood-hit areas to collect household items such as carpets and furniture to dispose of them. They have also been advising on flood protection grants, affordable insurance and how to clean up homes safely. 12

Ahead of winter, councils are also encouraging residents and businesses to check to see if they are at risk of flooding, sign up to free flood warnings and consider ways to ensure they are prepared in the event of flooding. This includes ensuring they know how and where to switch off electricity, gas and water

supplies and having relevant contact numbers easily to hand; identifying the best way of stopping or minimising entry of floodwater into properties; and prioritising key actions to take if flooding is expected, including what to take with them if homes or businesses need to be urgently vacated.

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Flood Risk

Nationally, claims for damage caused by floods from last winter is expected to top £5 billion with thousands of families facing financial difficulty as a result.

As this winter looms, councils say the critical issue is for future flood defence funding to be devolved by the Government to local areas, with councils working with communities and businesses to ensure money is directed towards projects that best reflect local needs. Bring in Mandatory requirements

The LGA also wants the Government to bring in mandatory anti-flood requirements for new homes in building regulations. These include raised electrical sockets, fuse boxes, controls and wiring above floor level; ventilation brick covers; sealed floors; and raised damp-proof courses. Building regulations reflect national government policies and control how homes are built and whether they are

Flood Protection Systems

legal. Councils ensure developers stick to them. Cllr Martin Tett, LGA Environment spokesman, said:

"Councils are doing everything they can to protect households and businesses from the possibility of further devastating flooding this winter. Such was the severity of last year's storms, some councils, who have experienced significant reductions to their core funding, are still helping residents to recover even now.

"Government support has been vital in enabling local authorities and their communities to recover from last winter's flooding devastation. The extra £12.5 million announced by the Government for temporary flood defences last month (September) is important. However, councils will need significantly more support from government to help prepare for the possibility of further flooding this winter and recover from any damage.

Flow Control Equipment

"Crucially, future funding for flood defences must also be devolved by the Government to local areas. This will enable councils, working with communities and businesses, to ensure money is directed towards projects that best reflect local needs. This includes protecting key roads and bridges to keep local residents and businesses moving. Councils know their local areas and are best placed to help families get back on their feet. The Government must be more flexible in its approach to flood funding. "We are also calling on the Government to further incentivise firms to make contributions for flood defences. This should include, for example, extending tax relief for contributions to all flood defence projects, not just those with government funding attached."

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Flow Control Systems

Flood committee sets out next year’s commitments A flood and coastal group will oversee spending of more than £24million to protect hundreds of homes across the North East as it sets out its objectives for the next year.

The Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (NRFCC) has launched its business plan for 2016/17, which will include work at Blyth, Killingworth, Hartlepool Headland Walls and Greatham South. It also announced in its 2015/16 annual report that it’s overseen 125 projects costing £27million over the past year.

When all the work is complete it will have reduced the risk to 1,458 properties, while also making improvements to the environment.

Projects include the completion of the Port Clarence scheme at Wilton Engineering’s site in Teesside, the Morpeth flood alleviation scheme’s upstream dam and storage area – which operated for the first time in January - the Fellgate Estate scheme in South Tyneside, as well as the coastal scheme at Skinningrove. The annual report and business plan together summarise the past year and look forward to the year ahead.

It is the second year of a six-year programme of works which was agreed in January 2015. The business plan will be updated each year to take into account any adjustments to the £108million, six-year programme.

Most projects in the plan are delivered by the Environment Agency and local authorities, with some carried out by, or in partnership with Northumbrian Water. NRFCC Chairman Jon Hargeaves said: “On completion of the £27million programme of works from 2015/16, we will see a reduction in flood and coastal erosion risk to 1,458 houses in the region, as well as delivering seven environmental projects.

“The committee is a great example of partnership working, with all local authorities, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water pulling together on behalf of residents and businesses in the North East. “It’s been a challenging year involving major flooding this past winter which affected hundreds of properties across the region. The committee is keen to understand the impact of this flooding and the issues relating to it.

“At future meetings it will be discussed in further detail so we can make decisions moving forward into the years ahead.” Currently, a £3million package of recovery projects to repair flood defences damaged in the winter flooding is taking place across the region, with a particular focus on the Tyne Valley in Northumberland.

Leila Huntington, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager with the Environment Agency in the North East, added: “We’re working hard to carry out permanent repairs to our

completed scheme at Wilton Engineering’s site in Port Clarence, Teesside 14

Flood Risk

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Flood Risk

damaged flood defences across the region.

“We’re also continuing to investigate where new or improved defences can be incorporated into our works programme and will be discussing this process in detail with the committee.

“The committee has an essential role in developing and delivering the flood and coastal risk management programmes. The work that has been carried out over the past year has brought significant benefits to communities, property, business and the environment.” The £800,000 Environment Agency funded scheme on the Fellgate Estate in Jarrow, carried out by South Tyneside Council and Northumbrian Water, is one of the first in the country to see a local authority, water and sewerage company working together to tackle floodaffected properties. South Tyneside Council’s Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, Councillor Moira Smith, said:

“Thanks to a successful partnership, we were able to bring to fruition a scheme which not only reduces flood risk, but also offers wider benefits such as habitat creation, educational opportunities and enhanced health and wellbeing for residents. “By working sustainably and in partnership, the scheme also delivered cost savings of around 36% as well as overwhelming customer satisfaction.”

