FlowSource provides a greater understanding of the where, when and how of groundwater flow.

FlowSource was released for purchase in 2013 and is an easy to apply groundwater software program that graphically delineates where and how wells and/or rivers obtain their water in groundwater simulations.  With this information the full story of where, when and how can be applied to groundwater flow models.

FlowSource is unique as it volumetrically delineates the groundwater pathway to, and areal source of, abstractions, drains, seepage faces or rivers using both steady state and transient model results.  FlowSource is an easy to apply post-processor for MODFLOW modelling codes or as a stand-alone tool.

FlowSource has been extensively used by regulators, water companies and consultants for a variety of purposes including: point source contaminant hydraulic containment, pump and treat optimisation, transient groundwater divide delineation, well head protection/source protection zones, diffuse pollution and catchment management investigations.

The flexibility of FlowSource, as well as the short setup and run-times of the program, make it a valuable addition to the groundwater modelling toolbox as it can spatially and temporally identify catchments, volumetric pathway definitions, the original source location of abstracted water, and pathway flow travel times on both steady-state and transient models.

For more information on the technical capabilities of FlowSource please contact Rosanna Fildes.

Time averaged catchment and flow paths to an abstraction borehole in an unconfined aquifer:

Fig. A  “Volumetric Flow Through” of water passing through each cell which is ultimately extracted at the well(s) (volumetric pathway delineation)

Fig. B  ”Fractional Flow Through” Fraction of water passing through each cell which is ultimately extracted at the well(s) (percentage of flow, pathway delineation)

Fig. C  “Volumetric Flow From” Volume of water originating in each cell which is simulated to be extracted at the well(s) (volumetric source zone delineation)

Fig. D  “Fractional Flow From” Fraction of water in each cell which is simulated to be extracted at the well(s) of interest (fractional source zone delineation)

The above Video is an introduction to ESI’s Phase 1 land contamination reports presented by Lisa Davies. Lisa is a very experienced contaminated land consultant who has prepared and reviewed hundreds of Phase 1 reports.

This video provides an understanding to ESI’s approach to Phase 2 land contamination reports and why they may be required. Andy Singleton is the Technical Director within ES’s land team

Bespoke courses are becoming more and more popular as clients strive to gain best value from training budgets. Sue Cheslett explains why.

Andrew Tait is an experienced hydrogeologist and he has developed a specialist understanding of the hydrogeological needs of the mining and extractive industries

Technical Director of ESI’s Sustainable Development Group highlights the specifics of ESI’s Flood Risk Assessments

Antonio Gennarini explains why it is important to ensure that the sub surface design of your Ground Source Energy System meets the buildings energy requirements.

Joe Gomme is a highly experienced hydrogeologist and has over recent years focussed on landfill environmental support. Joe explains the range of services that ESI can provide

Whilst in contact with them we have come across many good publications and fact sheets that provide good information on Phase 1 land contamination reporting and broader land quality issues.

Below is a list of some of these documents that may help you understand issues in your own particular region. Much of the information is generic and will be applicable where ever your development is. If after reading any of the documents below and you have any questions please contact the local authority directly or call the Contaminated land team here at ESI.

Yorkshire and Humberside

The purpose of this guidance is to promote consistency and good practice for development on land affected by contamination. This document has been adopted by many local authorities and include Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Boston Borough Council, Hull City Council, Richmondshire District Council, City of Bradford, Kirklees Council, Rotherham Borough Council, Calderdale Council, Leeds City Council, Doncaster Borough Council, Durham County Council.

 Colchester Borough Council

This is an excellent land contamination and planning advice note

East Lindsey District Council

An information sheet covering Phase 1 contaminated Land Desk studies.

Gateshead Council

This is a very detailed 18 page document with many excellent links to further information. ESI’s Phase 1 reports meet the guidance in this document.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight 

An excellent document prepared by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Contaminated land Remediation Group. ESI’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 contaminated land assessments and investigations meet the standards defined here.

Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire

A technical guide for planning applicants and developers in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. ESI’s Phase 1 reporting follows the guidance in this document which has been adopted by many local authorities including; Bedford Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, Mid Beds District Council, South Bedfordshire, St Albans and District Council, Hertsmere, Stevenage Borough Council, Watford Borough Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Milton Keynes Council, Three Rivers District Council, East Herts Council.

Staffordshire 

A detailed informative document endorsed by Staffordshire Local Authorities. ESI has completed many Contaminated Land Phase 1 reports and Phase 2 investigations across Staffordshire.

