ETS (Worldwide) Ltd services

Coastal seas are a dynamic & challenging environment. Characterization of coastal waters in terms of water circulation patterns, patterns of suspended particulate matter and bathymetric evolution is important to a wide variety of engineering and environmental concerns such as coastal defence, harbour design, pollution dispersal and impact assessment.

Coastlines and seabeds are dynamic regions with sediments undergoing periods of erosion, transport, sedimentation and consolidation. The driving forces for these processes are primarily tidal currents, and surface waves. Transportation of sediments, in particular fine-grained silts and clays which are often contaminated, creates a variety of environmental impacts, including silting of harbour areas and docks, reduction in water transparency, affecting marine life, and longshore drift. An understanding of the fundamental sediment transport processes is essential if we are to address these issues and provide genuine, scientifically sound solutions.

Legislative requirements for the disposal and dispersal of waste in both marine and freshwater environments are becoming increasingly defined with higher levels of dilution required. Improvements in the quality of effluent discharges from screening, sedimentation and settling, chemical control, long-sea outfalls and efficacy of diffusers have decreased the levels of pollutants and waste discharged whilst improving dilution. A clear understanding of the dispersion and fate of residual outfall effluent within the aquatic environment has become essential to mitigate the impact of such discharges.

The introduction of EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulations, Water Framework Directive legislation and HACCP schemes have introduced stricter emission controls, discharge monitoring practices and efficiency targets on European industry and water companies. Improving environmental performance through understanding discharges and optimizing wastewater processes are key for industry and water companies to meet compliance objectives, whilst minimizing operational and capital engineering costs.

ETS offer an innovative and unique approach to monitoring common problems facing the potable water industry. New Tracing technology allows the movement of water mass and contaminants (whether dissolved or particulate) to be monitored and quantified in a range of potable water environments, from catchment to supply.

Environmental studies and assessments usually involve an element of identifying sinks, sources, pathways and fate of dissolved and particulate contaminants, pathogens, and water. ETS` Tracer technology and complementary scientific services have the unique ability to trace target species through a range of environments. Multiple contaminant pathways can be monitored simultaneously using particulate, fluid and bacteriological tracers with our detection technology.

Drill cuttings have been allowed to accumulate on the seabed beneath offshore structures, creating piles of up to 500,000m3 in the northern North Sea alone. These cuttings pose a potential environmental hazard to the marine environment when disturbed, either during the decommissioning of structures, or during the removal of the cuttings themselves. Initial assessment of the tidal currents, wave environment and fate of particulate contaminants allows the optimal discharge depth and position to be identified. This information can be used to set targeted discharge consents and to reduce environmental impact.