About the NRFCC

The NRFCC is a committee established by the Flood and Water Management Act 201, and receives funding from a variety of sources, including from Government Grant-in-Aid, public and private contributions and a levy raised through local authorities. The committee consists of elected and independent members and plays an important part in deciding local priorities for the flood and coastal risk management programme in North East England.

Anyone who would like a copy of the business plan or annual report should email nrfcc@environmentagency.gov.uk Further details are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/northumbri a-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee The RFCC raises some of its funding through a levy raised through local authorities. Over the sixyear programme the committee is expected to raise at least £13million to support local priorities and enable Government Grant-in-Aid to be drawn down. The £108million is made up of £48.8million GiA, £13.06million local levy and £46.12million in contributions.

upstream dam and storage area in Morpeth, Northumberland.

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£36.5 million flood scheme begins in Hull The Environment Agency is launching a major flood defence scheme in Hull after securing £36.5 million in Government funding.

Work will begin this autumn on repairing flood defences that lie within a 7.5km stretch of the River Hull, helping to protect 63,000 properties in the city.

Some 39 riverside locations along the river have been identified as having defences that are in need of repair. These have aged or deteriorated over time, posing a risk of flooding when river levels are high. As part of the first phase of the project, the Environment Agency will repair damaged flood walls and other weak spots to ensure that the existing level of protection will be provided for years to come.

Initial surveying and construction work will start in autumn this year. The first phase of the project will be complete by 2019, and additional phases of work will follow. Neil Longden, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said:

This investment is great news for Hull. It will provide reassurance to a significant number of properties that are at risk of flooding, and on top of that the strengthened defences will open up the river corridor for new development, regeneration and economic growth. The River Hull Defences scheme is a large and complex project. We are working closely with landowners, businesses, river users and Hull City Council to develop the design and the works programme.

Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

Hull is a fantastic city of great cultural importance and we are absolutely committed to better protecting homes and businesses here, and right across the Humber.

This £36.5m scheme is just the start of major flood defence improvements we are making in the area - and by 2021 we will invest a further £86m into the estuary reducing the risk of flooding for more than 50,000 homes. Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Communities at Hull City Council, said:

I am delighted that the Government has recognised and committed this crucial investment into flood infrastructure for the city. We are working closely with the Environment Agency to deliver a flood scheme which reduces the risk of flooding from the River Hull for thousands of properties and to improve the river corridor.

Defences along the River Hull currently provide a 1-in200 year protection, meaning that the defences reduce the risk of flooding to a 0.5% chance in any one year. The River Hull is also protected from tidal flooding by the Hull Tidal Surge Barrier, which is located at the confluence of the River Hull and the River Humber. During high tides and storm surges, the barrier is lowered to prevent tidal waters flowing back up the river. In addition to the Environment Agency’s scheme, Hull City Council is continuing to carrying out work to reduce the risk of surface water flooding in the city.

One of 39 sites on the River Hull where defences need to be strengthened

Flood Risk

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Flood Risk

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Submersible residue pumps that can be used in conjunction with other flood defence products to minimise flooding in a property.

Flood Risk

Yorkshire will be better protected from floods this winter

The Foss Barrier will be able to process an Olympic size swimming pool worth of water in just 50 seconds – a 66% increase in capacity - thanks to the installation of new state of the art pumps, Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced today.

The pumps form part of a £17 million upgrade to York’s key flood defence, which includes ongoing work to raise the pumping room next year. Eight new pumps will be in place by mid-October, increasing the barrier’s capacity to 40 cubic metres per second, up from 30. This means York will be assured protection from flooding should rivers rise to the record levels seen last winter. The barrier’s capacity will be further increased to 50 cubic metres per second next year, following upgrades to the power supply.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

The flooding of the Foss Barrier became a focal point of last winter’s devastating floods and I am delighted to see it strengthened ahead of this winter, with £17 million invested, so our great city of York is better protected than ever before.

Of course we can’t stop the rain falling and rivers rising, but I want people to be assured we are doing everything we can to keep our communities as safe as possible. That’s why we’re investing £400 million in flood defence schemes across Yorkshire, up until 2021, to better protect homes and families.

The Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, and the Environment Agency Chair, Emma Howard Boyd will visit the Foss Barrier today to see the first of eight new pumps being installed.

In addition to the upgrade of the barrier, the government will spend £45 million on improving flood defences in York over the next 5 years - to better protect over 2,000 properties.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

I visited Yorkshire last year and saw the terrible impact of the floods, and the anxiety placed on communities. The new, high capacity pumps at the Foss Barrier will help to better protect and reassure the people of York this winter and we have further plans to www.fadsdirectory.com

the first of eight new pumps being installed.

improve the defences throughout the city over the next five years.

The installation of the pumps today is a key milestone in the Environment Agency’s extensive flood recovery programme, due to be completed in October.

Andrea Leadsom and Emma Howard Boyd will also visit Leeds today to see the development of a new flood defence scheme in the city, which will see for the first time in the UK the introduction of moveable weirs. These can be lowered in flood conditions to reduce river levels and the threat of river flooding. The River Aire flood alleviation scheme will better protect more than 200 homes and businesses once completed in May next year. It will also reduce the likelihood of flood disruption to more than 3,000 city centre apartments.

The government has invested £33 million towards the scheme, which started in 2015. Leeds has also been allocated an additional £35 million up to 2021 towards the cost of another project to further protect Leeds upstream from the current scheme. 19

Flood Alleviation Works at Tregaron

Flood Risk

Afon Brennig in flood prior to works (photo courtesy of Arup) Salix worked with Arup & Galliford Try on the Tregaron Flood Alleviation Scheme, to improve the very con ned channel where the Afon Brennig ows through the town of Tregaron. The aim of the project was to protect around 100 houses and businesses that had been subjected to increased ood threats. Constant flooding was a problem with this very ashy river where it passes through the town. A steep, ashy catchment, combined with the close proximity of houses required a quick and e ective solution. The river is also part of a SSSI and SAC meaning any works had to take consideration of the ecological sensitivities including species such as Salmon and Ranunculus.

Rock rolls and blockstone were used to tie in the VMax Shear Stress Turf and prevent scour from abrasive bedload during large floods.

Our VMax Shear Stress Turf C350 was designed into the project by Arup as part of a scheme that worked with natural processes to allow maintenance of healthy and dynamic river habitat within constraints. The Shear Stress Turf withstands extreme ows, providing an excellent and well tested erosion control even in very high ow situations.

The award winning project was completed on time and has received high praise.

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Flood Risk

Seven years later Salix River & Wetland Services Limited Salix, Croxton Park, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 1LS Telephone 0370 350 1851 Fax 0370 350 1852 info@salixrw.com www.salixrw.com

Innovation on the thames Land & Water has been pivotal in the development of a Velcroenhanced frame to position geotextiles at dangerous or timerestricted sites.

As part of enabling works for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, Land & Water and VolkerStevin dredged a pocket for the new Blackfriars Pier in spring this year. However, the project was challenging â&#x20AC;&#x201C; short slack water times, unpredictable tides and shallow water in areas made the endeavor too dangerous for divers. In addition, the team had merely weeks to complete the work near Blackfriars Bridge.

frame to be easily retracted that makes the innovation a useful tool for future projects.

The ÂŁ900 000 project was finished on time and on budget by teams working five days a week, 24 hours a day. Land &Water will be back on the Thames in December at

Tattersall Castle to continue the dredging works.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Nicole Pickford at 0844 225 1958 or email at Nicole.pickford@landwater.co.uk

The Land & Water and VolkerStevin teams collaborated to create a frame for the geotextiles [fabric which lines the bottom of the pocket onto which the scour protection rock is laid] that could be lowered into the river, but it was the ingenious use of Velcro to allow the

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FloodSax to the rescue...

FloodSax save flooded GP practice WHEN water started to pour through the ceiling at a Manchester GP surgery staff were at a loss what to do at first. The flood inside the Kingsway Medical Practice in Burnage threatened to cause major damage inside.

In desperation staff called FloodSax based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, which manufactures pioneering ‘sandless sandbags.’ The firm immediately alerted the surgery’s nearest branch of builders’ merchants Travis Perkins which stock FloodSax who immediately got a batch of FloodSax ready for the GP staff to collect. The FloodSax were deployed in the corridors and stopped floodwater from getting into the consulting rooms.

The practice’s co-ordinator, Jane Winstanley, said: “We were able to obtain enough FloodSax to really make a huge difference to our predicament. It had rained very heavily and the guttering on the roof simply couldn’t cope with the amount of water it had taken on and it poured in. The roof didn’t actually collapse but the drainage system from the top of the roof leaked.

Flooding isn’t always caused by rain, a burst pipe can be just as devastating

Pioneering sandless sandbags FloodSax saved the day when this basement became badly flooded in London.

They were deployed after Thames Water received a call for help from a customer who was renovating a property in Cricklewood when a water pipe was accidentally broken.

The water company alerted FloodSax business development manager David Welsh who responded instantly. “When I got there the basement had approximately 50mm of water, giving an estimated 100 litre covering the floor,” “The basement was around 6m by

“Being on the NHS frontline it was an absolute disaster to find ourselves under water and the FloodSax were amazing.

“We are now getting some more in case this ever happens again.”

More than a million FloodSax have been used worldwide both stopping floodwater getting into homes, businesses and public buildings and also soaking up leaks and spills inside.

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Flood Risk 5m and the floor was not level. I then instructed the guys to deploy five FloodSax into the water … and watch.”

The FloodSax simply soaked the water up and then were replaced with fresh ones. David added:

“After about 10 minutes just about all the water had been soaked into the Floodsax and we had a dry basement.

“As the homeowner was going abroad the following morning I left him with another five which he deployed dry on the ground to soak up any water that might seep in while he was away.” For more information go to www.floodsax.co.uk

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Surface Water Management

Surface Water Management By Andrew Kane

Operations Manager for Hydro International’s European Stormwater Division

Who is best placed to own Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the UK? Until we put this enduringly thorny problem to bed, will we ever be able to settle on effective and workable regulations? Maintenance, and who should manage and pay for it, has often been something of an afterthought in our enthusiasm to make SuDS design in new and retrofit development an everyday reality.

