This meeting is being organized by the UK Groundwater Forum and will take place at the Natural History Museum in London on 30 March 2006.
While the demand for groundwater for public water supply is rising in many areas of the country, the quality of groundwater supplies is on the whole deteriorating. At the same time, regulations provide greater protection for the environment generally requiring a larger allocation of groundwater. On top of this, water quality regulations are becoming stricter and of course there is the threat from a changing climate. In an environment of competing demands, where will the balance lie when planning for sustainable groundwater resources? Do the sums add up or will something have to give? This poses some difficult questions for the water industry and the environment regulators.
This meeting will examine options for sustainable water management for the future. Representatives of Government, the Environment Agency, the water industry, and the research community will describe the resource context, the policy drivers and the problems being faced, while groundwater-related case studies will help examine measures needed to address these problems. The meeting aims to attract a broad representation from Government, planning authorities, water professionals, water users, environmental groups and the research community.
Cost of the meeting £50, including buffet lunch and refreshments (£20 for full-time students). Please register on-line at http://www.groundwateruk.org/html/open_meetings.htm.
Seminar programme (provisional titles)
Morning Session: the pressures
The status of groundwater resources and the groundwater needs of the environment
John Aldrick, Environment Agency
Benefit valuation of groundwater
Camille Bann, Environment Agency
Changing population demands: the implications for water supply planning
Philip Duffy, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Groundwater-related supply problems being faced by the water industry
Mike Pocock, Water UK
Pressures on groundwater resources
Denis Peach, Groundwater Programme Manager, British Geological Survey
Afternoon Session: the solutions?
Understanding our groundwater systems - gaps in knowledge needed for planning
Howard Wheater, Imperial College London
Options for sustainable water management
Louise Heathwaite, Centre for Sustainable Water Management, University of Lancaster
Measures to control diffuse pollution
Maureen Novak, Chair of Non Agricultural Diffuse Pollution Steering Committee, Defra
Water company case studies:
Dave Harker, Anglian Water
Meyrick Gough, Southern Water
Phil Bishop, Thames Water
Summing up
Andrew Skinner, Secretary General, International Association of Hydrogeologists
Regards,
Panchali Guha
Panchali Guha
British Geological Survey
Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB
Tel: 01491 - 692226
Fax: 01491 - 692345
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