Dear Subscribers,

Thanks for subscribing to CIWEM’s E-News. This is a free electronic version of the monthly newsletter which is distributed to all those interested in CIWEM’s work. The service is administered through CIWEM’s web site www.ciwem.org where you can subscribe via the top menu button for ‘NEWSLETTER’. If you would rather not hear about our work, you can also unsubscribe there.

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The following issues are covered in this edition of the newsletter:

1. View Gathering on Nuclear Energy
2. CIWEM Conferences – Sponsorship Opportunities and Forthcoming Events
3. CIWEM Award Announcements
4. CIWEM Jobs Market
5. CIWEM Professional Indemnity Insurance
6. Picturing the Environment – Last Chance to Enter!
7. Society for the Environment Seeks Technical Secretary
8. New UK Strategy for Sustainable Development Launched
9. Environmentalists Support Olympic Bid
10. Sponsorship of the CIWEM Stand at the 2005 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
11. Consultations
12. In Brief
13. ENDS Report Offer for CIWEM Members
14. Molecular Microbiology Workshop for Environmental Engineers and Scientists
15. European Water Day 2005
16. Specialist in Land Condition Training Day
17. Join CIWEM

1. View Gathering on Nuclear Energy

CIWEM is gathering views on the viability of nuclear power as an option for future energy needs. We would welcome your views in response to the following statements:

• Is nuclear power worthy of being considered as a future energy option?
• Is nuclear power a sustainable option? Which energy options do you consider as sustainable?
• Are other energy options able to fill the gap if fossil fuels decline in supply, and which ones?
• Have public safety issues relating to the nuclear option been appropriately addressed?
• What should the Government be doing or saying on this issue?

Please email views to Justin Taberham, Director of Policy, email: justin@ciwem.org

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2. CIWEM Conferences – Sponsorship Opportunities and Forthcoming Events

There are comprehensive sponsorship packages available for CIWEM’s range of popular 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:

Strategic Environmental Assessment – Challenges for application and delivery
11th May 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
To read the programme visit: http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/SEA_Prog_Draft3.doc

SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) – Time to get to grips with it
15th June 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Tel: 01531 890415 Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
To read the programme visit: http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/SUDS_Master_0305.doc

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

CIWEM National Conference
6th – 8th September 2005, Wakefield
Contact Sarah Hickinson, Aqua Enviro
Tel: 0113 242 4200 Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.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

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3. CIWEM Award Announcements

We are delighted to announce that the 2005 CIWEM World of Difference Award supported by Black and Veatch has been awarded to Northumbrian Water for their new Water Treatment Works at Wearhead, County Durham. Situated within an area of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the treatment works has been designed to minimise its impact on the surrounding environment. Features which impressed the judges included measures to reduce the visible footprint of the plant, a turbine on the water inlet to produce renewable energy and the development of an on-site concrete batching plant which saved 965 road deliveries and over 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Congratulations also go to Michelle Johnson of Tyne and Humber branch who receives the 2005 International CIWEM Young Members’ Award supported by Jacobs Babtie for her paper entitled ‘Aerated Rock Filters for Enhanced Ammonia and Faecal Coliform Removal from Facultative Pond Effluents’. The judges also commended Eliot Simons of Metropolitan branch for his paper ‘Quantifying the Unquantifiable: Ecohydrology on the Ouse Washes’.

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4. CIWEM Jobs Market

CIWEM now offers the facility for employers with job vacancies to advertise them on a dedicated Jobs Market area of the Institution’s website. For a limited time, we are offering this service free of charge and it couldn’t be easier to upload the details of the post you wish to fill. Simply visit http://www.ciwem.org.uk/jobs/ and click on ‘Post a Job’, then fill in the form. Your advert will immediately go live on CIWEM’s Jobs Market page. There is no limit to the number of jobs you may post so take advantage of this free offer now!

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5. CIWEM Professional Indemnity Insurance

Do you find it difficult and expensive to obtain Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance?

CIWEM is aware that its members have found Professional Indemnity (PI) cover increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain in recent years, especially smaller firms and individual consultants. As a result, CIWEM is currently exploring the possibility of offering a PI insurance scheme exclusive to its members.

For more information, please click here: www.millergroupservices.com/CIWEM

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6. Picturing the Environment – Last Chance to Enter!

Time is running out to enter your photographs of an environmental subject into the second international CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition. 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.