Yet, a cycle of reviews, consultations, stalled legislation and technical guidance has left SuDS delivery – especially in England – in a constant state of flux. We also have an increasingly fragmented and regional approach to SuDS design and delivery. Now the Government is committed to a new SuDS review.

In 2008 the Pitt Review clearly identified that action was needed to clarify who should own and maintain SuDS. Based on its recommendations, the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 laid out an approach that would have seen all SuDS in new development in England and Wales being adopted and maintained by the Lead Local Flood Authority.

Regulating SuDS in new development through the planning system instead has slashed through red tape, but with non-statutory technical guidance reduced to a bare minimum, many believe adoption and maintenance have still not been properly addressed. Under the current system a variety of organisations could own and maintain SuDS, as ably outlined in a helpful Susdrain Fact Sheet produced by Robin Campbell at Arup.

Now the Government have committed to review how effectively the approach is working. Could it be that, by clarifying, once and for all, the question of ownership, we could lay all this perpetual policymaking to rest? So who should adopt, own and maintain SuDS in future?

Local Authorities? The now established Lead Local Flood Authorities may have the required expertise, but could they always guarantee the levels of funding and the ground staff needed to inspect SuDS, plan and carry out maintenance? Would Local Authority maintenance teams be sufficiently qualified to maintain complex drainage systems?

Who is Best Placed to Own SuDS?

Or, should Water and Sewerage Companies adopt and maintain all SuDS? In principle, they are already set up to manage conventional drainage and sewerage assets – are SuDS really so different? However, do they currently have either the experience or the appetite to take over the responsibility for quality construction and maintenance of SuDS components? As private companies, owned by shareholders and controlled by a regulator principally tasked with keeping down customer charges, would water companies prioritise the use of sustainable surface water assets that might be perceived as more costly for them to maintain?

Or, should ownership be left to the most appropriate organisation? It could fall to the local authority, Water Company or Internal Drainage Board. Equally a developer, private land owner, a group of residents, or individual property owners can own and maintain the asset. In some cases the costs of maintenance may be passed on to the occupier in the form of service charges. This is the fragmented arrangement that exists in England at the moment. One advantage of this approach is it offers flexibility to arrange expert maintenance, either through the owner’s direct service organisation or sub-contracted via a specialist maintenance company.

It’s very early to tell how the arrangements for SuDS delivery in England, only established in April 2015, are affecting long-term maintenance, but there are some signs that more work in this area is needed. For example, the Upton Meadows housing development is much celebrated as a showcase of forward-thinking SuDS design and community involvement. However it was recently reported that residents reacted angrily to a plan by the new landowner to make a £200 annual charge for maintenance of the SuDS features on the scheme. The story shows, at the very least, a lack of understanding in the requirements and arrangements for SuDS maintenance of a scheme which was not adopted by the local authority. This might be avoided if ownership was instead, for instance, always the responsibility of one authority.

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Surface Water Management I don’t have the answer – and perhaps there simply is not a straightforward solution. It may take many experts to come to a conclusion. For sure, a lack of clarity about who is responsible for maintenance, and fears about how specialist features can be properly maintained in perpetuity could lead to SuDS features being neglected or orphaned, a problem also highlighted by experiences in Scotland. Without making SuDS compulsory on all new development, there could therefore always be some level of reluctance to include them. The guiding principle for maintenance arrangements should be ensuring they are sufficiently robust to ensure the effective whole-life performance of SuDS. For this to happen, an approach based on proper science and engineering is required so that SuDS schemes can be inspected appropriately and demonstrated to operate as designed.

For proprietary or mixed SuDS schemes, maintenance and service schedules can be easily established according to the local site conditions. At Hydro International, we are beginning to incorporate new arrangements into our product purchase to make it easier for owners and operators of SuDS to understand the required maintenance of a highly efficient device, and plan for regular servicing.

As long as a question mark remains over ensuring maintenance and adoption, I believe it will be difficult to put a lid on the delay and uncertainty that seems to have dogged the implementation of SuDS for so long. The Government’s review into the effectiveness of SuDS policy in England simply has to get to the bottom of the ownership problem.

Hydro-Brake® Software Upgrade Makes It Easy to Design for Optimum Flood Prevention Hydro International’s online flow control design software has been upgraded to make it easier than ever for engineers to optimise their designs and achieve the bestpossible flow attenuation for both surface water and sewer applications. The Hydro-Brake® Optimum Design Tool now incorporates the full range of Hydro-Brake® Optimum vortex flow controls with the capability to validate and output detailed design drawings.

The online tool provides fullyintegrated and free-to-use support for drainage designers working on surface water, foul and combined sewers or network flow control applications. The tool can also be used by Local Authorities, Water Companies or environmental regulators to check and validate flow control designs.

“This important development means engineers no longer have to worry about which Hydro-Brake® Optimum flow control configuration to specify. The hard work is done for you in the software,” says Mark Goodger, Regional Technical Manager for Hydro International. 26

“Building in comprehensive selection criteria is critical, especially with the recent changes in drainage guidance and regulations across the devolved parts of the UK. With the online software, engineers can test out Hydro-Brake® Optimum flow control design iterations and customise their schemes to meet their objectives.

