WRc Group

November 2012

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Welcome to the Autumn Edition of our Newsletter

Driving Innovation - The water sector is facing many challenges in the decades ahead. These range from adapting present infrastructure to cope with the effects of climate change and population growth through to managing water resources more sustainably and for the benefit of all. Even with a recent wet summer, the UK still faces the potential of a third dry winter, putting water resources under severe strain. The possibility of stand-pipes in the street or rotating water restrictions strikes fear in the hearts of water company executives and politicians alike. If this scenario is not to come to pass, we must up the pace of change and actively facilitate the development of innovative solutions. The National Innovation Accelerator for Water (NIAW) is being proposed as part of the solution; it is aimed at all parts of the supply chain, including Tier 1 contractors... read more

Mark Smith, Managing Director

• New Appointment to European Commission Freshwater Policy Framework
• Environment Agency Toxicity Advisory Service Contract Extended
• Workshops Explain Changes in Sewers for Adoption Guidance
• Sensors Research Goes Worldwide with the Global Water Research Coalition
• Gas Companies Examine Transfer of Linings Technologies to the Gas Industry
• Demonstrating Efficient Capital Maintenance Expenditure with a Group of Water Utilities
• Environment Agency Work on Ecological Impacts of Catchment Sensitive Farming and Diffuse Water Pollution
• Adopting Innovation in Real-Time Modelling with Manchester University
• Water Company Group Trials Wastewater Dissolved Oxygen Monitors
• Assessing the Wider Benefits of Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for the Environment Agency
• New Compendium of Household Demand and Micro-Component Statistics
• Barhale Civil Engineers use Sahara to Locate Leaks in Yorkshire
• Research into Neutralising the Impact of Lead with Changing Drinking Water Standards
• Pure Technologies Locate Leaks on Wooden Pipes in Switzerland using Sahara
• Evaluating Alternative Media for Rapid Gravity Filtration
• Leo Carswell Appointed Deputy Chairman in Water Industry Sensing Group
• WRc Supports Water, Wastewater and Environmental Monitoring 2012 Event 

Portfolio Collaborative Research - Pushing Innovation in the Water and Waste Sector

WRc's commitment to collaboration and our clients underpins the Portfolio Research Programme. All of the projects we deliver begin with a conversation or a client workshop. We build on needs identified and find others who share the same problem to develop shared cost projects for all our customers to consider.

Recent projects that have just started, which are still open for companies to join, include the largest trial of wastewater dissolved oxygen monitors and achieving compliance with phosphorus and metal consents in wastewater treatment. Other projects about to start include managing health risks from sewer flooding, with particular emphasis on dealing with farmers and a network project creating a forum for sharing experience on the benefits of catchment management.

WRc aims to provide outputs that can be quickly implemented to realise business benefits, but we also look further and are discussing longer-term projects that may help companies to better exploit waste in the future. We welcome suggestions on potential projects, how we can make this a more open process, and to make it better for you - we are happy to discuss any ideas you might have.

For more information, contact ian.walker@wrcplc.co.uk or check out the Portfolio website.

• Essentials of Drain Repair Course. This two-day Essentials for Managing Drain Repair course is on 14/15 November 2012 at WRc in Swindon. The course improves understanding of a key maintenance discipline. It examines the investigation and repair of domestic and light industrial drains and identifies selection of appropriate repair techniques.

• Regulation in the Water Industry, This WRc sponsored CIWEM conference is at SOAS in London on 15th November 2012. Karen Wright will chair a session and Andrew Davey will present on Catchment Management. This conference provides an overview of issues at the heart of water regulation by exploring the current price review and future project delivery for practitioners and the implications for planning.

• SBWWI Intelligent Networks - Leakage and Metering Workshop and Conference (28-29 November 2012). Andy Godley will chair a workshop and present a paper on "New generation of middle-size meters" at this conference in Leamington Spa.

• Innovation in the Water Sector. This WRc sponsored CIWEM conference is at SOAS in London on 13th December 2012. Ian Walker will Chair a session at this conference learning from game-changing innovation examples from the UK Water sector to meet UK needs and those of work markets.

Are you looking for an opportunity to take your career to the next level in a varied and challenging sphere, offering the potential for rapid and stimulating professional and personal development? If you are then WRc is THE place for you. Our emphasis on forward thinking has attracted the brightest industry minds, allowing them to thrive and create breakthrough solutions for our customers. Current vacancies include:

• Senior Environmental Consultant
• Senior Environmental Modeller
• Water Resources Consultant

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