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

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7. Society for the Environment Seeks Technical Secretary

The Society for the Environment (SocEnv), the chartered umbrella regulatory body for environmental professional institutions and learned societies, is seeking a suitably qualified environmental professional to work on a voluntary basis providing support to its Technical Committee and to the Chair of the Committee.

In addition to its regulatory functions the Society is contributing to the wider debate in sustainability and the environment and provides comment and responses to consultations from government and national agencies. Responsibility for research and preparation of such contributions lies with the Society’s Technical Committee and requires understanding of a wide range of environmental issues.

To manage an increasing workload the Society is seeking candidates for the new role of Technical Secretary. The successful applicant will be responsible to the Society’s Chief Executive for co-ordinating the views of the constituent bodies of the Society, researching issues and preparing consultation responses and related policy papers. This key and vital role within the Society is a voluntary role but reasonable expenses will be paid. It is envisaged that much of the work will be undertaken remotely from home, but with the need to attend meetings, occasionally, in London.

Candidates will have an environmental background with excellent IT and technical writing skills, and an ability to clearly distil and synthesise a range of different views. Candidates may either be experienced professionals wanting to give something back at the end of a career, or younger and ambitious, eager to make a mark in a developing career. Ideally, applicants should hold membership of one of the Society’s constituent bodies. A list of these, with more information about the Society can be found at www.socenv.org.uk.

To apply please email a CV and supporting letter to services@socenv.org.uk.

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8. New UK Strategy for Sustainable Development Launched

In March, CIWEM Executive Director Nick Reeves attended the launch of the Government’s new UK Strategy for Sustainable Development entitled ‘Securing the Future’. Prime Minister Tony Blair led a Ministerial team at the launch and CIWEM was one of only two professional bodies invited. The strategy has been broadly welcomed and contains 250 commitments for progress towards a sustainable future. Other Ministers present included Margaret Beckett, Charles Clarke, Keith Hill, Paul Murphy and Elliott Morley and some junior ministers from Transport, Education and International Development.

At the launch, Mrs Beckett said:
"Sustainable development is vital to building a decent future for everyone. The Government is leading by example but the strategy can't be delivered by the Government alone. The Government wants to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get involved - for local or global benefit."
The headline points of the strategy are:

• A new task force under Sir Neville Simms on sustainable public procurement will draw up a national action plan to make the UK a leader in the EU by 2009.
• A new scheme to enable Government departments to offset the carbon impacts of their air travel by April 2006. When there is no alternative to flying, Government will compensate for carbon dioxide released from our flights by investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
• Community Action 2020 - Together We Can - will launch in the autumn. It will give local groups support, information and training to influence what goes on where they live. They will be given specific support to help influence local authorities' Sustainable Community Strategies and local development plans.

CIWEM will be using the strategy to measure government progress towards delivering more sustainable development in coming years.

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9. Environmentalists Support Olympic Bid

The Society for the Environment (SocEnv), the new umbrella organisation for environmental professionals in the UK, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with London 2012, the company bidding to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

SocEnv’s Chairman, William Pope, and Chief Executive, Tim Bines, met with London 2012 Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, at the Environment Forum, held at Church House, Westminster on 7 March 2005.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a partnership between the two organisations that will, among other matters, seek to:

• Promote sustainability through professional environmental advice throughout the Olympic projects
  
  
• Work towards the establishment of the highest professional standards drawing on the members of the Constituent Bodies that make up SocEnv
  
  
• Promote the concept of a quality environment during and after the Olympic Games.

William Pope said “the Society for the Environment is delighted to help London 2012 and I pay tribute to the quality of the environmental package in the Bid. We need to ensure that for such a major event the preparation of all aspects of the Games themselves as well as the exciting legacy are as environmentally sustainable as possible. The Society is ready to help the Olympic Bid We wish London 2012 every success.”

Lord Coe said “from the outset London 2012 has sought to engage with environmental organisations and we are delighted at the positive response we have received. It is really important for us that our environmental and sustainable development plans have been developed in partnership with the top professionals in this field. The support of Society for the Environment through its constituent bodies and their members will help us deliver this to a high standard.”

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10. 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.

