


CIWEM E-News – February 2005
Dear Subscribers,
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The following issues are covered in this edition of the newsletter:
1. Essex Farm wins RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award
2. Participation and the Environment Conference – 8th march 2005, London
3. CIWEM Conferences – Sponsorship Opportunities and Forthcoming Events
4. CIWEM Third National Conference – Call for Papers!
5. Re-Launch of CIWEM Industry Affiliate Membership
6. Picturing the Environment
7. Consultations
8. Engineering Council UK Renews CIWEM Licence
9. Sponsorship of the CIWEM Stand at the 2005 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
10. In Brief
11. CIWEM Metropolitan Branch – Young Authors Competition, AMP4 Conference
12. Molecular Microbiology Workshop for Environmental Engineers and Scientists
13. Sustainable Organic Resources Partnership (SORP) Annual Conference
and AGM
14. Computer Simulation in Water Treatment and Supply
15. Water for Life – the UK Input - Conference
16. Specialist in Land Condition Training Day
17. Join CIWEM
1. Essex Farms wins RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award
The breaching of an Essex sea wall in October 2002 has created an award-winning 200-acre wildlife-rich saltmarsh haven, according to the judges of RSPB and CIWEM’s ‘Living Wetlands’ Award. This carefully planned scheme, which will save £500,000 in sea wall maintenance, has boosted internationally important habitats for a range of birds, fish, plants and other wildlife. In recognition of the project’s excellence, the Essex Wildlife Trust’s Abbotts Hall Farm coastal realignment scheme, on the Blackwater Estuary, delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency, WWF, English Nature, Defra, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, has won the 2005 RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award.
Four centuries ago, saltmarshes in Essex covered more than 115 square miles, accommodating flooding and supporting a huge range of species. By 2002 this had shrunk by 90 per cent to an area of less than 3,000 hectares, with 20% lost since 1980 due to coastal squeeze. The National Biodiversity target is to create 100 hectares of coastal marsh each year. With 40 hectares, the Abbotts Hall scheme provides a shining example of the great contribution a single project can make towards achieving conservation targets.
The new wetland is providing a haven for thousands of species, including many of the UK’s most threatened, as listed under the Biodiversity Action Plan. Before the saltmarsh creation, winter-visiting Brent geese were feasting on crops behind the sea walls, bringing them into conflict with farmers. However, the saltmarshes now have an abundance of eel-grass, the birds’ favoured food, which by the winter of 2003 had attracted over 1700 geese. Hundreds of other wading birds and ducks also arrived at the site soon after the wetland was created.
Birds including skylark and lapwing, and water voles all have breeding populations on the site. One of the site’s most bizarre colonists has been the lagoon sea slug, and the new saltmarsh supports Sea Hog’s Fennel, one of the rarest coastal plants in Britain. In addition, at least 10 species of fish, including bass and herring, are frequenting the area as it reverts to a wetland paradise.
The Abbotts Hall Farm scheme, which includes facilities for visitors, has attracted thousands of wildlife fans since the site was opened to the public in April last year.
2. Participation and the Environment Conference – 8th March 2005, London
The aim of this conference is to introduce, demonstrate and reflect upon the current status and use of ‘participation’ (participative techniques) in delivering the sustainability and environmental agenda and how organisations like CIWEM can respond to the developing agenda in a constructive and supportive way. The Objectives of the conference are as follows:
You should attend if you work on environmental or sustainability projects which involve people – it will give you clear insights into how this area of work is developing
The event will be participative!
Contact Bob Earll, CMS for further information:
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
Or download the brochure at:
http://www.ciwem.com/events/Participation_conference_8March05_
EVersion1.doc
3. CIWEM Conferences – Sponsorship Opportunities and Forthcoming Events
There are comprehensive sponsorship packages for CIWEM conferences, which include:
Free delegate places
Free stand space
Inclusion of organisational literature in delegate packs
Logo inclusion on all materials
For further information, please contact Justin Taberham: justin@ciwem.org
Conferences being run in coming months include:
Public Participation and the Environment
8th March 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
Or download the brochure at:
http://www.ciwem.com/events/Participation_conference_8March05_
EVersion1.doc
Developing Themes in Environmental Management
11th May 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems)
15th June 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
Air Quality and Health
22nd June 2005, London
Contact Sarah Hickinson, Aqua Enviro
Tel: 0113 242 4200 Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk
Water Framework Directive
Diffuse Pollution - A Reality Check of the Key Challenges
13th July 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
For further information about CIWEM’s programme of national conferences, please contact Justin Taberham, Director of Policy, CIWEM, E-mail: Justin@ciwem.org
4. CIWEM Third National Conference – Call for Papers!
The third CIWEM National Conference will be held between 6th – 8th September, 2005 at Bretton Hall, Wakefield.