“The software now incorporates the option to design without a sump, which is vital for foul or combined water systems. Designing without a sump is also an advantage for surface water systems, where flow controls are retrofitted to existing chambers, or where there are high flow rates.”

The upgraded capabilities are mirrored within the industry-standard MicroDrainage® design software. Engineers, hydrologists and local authorities rely on software to enable them to optimise drainage designs and specify the best components for the job, while complying with local regulations and standards. www.fadsdirectory.com

With the aid of the software tools, engineers can tailor the HydroBrake® Optimum performance to minimise upstream storage requirements and reduce construction costs, maximise the clearances through the unit to reduce blockage risk, and ‘future-proof’ for climate change or allow for flow rate adjustments on phased developments.

Hydro-Brake® Optimum is the only vortex flow control in which the head/discharge relationship can be precision engineered to fine tune the all-important hydraulic design curve. All other vortex flow controls are constrained by fixed geometric ratios which limit the shape of the design curve and therefore hydraulic efficiency.

Independently certified by the BBA and WRc, the Hydro-Brake® Optimum has a unique ability to achieve up to 15% additional storage savings compared to conventional vortex flow controls, while keeping clearances up to 20% larger through the unit to prevent blockages. For more information about the Hydro-Brake® Optimum call the Hydro-Brake® Hotline on +44 (0)1275 337937, email enquiries@hydro-int.com or visit hydro-int.com/hydrobrakeoptimum.

Surface Water Management

Hydrok appoint a dedicated New Business Development Manager

The continued evolvement at Hydrok, and its approach to offering a complete Water Engineering Solutions service to the UK Water and Process Engineering Industries, has seen the introduction of a dedicated Business Development Manager who joins the team in this new role at the Hydrok head office and manufacturing facility in Cornwall. Dave Rayment has been appointed, returning to the company where he had previously worked as a Design and Project Manager between 2008 and 2010. Dave has vast experience in all aspects of design and project management in a career that has taken in differing roles from design and site development, health and safety projects, the pharmaceutical industry, environmental projects as well as the water industry. Dave has number of industry based qualifications and experience which puts him in an ideal skill based position to help Water Companies, Process Engineer Contractors and Environmental Contractors capitalise on the extensive Hydrok portfolio of Water Engineering Solutions.

If you have a project where you feel the Hydrok design and manufacturing teams could be of help, please contact Dave Rayment on 01726 861900, dave.rayment@hydrok.co.uk

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The family of HydroSlide flow regulators accurately control discharge flows to +/- 5% throughout the impounding head range enabling optimum discharge of the storage system. This reduces the footprint of the required storage to a minimum and saving on land and construction costs. HydroSlides can be configured to provide varying ‘stepped’ flow rates to cater for discharge from increasing storm return flow outputs, further optimising tank design.

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Surface Water Management

The key role of SuDS in flood risk management The Government's National Flood Resilience Review has given greater recognition to the flood risks posed by surface water and restates the crucial role of SuDS in managing this type of risk. Dr David Smoker of ACO Water Management, a leading supplier of sustainable surface water management systems, believes the official recognition of risks from surface water flooding will bring a greater focus on the problems specific to urban areas in future studies such as the imminent 2016 National Risk Assessment (NRA) and the contribution of SuDS to tackling this issue.

contractors have remained unwilling to embrace SuDs to the point at which it becomes the normal way of managing flood risk. This has not been helped by a lack of strong legislation and a focus on ‘big ticket’ projects in other areas such as river defences. “However, as well as the messages coming out of the Resilience Review, a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology POSTnote in June entitled ‘Adapting Urban Areas to Flooding’ highlighted that there is no single solution to urban flooding and that SuDs is a vital part of a raft of measures needed to reduce this risk.

“It is my hope that we are getting close to the tipping point at which SuDS, properly integrated into a strategic flood risk management programme, becomes the default process to manage surface water in urban areas.”

According to figures from the Environment Agency, some 3 million properties nationwide are at risk from surface water flooding – also known as ‘flash flooding’. Dr Smoker explained: “Previous NRAs took minimal account of the impact of surface water flows. The 2014 NRA, for example, considered two flooding risks, coastal and inland, but the inland aspect focused almost exclusively on the issues of fluvial (river) flooding. “However, in the course of reviewing these risks for the National Flood Resilience Review, new modelling has confirmed the potentially severe consequences of surface water flooding. It has also acknowledged for the first time the varying distribution of fluvial and surface water flood risk across the UK – with surface water flooding the biggest risk in urban areas.

“The 2016 NRA will therefore separate out fluvial and surface water flood risks and so enable a much more targeted approach to planning for and managing the risk of surface water flooding – both nationally and locally. “This will be accompanied by a wide-ranging review of planning legislation, government planning policy and local planning policies around sustainable drainage in England – which will inform the work of the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change and, in turn, its 2017 progress update on the National Adaptation Plan.”

According to Dr Smoker, this process will reposition the focus on SuDS as a key contributor to flood risk reduction in urban areas.