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11. Consultations

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 Security and Emergency Measures (licensed water suppliers) Direction; the Security and Emergency Measures (water undertakers) Direction 2005; and guidance on the Licensed Water Suppliers Direction (SEMG(3))
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/water-suppliers/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 13/05/05

Department for Trade and Industry
2005-06 Review of the Renewables Obligation - Preliminary Consultation
http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-1475.html
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 31/05/05

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
The draft Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2005
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/
documents/page/odpm_plan_035976.pdf
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 20/05/05

Ofgem
Revision of guidelines on green supply offerings: Consultation document
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/10986_10905.pdf
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 17/06/05

Pesticides Safety Directorate
A National Strategy For The Sustainable Use Of Plant Protection Products
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/environment.asp?id=1539
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 15/06/05

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12. In Brief

Branch/Group Finance
The Finance Department would like to say a big thank you to Tom Adamson (Northern Ireland Branch Treasurer) for submitting all the 2004 Northern Ireland Branch Returns correctly and on time. It was a great help to the Finance Department as it allowed us to process the Branch Account efficiently.

CIWEM Annual Dinner 2005
The Bulgarian Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Valentin Dobrev will be attending the CIWEM Annual Dinner on 14th April together with the First Secretary and the Deputy Ambassador as guests of United Utilities International and as a prelude to the launch of the new CIWEM Bulgaria and Balkans Branch.

SocEnv at ET 2005
Society for the Environment, of which CIWEM is a Licenced Body, is pleased to announce their participation in ET 2005, the UK’s largest environmental technology and management services exhibition, featuring the Environmental Management Forum (EMF). Co-located with International Clean Up (ICU) and the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX), the 24-25 May 2005 is a must attend event for all professionals with environmental responsibilities.

SocEnv will be on hand to offer advice and are presenting a taster training session on becoming a Chartered Environmentalist on Wednesday 25 May 2005. To attend this session or ET, register now by visiting www.et-expo.co.uk or call the hotline on 0870 443 6089.

CIWEM One-Day Courses
The next 'How to be a CIWEM Mentor' course will be held on Tuesday 19th April 2005.
The next 'Preparing for the CIWEM Professional Review' course will be held on Tuesday 28th June 2005. For further details please visit www.ciwem.com/education/.

Green Alliance Report on Building Water Efficiency
The Green Alliance is an environmental NGO. It has just launched a new Report called ‘Better Buildings – Designing for Water Efficiency’. The report was supported by Thames Water, the EA and others and CIWEM was a major consultee. It contains many of the recommendations CIWEM has argued for. The launch took place in London and ODPM Housing Minister, Keith Hill MP, attended to receive the Report and make a speech.

The purpose of the Report is to ensure that delivery of the government’s Sustainable Communities Plan is truly sustainable. It offers a template for water efficiency in housing developments and complements CIWEM’s own Value of Water Campaign – details of which are on the Press page of our website.

• Recommendations from the Report include:
• Water Companies to be statutory consultees for development of Regional Plans
• Building Regulations to include water efficiency
• A push for universal Metering of water
• The Code for Sustainable Buildings to be underpinned by regulation
• Water to be a material consideration in planning
• Financial incentives for water efficiency measures

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

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13. ENDS Report Offer for CIWEM Members

FREE TRIAL OFFER - To the UK’s leading monthly journal of environmental policy and business

Whether it’s the latest progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive or a blow-by-blow update on the REACH debate, our specialist writers have it covered. Stitching together the many strands of environmental policy and business, The ENDS Report offers an invaluable spectrum of coverage from the overview of the industry to the fine detail of a specific subject.

As a member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, you can now trial The ENDS Report and www.endsreport.com FREE OF CHARGE for 28 days. Alternatively, order by 31st March and take advantage of the £50 saving - exclusive for CIWEM members.

To start your FREE trial click here http://www.endsreport.com/web/ciwem

To take advantage of the CIWEM subscription offer click here http://www.endsreport.com/web/ciwem-dis (this offer excludes current ENDS Report subscribers).

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14. 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

• Half a day of the theory and the concepts behind the techniques
• Half a day of specific case studies showing examples where the techniques have been used in an engineering context

Days 2-4

• Hands-on tuition and practice of;
  • population fingerprinting technique (PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis)
  • in situ monitoring and quantification technique (quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridisation)

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.

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15. European Water Day 2005

Association Scientific Technical Water Environment (ASTEE) is organising, in collaboration with the European Water Association (EWA), the European Water Day in Paris on Thursday 2 June 2005. This day is part of the annual congress of ASTEE, which will celebrate the centenary of the association.

The sessions are dealing with three subjects:

• new approaches for international river basin management and coastal areas
• problems and solutions for soil pollution and soil protection
• water and waste water management

For more information, please visit:
http://www.astee.org/communication/manifestations/calendrier/accueil.asp

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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

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17. Join CIWEM

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

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