This year's Third CIWEM National Conference will follow a similar format to last year’s successful event with a number of technical sessions organised separately but running concurrently. The technical events are intended to reflect the strengths of the Institution as well as highlighting the future directions as environmental issues continue to have a high public profile. A number of technical sessions will be offered as well as: the Presidential address, a range of workshops, keynote presentations and discussion forums. As previously, the unifying theme of the technical events is improving our environment by the implementation of sustainable engineered solutions in response to sound, science-based regulation. Based on the response to Call for Papers for previous National Conferences it is anticipated that key areas are likely to be:
Abstracts of 400 words should be submitted before the 1st April 2005. All abstracts should be submitted by email to ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk
Further information about the submission of abstracts may be found at: http://www.ciwem.com/events/3rd_CallForPapers_new.pdf
5. Re-Launch of CIWEM Industry Affiliate Membership
From the 1st January 2005 CIWEM re-launched its Industry Affiliate membership with a brand new package of benefits. There are new titles for this type of membership; companies will be known as Business Affiliates and universities, colleges or training establishments, Academic Affiliates.
The benefits of the new package include:
This membership is open to any establishment who works or has an interest in environmental management and already includes companies such as Arup, the Environment Agency, Groundwork UK, Posford Haskoning, Wessex Water, RSPB, Babtie Group, Adams Ricardo Ltd and Costain Civil Engineering Ltd.
If you would like to know more about this type of membership do visit www.ciwem.org or contact Rosemary Butler, Director of Membership, rbutler@ciwem.org.uk or telephone 020 7831 3110.
The second international CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition is now open for entries. The first prize is £250-worth of vouchers to be spent on photographic equipment. In addition, sponsor MWH will generously provide vouchers to the value of £100 for the best People in the Environment picture, and a similar prize for the best Engineering in the Environment picture.
Last year Rod Armstrong, a retired civil engineer from West Sussex, won the award for his picture of a landscape with dry-stone walls and barns in Swaledale, Yorkshire.
The winning image will be available as a limited edition framed print, will feature in Water and Environment Magazine, and will be promoted by CIWEM to the national media.
The closing date for entries is 30 April 2005, and the winner will be announced on June 5th, World Environment Day. Anyone interested in entering the 2005 competition should contact wem@leadmedia.co.uk or visit www.ciwem.com/awards
CIWEM responds to a wide range of consultation documents as part of its technical and policy output. The majority of technical comment for these responses originates from the Institution’s Technical Panels but if you are a CIWEM member you may register your views with us for incorporation into a response. It is important that the Institution reflects its members’ views as far as possible in these responses. A list of the consultations that are currently being considered, together with an internet address for the papers themselves, features in every edition of E-News.
If you have views on any of the issues raised in any of the consultation papers listed below we would very much like to hear from you. A deadline for when we need to receive your comments is always listed. Please do make sure you have your say. If you would like to view recent consultation responses made by the Institution you can do so on the Institution’s website at www.ciwem.com/policy/consultation
Current consultations:
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Consultation on the proposed Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/landfillregs-rev/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 18/02/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Consultation on the review of the UK Climate Change Programme
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ukccp-review/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 18/02/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Consultation on water company drought plan regulations
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/droughtplan/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 18/02/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Consultation on Sustainable Waste Management
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wasteman-strat/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 01/03/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (Agricultural waste regulations consultation)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/agwaste-regs/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 01/03/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Review of Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wildlifeact-part1/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 04/03/05
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Consultation on draft Code of Practice and local authority guide on odour nuisance from sewage treatment works
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sewageodour/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 18/03/05
Environment Agency
Assessing the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill by mechanical biological treatment and other options.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations/
912816/?version=1&lang=_e
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 24/03/05
Environment Agency
“Water for Life and Livelihoods” – Consultation on a Strategy for River Basin Planning
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations/
946103/?version=1&lang=_e
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 08/04/05
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Consultation on Planning Policy Statement 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/
contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=5609&l=2
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 18/02/05
Ofwat
Ofwat Forward Programme 2005-6 to 2007-8
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/
draft_fwdprog05-06_07-08.pdf/$FILE/draft_fwdprog05-06_07-08.pdf
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 23/02/05
8. Engineering Council UK Renews CIWEM Licence
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management today welcomed the decision of the Engineering Council UK (ECUK) to renew the body’s licence for five years. CIWEM is one of a few organisations whose members can also benefit from the status of Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Scientist.
