CIWEM E-News – August 2005

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 left hand menu button ‘E-News’. If you would rather not hear about our work, you can also unsubscribe there.

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This month:

1. New Policy Position Statement on Lead in Drinking Water

CIWEM has published a new Policy Position Statement setting out the Institution’s stance relating to the management of lead in drinking water supplies. A large proportion of buildings in the UK still have old lead pipework and ensuring that this does not affect human health is of great importance. Solutions may involve the replacement of these pipes and the treatment of water supplies so that the potential for lead to dissolve into the water is minimised. The main points of issue are summarised as:

1. New European standards for lead in drinking water are fully justified to protect public health. The current interim standard of 25 µg/l will be tightened to 10 µg/l in 2013, providing a greater margin of safety. These standards apply at consumers’ taps.
2. Problems with sampling for determining compliance need to be more clearly understood and the specification of a harmonised sampling methodology by the European Commission is long over-due.
3. Wholesale replacement of lead pipes in the UK would involve great cost and inconvenience and is complicated by lead pipes being partly owned by the water supplier and partly owned by the property owner. Nevertheless, replacement of all lead pipes must be the long-term aim. In the meantime, a statutory replacement programme for lead pipes in public buildings and the opportunistic replacement of their lead connection pipes by water suppliers is recommended.
4. Reducing the plumbosolvency of water supplies (how readily they dissolve lead) by dosing with a corrosion inhibitor (most commonly ortho phosphate) can, depending on circumstances, offer a rapid, comprehensive and low-cost approach for achieving substantial compliance with both new lead standards.
5. Optimisation of plumbosolvency control by treatment requires: (i) correct pH conditions, (ii) correct ortho phosphate dose, (iii) adequate organics removal (particularly colour) and (iv) distribution networks to be free of significant iron discolouration problems.
6. In wastewater catchments where ortho phosphate dosing of water supplies is practised, an objective assessment of its environmental impact should be considered, to ensure that any subsequent environmental controls are justified.
7. Corrective action will depend on local circumstances and economics, and must be balanced with environmental impact. Whichever corrective action is taken, the intention must be to protect public health, regardless of any complications arising from the split ownership of lead pipes.
8. Across Europe there is scope for a better understanding of the complex inter-related issues relating to lead in drinking water, particularly because some Member States have not historically sampled from consumers’ premises and have little relevant data. Planned pan-UK and pan-European demonstration studies are strongly endorsed.

To view the full statement, please visit www.ciwem.org.uk/policy/policies/lead.asp

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2. Policy Support Officer

CIWEM is currently recruiting for the post of Policy Support Officer. This is a varied and challenging post which supports environmental policy work at CIWEM. The post requires enthusiasm, excellent administration and organisational skills, good teamwork, an awareness of current environmental issues and the ability to self motivate. CIWEM can offer a very friendly working environment and a pleasant central London location.

The salary for the post is around £17,000 p.a. depending on experience, plus generous pension allowance. For an application pack, please email Justin Taberham, Director of Policy, Email: justin@ciwem.org If you don’t have access to email, please call 020 7831 3110 and ask for a job pack. For further information about CIWEM, please visit our web site www.ciwem.org

The closing date for applications is Friday 26th August 2005.

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3. New Water Reuse Section of CIWEM’s Website

We have recently brought on-line a section of the CIWEM website devoted to the issue of water reuse. These pages are intended to provide an overview of water reuse and other alternative water supplies associated with sustainable water management. Each of the seven sub-sections focuses on a different topic and contains background information, illustrated case studies and references. The case studies cover the full breadth of water reuse applications, from the reuse of municipal wastewater for industry and irrigation of a championship golf course to an urban greywater-recycling scheme for blocks of flats.

There are over 3300 reuse projects internationally with approximately 700 in Europe. The growth in the flow rate capacity each year is 25 to 60% in the countries that recognise the benefits of reuse. To see more information, please visit http://www.ciwem.org.uk/water/.

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4. CIWEM Memberhip Survey – Win a Year’s Free Membership!

CIWEM is conducting a survey of its members via its website until the 31st August 2005. The survey, which asks questions about what you value most from membership and the services you would like to see, is only available to members and you will need to log in to the Members Area, http://www.ciwem.org.uk/members/ to access it. Please do take the time to visit the survey and fill it in. Your comments are important to assist us in providing a better service to our members. Also, all replies will be entered into the prize draw to win a Year's free CIWEM Membership! The winner will be notified by 30 September 2005.

Should you have any problems or questions filling in the survey, you can email support@ciwem.org for help.

