A vast amount of the plastic that is produced for packaging purposes is used for storing food. Considering both the waste generated and the resources spent to produce packaging, it is only common sense to recycle some of this plastic for new food packaging. Moreover, circular economy is a focal point in the EU, and in 2025, the extended producer responsibility should result in more recycling. Continue reading “How to safely recycle plastic waste into new food packaging”
Why empathy is the key to providing a great customer experience
According to the Cambridge dictionary, customer service is ‘the way that an organisation deals with customers before, during, and after a sale, and the activities involved in dealing with customers.’
Technically, the above is right. But these actions will not result in a great customer experience without empathy. Continue reading “Why empathy is the key to providing a great customer experience”
Automated bird monitoring in offshore wind farms
Compliance with regulatory requirements increasingly demands clear evidence on how birds behave within and around wind farms. To meet this demand, automated multi-sensor monitoring systems such as MUSE have been developed to provide robust data on real-life bird behaviour at and within wind farms. The MUSE system is based on integrated radar and digital camera(s) and was developed during a four-year pioneering investigation on seabird behaviour at offshore wind turbines; the Carbon Trust Bird Collision Avoidance Study 2014-2017. Continue reading “Automated bird monitoring in offshore wind farms”
What has climate change got to do with increased groundwater salinity?
Rising sea levels due to climate change is affecting us more than we know
Sea level rise due to climate change is one of the contributing factors of salinity intrusion, particularly for shallow sandy aquifers in water stressed coastal areas. In many of such areas surface water salinity is additionally increased due to reduced upstream discharges and salinity can intrude both directly from the sea and from the surface waters. Furthermore, a temporarily rise in sea level can be caused by various acts of nature, such as tsunamis and hurricanes bringing about storm surges. Due to ongoing evaporation, the salt concentration of water in sandy aquifers have the potential to increase exponentially and eventually cause contamination or environmental problems. Continue reading “What has climate change got to do with increased groundwater salinity?”
Can nature provide the solutions for better water management?
Nature-based solutions are water management interventions that make targeted use of ecosystems to deliver specific water management benefits. With communities around the world increasingly facing risks and impacts due to population growth, urbanisation and climate change, nature-based solutions have a lot to offer in support of sustainable and affordable water management. Continue reading “Can nature provide the solutions for better water management?”
No authorisation – no market: Mandatory biocidal regulation puts pressure on industry
With the ongoing implementation of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), industries dealing with biocides in their products are feeling the regulatory changes for real. It’s clear-cut: If you want to stay on or enter the European market, biocidal products must have an authorisation in accordance with the harmonised requirements. Continue reading “No authorisation – no market: Mandatory biocidal regulation puts pressure on industry”
What are the constraints of traditional numerical modelling?
Calculating wave impacts in ports and terminals
Operational safety is at stake when wave movement is high in ports and terminals. As such, port authorities and key stakeholders are concerned with wave conditions affecting vessel motions to avoid costly consequences. In addition, high vessel motions may damage mooring lines, fenders, or even the moored vessels in the port. What if there was a faster, better and easier way to model waves in ports as compared to existing methods? Continue reading “What are the constraints of traditional numerical modelling?”
Ever wondered what Earth Observation satellites are capable of monitoring?
You might be surprised at the numerous different applications they can provide
Earth Observation (EO) satellites have become increasingly smaller, cheaper and easier to launch – and they are now orbiting the earth in record numbers. This is great news for the water environment as an increased number of satellites equate to more frequent and detailed data, allowing more water challenges to be solved along with the development of new remote sensing techniques. Continue reading “Ever wondered what Earth Observation satellites are capable of monitoring?”
Is the water quality of your network affected by the PVC in plastic pipes?
Analyse the cumulative contact time with a new computational method
The role of hydraulic models in risk assessment analysis
Most hydraulic models provide a ‘water age’ option that allows users to calculate the residence time of water within the pipe network. While this is a standard water quality indicator used in practice, it does not address the issue when we need to analyse the contact time with pipes of a specific material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Continue reading “Is the water quality of your network affected by the PVC in plastic pipes?”
How to become better at maintaining safe recreational water
Meeting water quality standards and providing timely information is a burning need today
Recreational use of water bodies can deliver important benefits to health and well-being. Yet, there may also be adverse health effects associated with recreational use if the water is polluted or unsafe.
Sewage outfalls, storm water overflows, plant releases, agricultural production effluents – water bodies are subjected to many polluted discharges. When these water bodies are also used for recreational purposes, the safety of the population is at risk. Ensuring safe discharges into recreational waters and informing bathers if pollution occurs is therefore crucial for human health.
Continue reading “How to become better at maintaining safe recreational water”