CIWEM’s Engineering Professional Board peer reviews applications for the Institution’s members to take up the opportunity to become Chartered Engineers (CEng), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech). The arrangement has been in place since the early 1990s.
CIWEM members have a range of qualifications that they can, if suitably qualified, gain as a benefit of membership: CIWEM is one of a handful of Institutions able to boast a number of members who have gained triple recognition as Chartered Scientist (CSci), Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) through their professional body.
For further information please e-mail membership@ciwem.org
9. Sponsorship of the CIWEM Stand at the 2005 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
This year, CIWEM has been chosen to have a stand at the RHS Royal Chelsea Flower Show, which takes place in London from 23-28 May 2005.
Our stand will be alongside the Floral Displays in the Great Pavilion, at the heart of the Show. It’s called Plants in Innovative Environmental Schemes, and features the winning entry in the 2004 CIWEM World of Difference Award: the Green Roof Water Recycling System (GROW), designed by Water Works UK Ltd to save water by processing ‘grey’ water (collected wash water) and filtering it through a bed of aquatic plants containing bacteria which cleanse the water.
As a £500 sponsor of CIWEM’s stand your company’s name and logo will appear as part of the display, and in May’s special edition of WEM Magazine, which will be available for members of the public to take away, as well as being distributed to the 12,000 environmental professionals who are members of CIWEM. You will also feature in all CIWEM’s marketing and publicity for the event.
For further details about sponsorship of CIWEM’s stand at the 2005 Chelsea Flower Show contact Nick Reeves, CIWEM Executive Director on 020 7831 3110, e-mail nreeves@ciwem.org, or Ilana Cravitz, CIWEM Press and Communications Officer on ilana@ciwem.org.
CIWEM Welcomes Six Bulgarian Fellows
CIWEM is very pleased to welcome into membership six new Fellows from Bulgaria. These six new members all work for Sofiska Voda, the Sofia Water Company and will become the nucleus of the new Bulgarian Branch on its formation later this year. They were interviewed for their membership in Sofia recently and have been fully supported throughout the process by United Utilities who are in partnership for the provision of water in this and other cities in Bulgaria.
Calling all aspiring Chartered Scientists!
If you have been considering making an application for Chartered Scientist, CSci, via the ‘grandparenting’ process now is the time to submit your application. This fast track route will be finishing at midnight on the 28th February 2005 for suitably qualified members of CIWEM, so don’t delay, send your form to us as soon as possible. After this date members will have to follow the full process of a professional interview to gain the title. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility or you need any clarification please contact membership@ciwem.org or call the helpdesk on 020 7831 3110.
CIWEM Annual Dinner 2005
CIWEM’s prestigious Annual Dinner will be held on 14th April 2004 at Drapers’ Hall, London. The Principal Guest this year will be Baroness Greenfield, CBE, Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Professor of Pharmacology, Author & Presenter.
Ticket prices for the evening have been frozen for the second year running. Corporate tables for 10 are priced at £1400 + VAT and individual tickets are £80 + VAT. There are also sponsorship opportunities – for further information please contact Lorraine Poole, lpoole@ciwem.org
CIWEM One-Day Courses
The next 'How to be a CIWEM Mentor' course will be held on Tuesday 29th April 2005.
The next 'Preparing for the CIWEM Professional Reivew' course will be held on Tuesday 28th June 2005. For further details please visit www.ciwem.com/education/.
Subscription payment, CPD logging now possible on-line!