“There have been many fine examples of SuDs implementation in the last decade but even now each project still has to be argued on its merits. Some 28

Asda Leicester Swale installation

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Surface Water Management

Maintenance and Inspection Critical for Cornwall Highway Soakaways Managing highway surface water runoff as part of a much-needed development of affordable housing in rural Cornwall, UK has been assured with a Stormbloc® geocellular soakaway system from Hydro International. Maintenance and regular inspection were key considerations in a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) that required two soakaways to be built to manage surface water from Bassett Road as part of Coastline Housing’s 49-home development in the village of North Country near Redruth.

As the ground conditions in Cornwall are usually favourable for infiltration of excess surface water, Cornwall Council promotes the use of soakaways as the preferred option for surface water drainage in the county. Consultant Engineers Nijhuis H2OK Ltd specified Stormbloc® with a Stormbloc® Inspect system to ensure regular inspection and maintenance of the soakaways and comply with local authority highways and drainage guidance with a view to adoption by the council.

Stormbloc® Inspect’s inspection chambers and access tunnels in the soakaways are fully integrated within the modular block system to ensure simple installation and connection to the surface water drainage system, as well as easy access for ongoing maintenance. “Percolation testing carried out to CIRIA156/BRA 356 indicated that the ground had good drainage characteristics,” confirmed Jan Clark, Development Infrastructure Manager for Nijhuis H2OK.

“We specified Hydro International Stormbloc® units as they have been successfully adopted by Cornwall Council on other projects. The council are keen to incorporate improved access and inspection facilities on all drainage features and the Stormbloc® inspection facility helps in this regard.”

Surface water is drained from a total 1,500 m2 stretch of highway through road gullies and a gravity pipe system to the two soakaways. Both 1.98 m deep, the soakaways measure 10.4 m x 7.2 m and 9.6 m x 4.0 m and are each situated under separate soft landscaped areas.

The Bassett Road soakaway system is designed to protect the highway from a 1 in 100 year flood event and includes a 30% climate change allowance. Stormbloc® Inspect can be installed under landscaping or even roadways, while remaining easy to access for inspection and maintenance.

The North Country development is being built by Galliford Try for Coastline Housing, a local not-for-profit

housing association that owns and manages over 4,000 homes in the county. The first phase of the development was finished in March 2016, with a second phase was completed in the Summer.

With house prices in Cornwall continuing to be more than 11 times average earnings, many people have been excluded from owning their own homes. The North Country development is one of the housing association’s biggest-ever developments, providing homes for rent, part-buy and part-rent, and is supported by Homes and Community Agency funding. For more information about Stormbloc®, Stormbloc® Inspect and other stormwater and wastewater management products from Hydro International, please call 01275 337937, email enquiries@hydro-int.com or visit www.hydro-int.com.

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River & Wetland Management

River and Wetland Management

WWT welcomes new invasive species law A list of 37 invasive non-native plant and animal species including squirrels, a terrapin and a cabbage will be banned from being brought into the UK after this Wednesday – but only for as long as the UK remains in the EU.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has welcomed the news because the EU list contains several species that are water-based, which allows them to spread easily and outcompete native British wildlife.

The water-based species include signal crayfish, Chinese mitten crab and water primrose which can grow aggressively and choke native water life of light, oxygen and space. Invasive species cost the UK economy an estimated £1.7bn per year to control. Floating pennywort, which can grow 20cm a day, costs the economy £23.5m each year alone. The EU Regulation comes into force on Wednesday 3 August. But it is not transposed into UK law so, as it stands, will cease to apply when the UK leaves the EU.

WWT Government Affairs Officer, Hannah Freeman said: “Many foreign species are harmless but a few can have devastating consequences to our British countryside, as we’ve seen in the past with the fungi that caused ash dieback and Dutch elm disease. “This European Regulation is a no-brainer that will save wildlife and also save our economy millions of pounds each year. It’s important that we continue to make those savings and keep managing harmful alien species once we leave the EU.

“Invasive non-native species is an ever-developing issue as climate and transport changes over time. This

Plants

American Skunk cabbage Asiatic tearthumb Curly waterweed Eastern baccharis Floating pennywort Floating primrose Green cambomba Kudzu vine Parrot’s feather Persian hogweed Water hyacinth Water primrose (2 species) Whitetop weed

Regulation is a welcome first step, but more steps will be needed in future to keep pace with the threats to Britain’s wildlife, whether we’re a member of the EU or not.”

The EU Regulation makes it illegal to import, keep, breed or grow, transport, sell or use any of the listed species or to release any into the environment without a permit. The Regulation obligates Member States to have a surveillance system in place within 18 months – which will include the UK (on the generally-accepted assumption that it will take more than two years to leave the EU).

A breach of the Regulation would result in a fine and the seizing of the animal or plant. (Nb the Regulation does not affect people who keep racoons or terrapins etc. already, but it would be an offence to release or pass them on) The Regulation originally came into effect on 1 January 2015, but has waited for the list of regulated species to be agreed before it can be implemented – so 3 August 2016 is the first day that it can actually be enforced.