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5. 2006 Awards Open for Entries

The RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award – closing date: 25th November 2005

This Award recognises multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats. In addition to the main prize there is also an award for the best Small Living Wetland. More details at http://www.ciwem.org.uk/awards/living_wetlands/index.asp

CIWEM Ken Roberts Award – closing date: 16th January 2006

This Award, kindly sponsored by Wessex Water, recognises technical innovation being made in the water industry. As befits the concluding year of the Award, the prize money this year has been raised to £3000. More details at http://www.ciwem.org.uk/awards/ken_roberts/index.asp

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6. CIWEM Conferences Digest

CIWEM Conferences are continuing to be well attended and regarded. Outputs from recent conferences may now be found on the CIWEM website at: http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/outputs.asp

The World Wetlands Day Conference 2005 was in a new format, mixing multiple workshops with plenary sessions, and this proved very popular with the 200 delegates. We are already making plans for the 2006 conference.

The Public Participation conference in March 2005 was extremely popular and a new model of “marketplace” speakers was utilised.

We have a large number of sponsors and supporters for events in 2005, and bookings are going well. If you are interested in sponsoring any of the conferences noted below, please contact Justin Taberham, email Justin@ciwem.org

CIWEM National Conference 2005
6th-8th September 2005, Wakefield
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200
Download the brochure at:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/3rdNationalConferenceBrochure.pdf

The Land-use and Water Series
Integrating Water and Soil Strategies - Translating Research into Action
12th October 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415
Download the brochure at:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/Soil-Water_Oct2005_Version1.doc

Young Members’ Study Tour 2005
12-16th September 2005, University of Nottingham
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200
Download the brochure at:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/YMST_brochure_sept2005.pdf

Water Framework Directive Series
WFD, Hydro-morphology and Flooding - Understanding the Links
9th November 2005, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415
Download the draft programme at:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/WFD_Flooding_0605_draft.doc

10th European Biosolids & Biowastes Conference - A decade of change
13-16th November 2005, Wakefield
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

Water Quality and Public Health – Swimming Pools and Spa Baths
30th November 2005, Manchester
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

Issues Arising from the Periodic Review Process
30th November 2005, London
Sponsors to date: Ewan Group plc, MWH
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415
Download the draft programme at:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/Regulation_conference_301105.doc

Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater
December 2005
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

Joint ICE/CIWEM Conference 2005
Infrastructure Asset Maintenance and Management
Early 2005, London
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

World Wetlands Day Conference
1st and 2nd February, 2006, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415

Water Framework Directive – Monitoring and Reporting
February 2006, London
Sponsors to date: MWH
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415

Energy and Wastewater Treatment
February 2006
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

A Flood Management Directive?
Spring 2006, London
Contact Bob Earll, CMS
Email: bob.earll@coastms.co.uk Tel: 01531 890415

Wastewater Treatment at Coastal Sites
March 2006
Contact Frances Eldon, Aqua Enviro
Email: ciwem@aquaenviro.co.uk Tel: 0113 242 4200

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7. CIWEM Fees and Subscriptions 2006

At the CIWEM Annual General Meeting in June the fees and subscriptions for the forthcoming year were approved and your 2006 invoice for membership of CIWEM will arrive with you in the early autumn. For your information the fees and subscriptions for 2006 will be posted on the CIWEM website www.ciwem.org shortly, and will be included in full in the September issue of CIWEM News. All subscriptions are payable on the 1st January 2006 and any payments after 31st January 2006 will be subject to a £35.00 ‘late payment fee’.

To give you more choice in the way you pay, you can now do so online via the Institution’s website. It’s quick, easy and secure. All you need to do is log on to the Members Area of the website and click ‘Pay your subscriptions’ and give details of your credit/debit card. If you haven’t already registered as a user you can do so by visiting the Members Area and completing the registration process free of charge.

If you would like to take advantage of the discount offered if you pay by Direct Debit then please contact the Institution to request a DD Mandate. Your completed Mandate will need to be returned to us by the 1st November to allow us to make the collection of your 2006 subscription. As the collection of the subscription by two payments, one in December and one in January, was so successful this year and welcomed by our members, we will be repeating this for 2006. So if you opt to pay by Direct Debit 50% of the subscription will be collected in December, and 50% in January.

If you have already retired from salaried and fee-earning employment you are eligible to be placed on the Retired Register of members at a reduced subscription rate. You will still qualify if you undertake some part time work provided your total earned income is no more than £12,000 per annum, (this sum excludes any pension payments). If you would like to apply please contact us as soon as possible for a form so that we can adjust you record and subscription accordingly.