Further to the recent launch of the Members Area of the CIWEM website, we would like to remind members that it is now possible to pay your subscriptions on-line. Registration is simple and free for all current CIWEM members at www.ciwem.com/members/. The ability to log CPD hours online is now also available. We hope that these improvements will make managing your CIWEM membership quicker and easier.
Engineering Technician Registration
Eng Tech is a valuable, portable, internationally recognized award that can be carried throughout your career, demonstrating your competence and your commitment to a professional approach. More information may be found on the Eng Tech website at www.engtech.co.uk
It is possible to register with Eng Tech via CIWEM. For further information on how to do so, please contact Morag Campbell, e-mail: mcampbell@ciwem.org
Meeting Room for hire at CIWEM
The Institution's premises in John Street, situated between Bloomsbury and the City, has a room available for letting. Set out in Board Room style, it comfortably seats up to 15 people and is ideal for small meetings.
For further information, contact CIWEM
Tel: 0207 831 3110
E-mail: reception@ciwem.org
11. CIWEM Metropolitan Branch – Young Authors Competition, AMP4 Conference
Do you have something to write about?
Would you be interested in competing in the 2005 Young Authors competition?
Prize money: £300 - first prize, £100 to be spilt between the two runners up!
Your paper must address the application of engineering and scientific knowledge and management skills to the provision of services in connection with water and/or environmental issues.
Key Deadlines:
11th February 2005 - Notify your intention to submit a paper to Dr Dick Fenner, email: raf37@eng.cam.ac.uk
25th March 2005 - Submit your full written paper to Dr Dick Fenner, email: raf37@eng.cam.ac.uk
22nd April 2005 - Shortlisted finalists to be notified
18th May 2005 - Presentation evening at Imperial College, London
For further information please contact Jennie Ritchie, e-mail: jenny.ritchie@halliburton.com
AMP4 - The Challenge and how we meet it
Metropolitan Branch one-day conference at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London on Wednesday, 23 February 2005
The final determinations now accepted by the water companies, here is your chance to catch up on what influenced OFWAT in making the determinations, how the expectations of the DWI, EA and Water Voice have been met, what Water UK and the water companies think and how the industry will deliver the challenging efficiency targets.
Come and hear Bill Emery of OFWAT, Milo Purcell of the DWI, Hilary Aldridge of the EA, Richard Sturt of Water Voice, Rob Harrison of Thames Water, David Nickols of Black & Veatch and Barrie Clarke of Water UK
At £200 plus VAT this represents excellent value for this unique opportunity to become much better informed on a burning issue for our industry.
Contact Jivir Viyakesparan at jivir.viyakesparan@mwhglobal.com to register
12. Molecular Microbiology Workshop for Environmental Engineers and Scientists
4-day theory and practical course
17th – 20th May 2005
Microbial Ecology Group
School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
University of Newcastle
We are offering a 4-day course in the theory and practice of molecular techniques for microbial population monitoring of engineered biological treatment systems.
In recent years, the revolution in molecular techniques has allowed great insight, at an unprecedented resolution, into the microbiology of many natural and engineered systems. For example, the techniques allow the characterisation of previously unknown microbial communities, and the detection, quantification and monitoring of specific microbial populations, such as those involved in nitrification, foaming and bulking in wastewater treatment plants.
We will provide expert training in the practical use of the latest state-of-the-art techniques for detecting, monitoring, and characterising/identifying specific microbial populations through a conjunction of molecular tools and high performance microscopy. The course will comprise:
Day 1: An introduction: theory, concepts and case studies
Days 2-4
For further information please contact Angela Brown; e-mail, angela.brown1@ncl.ac.uk, telephone, 0191 222 4885, or Dr. Russell Davenport; e-mail, r.j.davenport@ncl.ac.uk, telephone, 0191 222 5544.
13. Sustainable Organic Resources Partnership (SORP) Annual Conference and AGM
Everybody generates recyclable organic materials - from our homes, gardens, shops, offices, factories and farms. We can waste them or recycle them as a valuable resource. The Sustainable Organic Resources Partnership was established in 2003 to bring together everyone with an interest in safe, sustainable use of these resources . Its vision is to build trust between stakeholders, and to create and share knowledge of the benefits of recycling using practices that are sustainable and welcomed.