Animals

Amur sleeper Asian hornet Small Indian mongoose Bryant’s fox squirrel Chinese mitten crab Coypu Eastern crayfish Grey squirrel Indian house crow Marbled crayfish Muntjac deer North American bullfrog

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Pallas’s squirrel Racoon Red eared slider Red swamp crayfish Ruddy duck Sacred ibis Siberian chipmunk Signal crayfish South American coati Topmouth gudgeon Virile (northern) crayfish

River and Wetland Management

Weir removal will allow River Wandle to return to natural state

Land & Water have been appointed by Wandsworth Council to remove the half-tide weir on the River Wandle at Wandsworth. The project will take 6 months and will allow the tidal river to return to its natural state to support biodiversity in central London. Funding for the project is being provided by Tideway, the company responsible for delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Sediment has built up behind Wandsworth half-tide weir over its 25-year lifetime. This build up has buried the natural gravel river bed under a deep layer of debris and silt. Removal of the weir and these silt deposits will take out the barrier between the Wandle and the tidal Thames.

Natural tidal action at the river mouth will scour fine, muddy sediment from the area and restore the gravel river bottom, restoring valuable subtidal 32

Inset photo: Land & Water’s own design mini amphibious machine which is being used for the first time on this project.

and intertidal habitats for fish, invertebrates and wading birds. The improved water flow will help restore a wildlife habitat measuring roughly a hectare in size that has the potential to become a spawning area and nursery for young fish.

The project is backed by The Environment Agency, the Marine Management Organization and the Port of London Authority.

The council’s environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said:

“This project is being carried out in partnership with Thames Water and aims to breathe new life into the Wandle.

This stretch of the Wandle will be restored as a thriving wildlife habitat

“Removing the sludge and silt that has built up over the years and www.fadsdirectory.com

allowing the water to flow much more freely will hopefully restore a thriving habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife. It will also encourage a much wider range of plant life to flourish in the river again.

Amar Qureshi, major projects director at Thames Water, said: “ Improving the habitat in the Wandle will be of great benefit to not only aquatic life in the river, but also the local community. Work on the Thames Tideway Tunnel will only add to the benefit for this important water course as it cleans up the quality of the water to standards not seen for centuries. Whilst construction of the tunnel will mean some loss of habitat, by offsetting this with the removal of the weir, we will be able to give the Wandle the protection it deserves”

River and Wetland Management

Upgrading our Reservoirs

Photo showing CAT 25m long reach installing slope drainage

Between 2015 and 2020 Yorkshire Water have stated they are looking to spend ÂŁ3.8 billion across the region to deliver better water and sewerage services. As part of this commitment they are looking at improving the safety as well as the maintenance of their reservoirs, many of which have been in operation between 25 and 100 years.

Long reach excavator specialist, WM Plant Hire, have been working with JN Bentley as part of these essential infrastructure improvements on a project in Bolton, where the impound reservoir embankment between the two reservoirs on different levels had to be strengthened. The works involved the removal of topsoil, reprofiling and the placement of drainage matting along the toe of the slope. WM Plant Hire used their CAT machine with 25 metre reach which was fitted with a tilting bucket to profile the slopes, proving the ideal solution for these embankment works.

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AquaDam integral to project success

River and Wetland Management

AquaDam played an important role in a scheme which was recognised as a finalist in the Flood & Coastal' Project Excellence Awards.

The scheme involved the installation of a gauging station downstream of the Northampton Washlands Flood Defences (a designated SSSI) and AquaDam was chosen for it's cost saving and environmental benefits. The £300,000 project saw a new approach in the installation of a Gauging Station with the construction of 2 Array stations built into each bank and webcams installed at each of the gates and penstocks across the site to further enhance the automation and provide Flood Defence teams and operations with information. This removed the requirement for personnel to attend site either for gauging flows or attending alarms as these could be reset remotely freeing up manpower at a time when resources would already be stretched. The Washlands is a complex Flood Defence on the River Nene south of Northampton which serves to protect several hundred Dwellings and Businesses. The work was carried out by carried out by Jacobs Field Services, and NIVUS as framework partners to the Environment Agency.

The Need

The current flood relief system operates using a complex sequence of flood gates, which open and close controlling the water levels into the flood reservoir, limiting the rise of the downstream river levels. The accurate monitoring of these water levels allows the Flood Incident Control Room to regulate the filling of the reservoir. Once the Reservoir has reached capacity, the flow is then directed downstream and it becomes a matter of judgement, based upon past events and local knowledge, on the course of action to take. Making the wrong judgement can have major implications on downstream flooding. The problem is exacerbated when there is prolonged rain as the reservoir will not have completely discharged before being brought into operation. There is also an inherent risk for personnel to be on site under these circumstances, gauging flows or responding to requests for regular updates. Given the present and future levels of manning a solution needed to be found. To address these issues and following the successful project to ’automate’ the Washlands in 2013, by the area MEICA team, a feasibility report into the construction of a new Gauging Station was carried out. NIVUS Ltd , Hydrology &Telemetry Framework Contractor responsible for maintaining the existing Gauging Stations were asked to prepare a design brief. This was to include design and location of arrays downstream of the main control structure and a type of processing unit for calculation of Volumetric Flow.