ESI is well positioned to aid wastewater businesses across England and Wales assess the risk and compliance requirements to their businesses. ESI has a combination of 16 years of experience in delivering environmental permitting, aiding the wastewater utility sector, risk assessment methodologies and negotiating appropriate risk based solutions with the Environment Agency.

The Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2013 SI 390, published in February 2013 transpose the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU). Of particular interest to the wastewater utility businesses across England and Wales will be the potential changes imposed around the treatment of non-hazardous waste by biological or physic-chemical treatment. Paragraph 36 in the regulations introduces a new section 5.3 into the original Pollution Prevention Control Act 1999. This brings the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations to apply to the recovery or a mix of recovery and disposal of non-hazardous waste with a capacity of >75 tonnes per day or 100 tonnes if the treatment is anaerobic digestion.

There is an exclusion for activities covered by the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) (in the UK urban Waste water Treatment Regulations 1994 SI 2841). The point of much contention over many years remains as what point in the sewage treatment process does the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations stop and where do the Environmental Permitting Regulations commence. This could be either when the sewage solids have been removed from the wastewater or after the sewage solids have been treated. There are also many different site specific circumstances that need to be taken into account as well.

For further information on how ESI can provide Environmental Permitting support covering wastewater and sewage please contact Dr Phil Aldous

ESI’ flood risk assessment work has included the redevelopment of an industrial site within the flood plain of the Poyle Brook in Slough (April 2012). ESI liaised with the client and the Environment Agency to agree a flood mitigation strategy that attenuated site run-off and enhanced the biodiversity of the river corridor. Run-off calculations were undertaken using the flood estimation handbook to derive the required storage of swale and attenuation pond features required to reduce site run-off. As a result of ESI’s report the site was granted Planning Permission.

ESI (January 2013) completed a large, 60 m³,soakaway test in support of a proposed new development which was reliant on an effective soakaway discharge to a shallow Northamptonshire aquifer of limited extent. ESI’s groundwater modelling team was used to assess the long term sustainable discharge rate and the potential impact of the scheme on adjacent shallow groundwater levels.

A sustainable drainage assessment (April 2012) was undertaken for a quarry site in the West Midlands involving rainfall run-off calculations, and attenuation. The assessment involved derivation of flow paths and catchment areas across the site, plus calculation of storage volumes and settlement requirements to ensure good water quality. ESI’s project director was able to utilise his experience of water audits and resource assessments at a range of industrial and agricultural sites, looking at water requirements in comparison to the available, rainfall, groundwater and surface water resources.

ESI has undertaken flood risk assessments in support of a number of renewable energy schemes including a proposed new hydroelectric scheme on the River Severn in Shrewsbury (June 2012) and several Solar PV installations (December 2012). A series of swales were designed to compensate for the additional run-off created by areas of hard standing associated with the new plant rooms and transformers.

To meet the requirements for the code for sustainable homes, ESI developed a drainage strategy (November 2012) for 4 proposed dwellings using a combined system incorporating soakaways and surface attenuation ponds which helped the developer obtain the required credits from the code for sustainable homes necessary to obtain planning permission.

Most of those involved with the development of Brownfield land will be only too aware that land quality issues can pose a significant challenge to timely and cost effective redevelopment. Commercial developers have a need to establish a reliable estimate of the financial costs and liabilities that might be associated with land contamination. Unfortunately, these costs are intrinsically difficult to pin down since contamination problems are by nature buried under our feet, and therefore out of sight. Making sense of this uncertainty is the key to defining both land quality risks and the associated costs, and therefore to making informed decisions regarding commercially viable Brownfield development.

At ESI our objective is to quantify uncertainty, rather than conclude that we don’t know enough about a given site (which is all too often the case, even after relatively expensive site investigations). ESI’s approach is different. Our report will describe a site’s land quality as best we can, including an appreciation of what we don’t yet know (i.e. our uncertainties). We can then if required construct financial models that estimate the likely range of costs that would be required to clean up any land contamination. In essence we do this by ‘modelling’ both the likelihood of different activities being required (including different types and amounts of remediation) and the costs associated with these activities. Our aim is to provide land vendors, purchasers or developers a better steer on the contaminant liabilities associated with a given site; so enabling more informed decision making.

ESI Ltd is a technical member of CL:AIRE

ESI can guide your development through the Definition of Waste process to help you make sure that your development complies with the DoWCoP. ESI can also provide a registered Qualified Person to review your relevant documents and provide a Declaration to the Environment Agency.

Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice

CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments) is the current management organisation for the Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice (DoWCoP). It is now in its second version following the release in 2008, and exists to serve the following purposes:

1. It sets out good practice for the development industry to use when: Assessing on a site specific basis whether excavated materials are classified as waste or not; and Determining on a site specific basis when treated excavated waste can cease to be waste for a particular use.
2. It describes an auditable system to demonstrate that this DoWCoP has been adhered to.

Sourced from The Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice, Version 2

The DoWCoP has been widely adopted by the industry and has been used in a range of development applications ranging from the small scale re-use of soils on construction sites to very large earthworks and land restoration projects.

Good practice has three basic steps:

1. Ensuring that an adequate Materials Management Plan (MMP) is in place, covering the use of materials on a specific site.
2. Ensuring that the MMP is based on an appropriate risk assessment, that underpins the Remediation Strategy or Design Statement, concluding that the objectives of preventing harm to human health and pollution of the environment will be met if materials are used in the proposed manner.
3. Ensuring that materials are actually treated and used as set out in the MMP and that this is subsequently demonstrated in a Verification Report.

Sourced from The Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice, Version 2

To confirm that steps 1 and 2 have been taken, a Qualified Person must review the relevant documents and provide a Declaration to the Environment Agency prior to the use of materials (Site of Origin scenario) or prior to dispatch (Direct and Cluster scenarios).

If it turns out that materials were not used in accordance with the MMP and risk assessment, or if it is discovered that materials are not suitable for use, are used or planned to be used in excessive quantities, or are likely to cause harm to human health or pollution of the environment, the Environment Agency may conclude that those materials have been discarded and are waste.

Further information can be found at www.claire.co.uk/CoP

The ESI team have worked in partnership with public and private sector clients including developers, house builders, extractive industries, government agencies and local authorities to help them manage complex geo-environmental problems.In order to assess your project needs ESI will appoint a geo-environmental specialist as your Project Manager who will coordinate ESI’s services provide effective technical support for your team.

ESI’s specialists have worked in numerous multi-disciplinary design teams and are expert in communicating clearly and effectively to make sure risks are fully understood and appropriately provisioned.ESI’s experience of providing services to the environmental regulators (including the Environment Agency and Local Authority Contaminated Land Officers) gives a unique and powerful insight into their expectations which can help guide your development process and minimise the risk of protracted negotiations and planning delays.

Your project will also benefit from ESI’s programme of continuous innovation and the many software products that we have brought to market which help in the management of geo-environmental data and risk assessment.

You will need to decide on the feature level and license type you need. FEFLOW is available in six different feature levels: Flow, Mass and Heat transport in 2D or 3D. Each level includes the program features of all lower feature levels.

FEFLOW F2

FEFLOW FM2

FEFLOW F3

FEFLOW FM3

FEFLOW FH3

FEFLOW FMH3

The framework of MIKE LICENSING FLEX ACCESS provides flexible licence options fitting to your needs. Please contact us (details on the right) or the DHI Sales Team (sales@dhi-wasy.de) to obtain a tailored quote.

For details on feature levels and licensing please click here.

FEFLOW 6 comes with native user interfaces for Microsoft Windows environments as well as for Linux operating systems.

Windows:

• Windows XP, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Vista, Windows 7
• 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) Editions

Linux:

• FEFLOW is available for a number of different 32bit and 64bit Linux distributions. Please check the download section for currently available installations.
• Installation packages for other Linux systems may be available on request (support(at)dhi-wasy.de).

Graphics Adapter

FEFLOW applies the Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) for hardware-based graphics acceleration. An OpenGL-compliant graphics adapter greatly improves graphics performance when working with 2D and 3D models.

• Experience has shown that medium-priced graphics adapters of brand manufacturers provides optimal cost-efficiency.
• The latest graphics driver should be installed to ensure optimal performance and stability.

Memory

• The actual memory (RAM) requirements depend on the size and type of the models that are to be computed.
• A 64-bit operating system is recommended on systems with more than 2 GB RAM.

Processor

• The computational speed increases approximately proportional with the CPU clock rate.
• FEFLOW supports parallel processing on multi-core / multi-processor machines (shared memory).

Human Interface Devices

• The usage of a three-buttoned computer mouse is recommended for optimal convenience.

Other

• A free USB port is required for the hardware dongle if the license is not obtained via network.