Whether you are a user, distributor, producer, retailer, policy maker or regulator then you must also read on. We are all part of the challenge and are therefore responsible for helping create the solution.
The Partnership celebrates its progress with its first annual conference and AGM on 14th and 15th April, in Peterborough, UK (£180+VAT for members; non-members £220).
Elliot Morley, Minister of State for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs will discuss the issues. The full breadth of interests is represented on the programme. To get further information contact info@sorp.org but don’t delay – places are limited.
14. Computer Simulation in Water Treatment and Supply
Practical 1-day seminar
There are continuing pressures on drinking water suppliers to identify opportunities for optimisation and cost saving in order to increase efficiencies and earn the maximum from their assets. This often requires pushing plant to the edge of its operational envelope. To do this safely it is necessary to define where the envelope might be and fully understand how these assets will behave under increasingly demanding regimes.
The seminar will explore latest initiatives in computer simulation in the water sector, drawing from a broad range of practitioner and research expertise. There will also be demonstrations of the advanced visualisations possible in a Virtual Reality CAVE environment.
Date: Thursday, February 24th 2005
Cost: £150.00 per delegate inclusive of lunch and other refreshments
Venue: Civil & Computational Engineering Centre, University of Wales, Swansea
Contact: Kim Davies Tel: 01792 295923; E-mail: kim.davies@swansea.ac.uk
15. Water for Life – the UK Input
Tuesday 22nd March 2005
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (in association with the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology (CEH))
For interested groups involved in water issues, this conference (convened by Professor Alan Jenkins, CEH) considers how the UK water community can best contribute to improving access to safe water worldwide through management, research and protection.
Speakers include: Gordon Young (Co-ordinator, United Nations World Water Assessment Programme), Bernard Barraque (French National Committee for the International Hydrological Programme), Alan Gustard (International Association of Hydrological Sciences), David Tickner (Head of WWF-UK's Global Freshwater Programme), Nigel Arnell (University of Southampton), Stephen Turner (Deputy Director of Water Aid) and Ed Mitchell (Head of CSR, Thames Water).
There will be a poster session and the meeting will conclude with a panel discussion.
Further details and registration:
Dr Heather Binney, Head of Programmes, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG),
1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. Email: h.binney@rgs.org Tel: 020 7591 3005
http://www.rgs.org/ Follow the following links > Events > Water for Life - the UK Input - 22 March 2005.
16. Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) Training Day 8th June 2005
As part of the development of the SiLC Registration scheme, members of the SiLC Professional and Technical Panel and Assessors Panel, are hosting a training day to provide information about the SiLC assessment process and the completion and use of the Land Condition Record on which the scheme is based. The training day is open to all those who are considering applying to become a SiLC.
The day will be hosted by a member of the SiLC Professional and Technical Panel (PTP) and by members of the SiLC Assessors Panel, it will be held on Wednesday 8th June 2005 at The National Centre for Early Music, York. Registration will be at 9.30 am. Please book early to ensure a place, numbers are limited and will be allocated in order of application.
The full programme for the day may be downloaded from:
http://www.silc.org.uk/downloads/Training%20Day%20Summer%202005.doc
CIWEM is a vibrant environmental professional body which offers professional development, an impressive programme of local, national and international events, a magazine ten times a year, a quarterly journal, excellent networking opportunities and many other benefits. Contact membership@ciwem.org for more details.
That was the e-newsletter from CIWEM’s Policy Department. Please keep comments and suggestions coming in. If you would like to be taken off the mailing list, please email webmaster@ciwem.org
Please pass any comments to:
Justin Taberham, Director of Policy, CIWEM, 15 John Street, London, England, WC1N 2EB
Tel: 020 7831 3110 Fax: 020 7405 4967 E-mail: Justin@ciwem.org
Ludwood Interactive have designed the all new CIWEM web site. They specialise in designing graphically rich sites which feature intuitive navigation systems and a wealth of interactive features.
As part of an affinity relationship with CIWEM, Ludwood Interactive are now offering a special discount of 10% on web site design projects to all CIWEM members. An additional contribution of 10% will be donated to CIWEM on new projects carried out for its members.
Why not consider Ludwood Interactive for your next web project? Contact Ludwood Interactive via their web site www.ludwood.com or via tel: 020 7346 8400.