The Scheme

It was decided not to use land based arrays due to the possibility of damage and so the arrays were built into the river banks, requiring extensive duct works and thrust boring under the River Nene. 34

In 2014 a MEICA project to paint pilings at Nocton Delph, Lincoln saw the trialling of a 45m ‘Aquadam’ as a Dam in place of stop logs. The site was remote and access for lifting equipment was limited. (Aquadam is a water filled dam which when empty is ‘rolled up’ and put into a wooden storage box).

The successful use of ‘Aquadam’ led to it being used again on this project bringing with it substantial economic and environmental benefits. The AquaDam was used for the construction of the first array in July before being utilised on the remaining three. The construction of the Array bases was completed in October. The benefits of using AquaDam for this project were a saving of £30k and the speed in which installation could be carried out. The need for piling was removed and with it the issue of noise and other environmental issues. The Arrays are made up of multiple Ultrasonic Heads that transmit and receive data and were pre-assembled off site. A datum point was selected on the first base then referenced throughout. The Webcams run with GSM chips and short range radio is used to transmit the data directly to the router in the Main Control House. This reduces the need to attend site and allows for remote alteration of retention levels and the reseting of alarms if required. Whilst working on site the opportunity was taken to replace two 8m lighting columns with ‘Collapsible’ columns. This meant that in the event of future lamp replacements mobile crane platforms would no longer be required. All external lighting was also replaced with LED lamps reducing maintenance and energy. Key award recognition features • Use of Aquadam made substantial economic and environmental benefits which will be considered for future projects. • The Gauging Station reduces site manning and increases confidence in Flood Incident Control. • Webcams reveal both day and night specific areas of interest and reduces the requirement to attend site. • The Webcam also allows ‘remote’ operation of the site to alter ‘retention’ levels and to ‘reset’ alarms. • The use of preplanning delivered several desirable outcomes under one scheme and reduced the impact on the environment and business.

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Water-Filled Dams for river, lake and pond work

Budget Range

For water depths up to 0.7m • Culvert works • Pollution control • Fluming • Shallow channel work

Standard Range

For water depths up to 1.8m • Lake works • Weirs • Locks • Bridge works

VL Range

For water depths up to 3.3m An alternative to sheet piling

AquaDam Europe Ltd

+44 (0) 1793 251 700

sales@aquadam-europe.com

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For more information on any of the companies listed please click the link Bio-Engineering

AGA Group

Bio-engineering, Aquatic Consultancy > MORE INFORMATION

Dredging & Silt Removal

ADC (East Anglia) Ltd Drainage service, silt dredging, channel maintenence

> MORE INFORMATION

Erosion control & Piling

ABG Ltd

High performance geosynthetic systems for eroion control, stormwater and ground protection > MORE INFORMATION

The Fen Group

Aquaclear Water Man Truxor Weed harvester importers and suppliers

Bio-engineering, Aquatic Consultancy

> MORE INFORMATION

Water management, flood protection and civil engineering services

AGA Group

Salix Bioengineering

Bioengineering solutions for erosion, inland dredging, civil engineering, wetlands and habitat creation projects > MORE INFORMATION

Fish & eel Passes

Kingcombe Aquacare

Hytex

Water Management for Landscapes, Fisheries, Leisure and Conservation.

Geosynthetic and biodegradable materials. Erosion control, stabilisation

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Land & Water

Kingcombe Aquacare

marine based civil engineering, dredging and remediation projects.

Water Management for Landscapes, Fisheries, Leisure and Conservation.

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Flow control, Flood barriers, fish passes, weed control

Ponds UK

construction and management of ponds, lakes, rivers, water courses, reservoirs and water features > MORE INFORMATION

Salix Bioengineering

Bioengineering solutions for erosion, inland dredging, civil engineering, wetlands and habitat creation projects > MORE INFORMATION

Mastenbroek

Herder flail cutters and Conver weedboats and silt pushers > MORE INFORMATION

W M Plant Hire

Long reach plant hire, dredging, engineering and maintenence and restoration projects > MORE INFORMATION

Plastic Pile manufacturers and suppliers > MORE INFORMATION

> MORE INFORMATION

Fish pass surveys and installations

Flood Protection barriers

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Floodsax

Flood protection - sandless sand bags

IBS Engineered Products

supply and installation of flow control and flood protection equipment. > MORE INFORMATION

Lakeside Flood protection Property flood protection, barriers, air bricks etc

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Aquatic Control Eng

Flow control, Flood barriers, fish passes, weed control

The Flood Company

Specialist, insuranceapproved suppliers of flood protection products > MORE INFORMATION

AST Floodwall Systems Property level flood protection solutions. Doors, vents, airbricks > MORE INFORMATION

Flood Control Int

Demountable and permanent flood barriers doors and gates

Fishway Engineering

Ponds UK

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Flood management solutions

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construction and management of ponds, lakes, rivers, water courses, reservoirs and water features

Aquobex

CW group

Designers and manufacturers of weedscreen cleaners

Master Pile

Plastic piling for bank protection and erosion control

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HL Plastics

Suppliers of temporary water-filled flood barriers and coffer dams

Aquatic Control Eng

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Land & Water

AquaDam Europe Ltd

> MORE INFORMATION

Kingcombe Aquacare