PAGE 30 THE TECHNICAL FORUM T
he aims for the Technical Forum are to facilitate an awareness of regulations, current and proposed, to provide a mechanism for concerted action by members to develop industry responses to inquiries and legislative proposals and to share and facilitate the development and application of best practice across the many facets of the industry. To allow for the differing needs of the various market sectors within
the water industry, Focus Groups have been established when groups of members have expressed a particular interest.
Focus Groups have been established for different water, wastewater and sustainability related water issues. Some of the groups have active participation by government and regulators and with this support have published Codes of Practice to raise best practice levels in their sector. Focus Groups can achieve their aims quickly and so disband whereas others in sectors with a range of challenges and opportunities hold regular meetings to review and respond to sector needs, developing legislation and the promotion of best practice – as demonstrated by the following summaries.
and government are involved with this group in some of these actions and in particular have supported the development of a design Code of Practice “Flows and Loads” which is now referred to in national guidance. Other Codes of Practice are aimed at promoting best practice in the installation and maintenance of non-mains systems and advice to owners as to how they can influence and maintain the efficiency of their treatment plant.
The non-mains sewage treatment Package Treatment Plant Focus Group is actively involved with UK and European standards development, responding to legislative and regulatory developments, raising industry best practice and promoting training through a certification scheme for maintenance engineers. The environmental regulators
The Sustainable Drainage Focus Group is promoting the integrated use of natural and proprietary technologies in surface water management. There is a comprehensive toolbox of natural and proprietary technologies available for all sizes and types of developments and applications, they can also contribute to surface water management at the catchment scale. The FG planned a study tour of the USA in 2006 under the auspices of the government’s Global Watch programme to examine sustainable drainage practices. The information obtained in the USA and experiences gained from the increasing number of sustainable drainage systems installed in the UK have all contributed to informed lobbying and responses to government consultations on surface water management issues.
The small Scaling and Corrosion FG continues to promote the use of sound water treatment in domestic properties, especially the development of comprehensive performance specifications for central heating system corrosion
inhibitors. Correct water treatment is essential to maintain the integrity and efficiency of domestic water systems, cold and hot but especially in hot water heating systems. The FG continues to lobby for scientifically and technologically-based water treatment requirements in the Buildings Regulations.
The Swimming Pool Water Treatment FG has contributed to the revised edition of the manual Swimming Pool Water: treatment and quality standards for pools and spas published by the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group in March 2009.
To maximise concerted actions and networking by members active in related water industry areas, the regular Focus Groups meetings are linked into three sector groupings: the Water, Wastewater and Sustainable Engineering sections. The chart shows the Technical Forum structure.
www.britishwater.co.uk
Photo: Cranfield University
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