If you are an engineer registered via CIWEM you will see that there has been a small increase in the annual ECUK subscription rate for both full and retired registrants.

For those members who are registered as Chartered Scientists via CIWEM the subscription remains at £15, and for Chartered Environmentalists the annual subscription will again be £25.

The regulation management fee will be applied to all those members who are registered with any of the three external bodies. However for those who hold more than one external registration only one fee will be applicable.

Should you need clarification, a Direct Debit Mandate or Retired Register Application Form, please contact the Membership Department – tel: 020 7831 3110 or email membership@ciwem.org

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8. Last Chance to Register as a Chartered Environmentalist via the ‘Grandparenting Route’

If you are currently a Fellow or Member of CIWEM and would still like to register as a Chartered Environmentalist, (CEnv), via the ‘grandparenting route’ your time is running out!

The guillotine for this ‘fast track’ way of becoming CEnv will fall at midnight on the 22nd of September 2005. If you are considering making an application but haven’t done so yet please make sure your completed form and supporting documentation are with us by the above date. After this date you will be expected to undertake a full Professional Interview to gain the title.

If you have mislaid your form but would still like to register please go to the CIWEM website where you can download the information and application form from the membership page, www.ciwem.org

If you are not certain whether you qualify for registration and would like to discuss this with someone please make contact with the Membership Department helpdesk 020 7831 3110 or email membership@ciwem.org

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9. Delegation from China

On 17 June Wessex Water hosted a visit from a Chinese delegation on a fact finding tour of Europe.

Steve Smith of CIWEM’s South Western Branch took the delegates, comprising researchers, engineers and senior managers from the Zhejiang Province, through a presentation on the UK water industry; focusing on the area and customer base that Wessex serves, giving a detailed discussion on the technology and processes used with Dr Ming Yun of Sino Link International on hand to translate the proceedings.

Greatest interest was shown in the depths to which bore-holes were driven, the treatment of micro-organisms and the charging structure, to the customer and the licence fee, applied by the Environment Agency on Wessex for extraction.

The visit was a great success and helped to further promote the global community's drive towards safe water for all.

Dr Yun organises a number of these visits during the course of a year, on a range of areas. It would therefore be very useful if members/organisations could indicate to us their readiness to be involved with future events and what area of interest they feel they could best support. Please send your replies to profdev@ciwem.org.

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10. 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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11. Consultations

CIWEM responds to a wide range of consultation documents as part of its technical and policy output. If you are a CIWEM member and have views on any current public consultations, please feel free to share them with us. 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. A deadline for when we need to receive your comments is always listed. 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 Foot and Mouth Disease Directive
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/fmd-directive/index.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 22/08/05

Department for Trade and Industry
Microgeneration strategy and low carbon buildings programme: consultation
http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/files/publication-1505.pdf
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 02/09/05

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Environmental Levy on Plastic Bags (Scotland) Bill
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/
environment/inquiries/pb/env-pb-home.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 02/09/05

European Commission
Consultation on a proposal for a Floods Directive: “Reducing the Risks of Floods in Europe”
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/flood_risk/consult.htm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 05/09/05

European Commission
Consultation on a Proposal for a Soil Thematic Strategy
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/soil/
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 12/09/05

House of Commons Environmental Audit committee
Keeping the lights on: Nuclear, Renewables and Climate Change
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/
environmental_audit_committee/eac_21_07_05b.cfm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 02/09/05

House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee
Water Management
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_s_t_select/stwater.cfm
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 31/08/05

Water UK
Future regulation for the Water Industry: A consultation
http://www.water.org.uk/home/policy/statements-and-responses/
future-regulation-for-the-water-industry/future-reg-final.pdf
Contact alastair@ciwem.org by 23/09/05

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12. In Brief

Urgent Call for Reviewers
CIWEM is always on the look out for Reviewers to assist with CIWEM’s Professional Interviews. To become a Reviewer you must be an Associate, Member or Fellow with the Institution and have held that grade for 4 to 5 years.

Should you be willing to assist in this way, please contact Joanna West, email: jwest@ciwem.org for further information and the appropriate forms.

Young Members
CIWEM South West Young Members’ Group will be running a weekend away in Dorset on 9-11th September 2005. The weekend involves camping to keep the cost down, a trip to Swanage STW, a coastal walk and various optional components, one of which is a trip to the Bournemouth aquarium. Young members who are interested should contact Nol Vincent through Ross Smith by telephoning 01225 526499 or emailing ross.smith@wessexwater.co.uk. Alternatively, Nol can be reached on 07768 032044.

