'The Environment' Newsletter 16

Issue 16, September 2007 Contents:

• Birdwatch at Lamesley
  The pioneering Lamesley Wetlands Scheme, which offers an innovative solution to treating minewater and sewage effluent at the same time, is attracting more and more wildlife.
  
• Pumping up the Efficiency
  An anticipated programme of upgrades to the least energy-efficient of the Authority's pumping stations could save enough power to fuel an average-sized family car for 11.5 million miles.
  
  
• Environmental Champions
  Meet some of the people who are working on a wide range of energy-saving initiatives for the Authority.
  
  
• Minewater Strategy 2007- 2027
  A strategy setting out a time scale for completion of the time scale for completion of the Authority's prioritised minewater treatment schemes has been established in line with the European Community's Water Framework Directive.
  
  
• River Basin Planning
  The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) has established new and better ways of protecting and improving rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters. These include a single method of managing water based on river basin planning.
  
• Settling into the Landscape
  These exciting views of a new passive minewater treatment scheme at Allerdean Mill, six miles west of Berwick-upon-Tweed, show how well the scheme is settling into the landscape.
  
• Historic Legacy on an International Scale
  The Authority's resident Hydrogeologist, Dr Ian Watson, both stepped back in time and looked to the future when he contributed to the success of the International Mine Water Association Symposium 2007, held in Cagliari the capital of Sardinia.
  
• Operation Meadow Pipit
  An ecological survey of the largest minewater treatment project even planned by the Authority, resulted in Operation Meadow Pipit, as work commenced on the coastal scheme at Dawdon, six miles south of Sunderland.
  
• Tales of the River Bank
  It was a major leap forward for salmon when the Authority acted to improve the quality of minewater at Lambley Farm, which is discharged into a tributary of the River South Tyne, an important river for salmon fishing.
  
• The Envision Channel
  An extranet designed specifically for the construction industry went live in May, bringing many benefits to the Authority, contractors and stakeholders involved with its minewater treatment schemes.
  
• Urban Amenity in Wigan
  Local residents were involved from the start when the Authority set about planning a minewater treatment scheme to a densely populated area at Goose Green in Wigan.
  
• Saline Solution
  It was a case of survival of the fittest when a reeds trial was held in the Wansbeck Estuary to discover which varieties would thrive in salt water, and could be the most suitable for planting at future coastal minewater treatment schemes.

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