Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) Internship
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: Engineering Geology
Abstract
The proposed internship aims for a transformational change in how catchment management scientists at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) assess catchment management resource availability and quality issues. It will achieve this through embedding an expectation of geological and hydrogeological understanding to complement water resource catchment studies. It is proposed that following workshops to gain a better understanding of DCWW objectives Dr Vanessa Banks, an applied (karst-, engineering-, hydro- and environmental-) geologist with a research interest in developing conceptual ground models for problem solving at a range of scales, will embed herself in catchment science research activities. She will use these projects to demonstrate the benefits of the extensive range of BGS data and information to catchment science understanding. Through cross site working and facilitated meetings she will develop networks of DCWW/BGS/NERC collaborations that will be a legacy of the internship. In parallel with this Vanessa will provide monthly hydrogeology related CPD opportunities (talks, workshops and field skills); identify and lead on peer review writing opportunities, and facilitate the pursuit of research funding opportunities for DCWW/ BGS/ NERC research opportunities.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Vanessa Banks (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Banks, V.J.
(2018)
Conceptual ground model for the resource at Llannerch, North Wales.
Banks, V.J.
(2018)
Conceptual ground model for the groundwater resource at Pilleth, Powys
Banks, V.J.
(2018)
Conceptual ground model for the groundwater resource at Brecon, Powys, Wales
Banks, V.J.
(2017)
Conceptual ground model for the spring at Abergynolwyn.
Banks, V.J.
(2017)
. Conceptual ground model for the spring at Dinas Mawddwy
Banks, V.J.
(2017)
Conceptual ground model for the spring at Ffynnon Asaph.
| Description | Welsh catchments are dominated by reservoir supplies. My research on various resources has demonstrated to the catchment team how understanding geology is fundamental to understanding aquifer characteristics and their protection. DCWW have followed up by recruiting two geologists to support the catchment team. |
| Exploitation Route | I am arranging meetings with Welsh Water at the BGS Cardiff office to encourage ongoing collaboration between the organisations. There is a possibility that one of the Welsh Water employees will undertake a short internship at BGS with a focus on remote sensing. Through BGS collaborations DCWW and BGS co-hosted two students from the University of Bologna to research reservoir slope susceptibility to landslides, This is a particular concern for DCWW as slope failure causes "red events" and temporary reservoir closure when it occurs. There has been a request for further research input in this research area. We are, in part, hoping to address this through NERC Urgency grant funding. |
| Sectors | Education,Environment,Other |
| Description | The report on catchment vulnerability has been used to guide prioritisation of catchment hazards and data collection. The conceptual ground model reports are being fed into the National Environment Programme resource reporting. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | MSc Student research project |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | Collaborating with InSAR for geotechnical infrastructure: enabling stakeholders to remotely assess environmental risk and resilience |
| Organisation | Welsh Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Proposal preparation for pathfinder research for Welsh Water ongoing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Links in Welsh Water providing case studies for further research for InSAR for geotechnical infrastructure |
| Impact | Still being developed Multidisciplinary - Water industry; Remote Sensing; Innovation |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with Welsh Water on aspects of Welsh Water catchment science |
| Organisation | Welsh Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this grant is to knowledge share with DCWW with respect to groundwater and catchment protection. A component of knowledge exchange has taken place with the University of Cardiff, as a consequence of collaborative working during the period of the fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | DCWW has identified its need |
| Impact | Deliverables to the project are attributable to the collaboration. BGS application for a NERC Urgency grant following storm impacts on the Welsh coalfield was supported by DCWW, unfortunately this clashed with the commencement of Covid lockdowns and was not considered feasible. Collaboration with University of Bologna students is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Landslide research |
| Organisation | University of Bologna |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | BGS facilitated an opportunity for University of Bologna students (2 no.) to contribute to landslide research for DCWW |
| Collaborator Contribution | DCWW provided data; students collected supporting field data and provided interpretation |
| Impact | Student presentations and reports. Geology and hazards. One of the students (Alessandro Zuccarini) will be returning to undertake research in the BGS landslide laboratory in September 2022 as part of his PhD research. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Catchment hydrogeology knowledge exchange |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Training event aimed at knowledge sharing - seminar focused on a presentation based discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Final knowledge exchange activity 5 September 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This activity focused on reviewing the development of conceptual models and explored the options for future collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Regional hydrogeology talk to a Brownfield Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk shared some of the experience from the Welsh Water Fellowship with Local Authority experts with an interest in Brownfield. They wanted a CPD presentation to extend their understanding of public water suppl. The talk was given in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. A key aspect was guiding the group to data sources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Work experience opportunity for 2 University of Bolgna students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two students were provided with research opportunities working between BGS and DCWW looking at landslide and biological hazards in the Nant Crew subcatchment of the Cantref reservoir catchment. Students undertook research at the desk, in the field and laboratory. They attended meetings with BGS and DCWW where they gave presentations. They wrote the work up in report form. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |