Supporting UK water industry environmental ambitions

Survey and Monitoring | Utilities

ABPmer’s surveyors are collecting wide-ranging water quality data in support of the Water Industry National Environment Programme, which is investing £22.1bn in environmental improvement initiatives

The Environment Agency, Defra, Natural England and Ofwat developed the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) for England, which sets out the water industry’s contribution to protecting the natural environment. WINEP is investing £22.1bn of asset improvements, investigations, monitoring and catchment interventions in support of national objectives for the natural environment.

ABPmer has been commissioned by a number of water companies to conduct survey programmes at Transitional and Coastal (TRaC) sites around the UK, collecting a wide range of in-situ data to support the water quality investigations needed to underpin environmental investment. Our data collection programmes have included:

Current speed and direction: Our surveyors deploy Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and hand-deployed current meters to observe water current speed and direction data throughout the tidal cycle, providing temporal and spatial data for numerical water quality model calibration and validation. These can be vessel mounted over a 13-hour tide or bed mounted, recording for a 30-day spring-neap cycle.

Current speed and direction monitoring

Conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD): Using hand-deployed instruments, we obtain vertical profiles of the water column, usually coinciding with the hydrodynamic surveys; the CTD data are used derive salinity levels.

Seabed bathymetry: We have been surveying the seabed with multibeam and singlebeam equipment at various locations around the UK.

Water samples: Physical water samples are being collected at multiple locations across the estuary and coastal sites at different states of tide, using handheld Niskin bottles or multi-bottle rosette samplers.

Water quality profiles: The team acquire in-situ water quality profiles to obtain salinity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, oxidation-reduction potential and chlorophyll information. Chlorine levels are tested with handheld monitors.

Water sampling

Sediment sampling: Sediment samples are also collected using handheld Van Veen seabed sediment samplers.

Tide and meteorology: Meteorological masts and water level gauges are being installed at multiple locations to provide additional data for the water, sediment and hydrodynamic surveys.

Tide and meterology readings

Our clients receive robust survey reports and data documenting the survey programmes, delivered in compliance with our ISO 9001:2015 accredited quality management system. Water and sediment samples are shipped to specialist laboratories for analysis within 24 hours of collection.

ABPmer delivers the full complement of survey capability, providing bespoke services to developers and operators including charting, data processing and laboratory analysis. As an integrated consultancy and survey company, we offer a unique service to those operating in the marine environment.

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