West Midlands Branch Seminar – A Beginner’s Guide to the Water Framework Directive
CIWEM’s West Midlands Branch will be running a seminar on the afternoon of 7th December 2005 setting out the key aspects and issues surrounding the Water Framework Directive. Issues to be covered include the policy and legal background, an overview of progress in England and Wales, and defining the environmental objectives. More details will be available next month, but should you wish any additional information at this stage, please contact Grahame Newman, email: gnewman@britishwaterways.co.uk

National Flood Forum – Register of Flood Risk Assessors
The National Flood Forum is a small community-based organisation working to support those affected by flooding and flood risk. The Forum runs an information service which is open to anyone with a flood related enquiry.

The National Flood forum is to compile a list of suitably accredited professionals with Professional Indemnity insurance, who are qualified to undertake flood risk assessments. Should you wish to register with the Forum, please contact Gill Holland, tel: 01299 403055, email: gill.holland@floodforum.org.uk

New OFWAT Water Competition Regime
On 1 December this year OFWAT is launching a new water competition regime which will allow large business using over 50Ml of water a year to choose their water supplier for the first time. There will also be new entrants to the water industry which will compete to supply these large business customers. For information on the new competition regime, along with a newsletter which includes background info, key dates, action customers need to take and essential contacts visit http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/Content/wsl or http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/
WSL_Bulletin0705.doc/$FILE/WSL_Bulletin0705.doc

Are You Drinking Enough Water?
WaterAid’s new Drink More Water campaign encourages you to enjoy the health benefits of drinking enough water and raises awareness of the daily struggle faced by 1.1 billion people who do not have access to clean water in the developing world.

The Drink More Water website brings together lots of information about the benefits of drinking water into one fun and easy to follow format. Features include a personal hydration calculator, an interactive human body showing the impact of dehydration, plus tips and tools to get you drinking your recommended 6-8 glasses per day.
Find out more at www.wateraid.org/drinkwater.

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
Or visit: http://www.ciwem.org.uk/about/meeting.asp

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13. IES John Connell Memorial Award

The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) is now inviting entries for the 2005 prize in its annual John Connell Memorial Award for the best undergraduate dissertation on an environmental science-based topic submitted by a student in or just finishing higher education.

The Award is jointly sponsored by the Institution of Environmental Sciences and the Noise Abatement Society, in collaboration with the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES).

The Award commemorates the life and work of John Connell, the founder and director of the Noise Abatement Society, and a life long member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, John being a Council Member and Honorary Treasurer for many years.

The closing date for entreis is 3rd October 2005. For more details and an information sheet on the Award please contact Abhishek Sharma at IES, Tel: 020 7730 5516, Email: enquiries@ies-uk.org.uk

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14. Waterways Renaissance Awards

The Waterways Trust and BURA are pleased to launch The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2006. The Awards, now in their fourth year and backed by the television personality John Craven OBE, aim to recognise and encourage best practice in sustainable waterway development and regeneration throughout the UK. Since the Awards started in 2002, some 50 waterway regeneration schemes have been honoured.

The Awards have been divided into ten categories, two of which are new for 2006:

• Innovation (new for 2006) – sponsored by ARUP
• Strategy & Masterplanning (new for 2006) – sponsored by the Wood Wharf Limited Partnership
• Area-based Regeneration – sponsored by Land & Water Group
• Community – Sponsored by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Design & Construction – sponsored by ISIS Waterside Regeneration & Renewal
• Historic Environment – sponsored by Historic Scotland
• Natural Environment – sponsored by English Nature
• Partnership – sponsored by Morrison Construction Services Ltd
• Recreation & Tourism – sponsored by S&N Pub Enterprises

For further information on the Awards please visit http://firsthand.bura.org.uk, alternatively call BURA on 0207 539 4030 or email awards@bura.org.uk. The closing date for entries is 5th October 2005.

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15. Practical Environmental Management (PEM) Plus Course, London

Both Groundwork West London and Groundwork Kent Thames-Side are to run a new joint PEM Plus training programme in October/November.

Preliminary dates are as follows:
Day 1 6 October
Day 2 13 October
Day 3 20 October
Site Visits 24 October - 4 November
Day 4 10 November
Day 5 16 November
Exam 24 November

The training will take place at Lambeth North, very close to Waterloo, and will cost £950 + Vat per delegate. This cost includes the CIWEM Environmental Partner membership fee.

For further information about the courses please contact Bekir Andrews, Groundwork West London, email: bekir.andrews@groundwork.org.uk. Details of the PEM programme may be found at http://www.ciwem.org.uk/education/management/index.asp

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16. 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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