Paulex Environmental Consulting

A to Z of what we can do for you

Abstraction licence assessment

The Water Resources Act 1991 controls the abstraction and impounding of water. The Environment Agency may require water abstractions to be licensed. Certain abstractions are exempt, including those under 20 cubic meters per day (m3/d). We can advise on the need for a licence, and can assist with any technical assessment that the Agency may require.

Aquifer analysis

Aquifers are rocks or soils that can store and transmit groundwater in usable amounts. We can undertake field tests to predict the behaviour of an aquifer and groundwater flow in response to abstractions, pollution events and remediation schemes.

Basement Impact Assessment

Our qualified hydrogeologists can advise on the likely impacts of basement developments on groundwater. Basement Impact Assessments are increasingly required to meet Planning Authority requirements, particularly in London.

Borehole installation

Our qualified hydrogeologists can advise on the suitability of private water supply, whether from a borehole, well or spring water source. We can assess the local geological conditions to determine appropriate drilling techniques and borehole design. We work with local drilling companies and can source appropriate pumps and water treatment plant. If you want to take more than 20m3/day of water, you will probably require an abstraction licence (see above).

Borehole inspection

We are experienced in the inspection and rehabilitation of boreholes. Where yields are failing, we may recommend that a CCTV inspection of the borehole be carried out, or arrange for a pumping test to be undertaken. We will report on the results and can arrange for a replacement supply if required. In some circumstances, boreholes can be rehabilitated and yields improved, providing a more cost-effective option.

Contaminated land assessment

See Geoenvironmental Site Assessment.

Contaminated land remediation

Remediation is the process of improving the quality of a polluted body of water or an area of land, either by carrying out works on the pollutant source or by treatment of the affected water or land. We are experience in designing and supervising schemes to remediate contaminated land and groundwater. We use appropriate risk assessment tools to determine remedial targets and can liaise with the Environment Agency and Local Authority on your behalf.

Dewatering assessment

We can provide assistance and advice on the design of groundwater management, dewatering and monitoring systems. We have extensive experience in dewatering assessments for mineral development and below ground infrastructure works.

Discharge consent application

If you want to discharge sewage or trade effluent then, under the Water Resources Act 1991, the Environment Agency may require you to apply for a discharge consent. In certain instances, you may need to dig trial pits and carry out percolation tests. We can assist with this process and can undertake appropriate technical risk assessments to support your application.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment is a process whereby the potential environmental effects of a development or scheme are predictively assessed against an environmental baseline. The EIA should inform the design of a development by identifying potential significant impacts at an early stage. EIA is part of the planning process and should objectively inform the decision maker on the environmental issues associated with a scheme. We have extensive experience in undertaking water environment EIAs and provide expert witness services in the fields of geology and hydrogeology.

Fuel spill response

We offer a complete solution to fuel and oil spills, from emergency response through to remediation and reinstatement. We are fully accredited by the UKSpill Association and can provide fast response to reduce the impact of the spillage. Contracting works are managed by our contracting division, Paulex Environmental, with the full support of our qualified consultants.

Geo-environmental auditing

Geo-environmental auditing is the investigative process to determine whether the operations of an existing facility are compliant with applicable environmental laws and regulations. This term should not be used to describe geo-environmental site assessment, although a geo-environmental audit may include a geo-environmental site assessment or, if prior audits are available, may be part of a geo-environmental site assessment.

Geoenvironmental site assessment (GSA)

A GSA is the process by which a site owner, or potential purchaser, seeks to determine whether a particular site is subject to recognised geo-environmental impairment (i.e. has liabilities associated with contamination from previous activities on the site). The work is normally phased as described in the Phase I and Phase II Geo-environmental Site Assessments and the degree of inquiry would be dependent on the level of confidence required. A geoenvironmental site assessment is both different from, and less rigorous than, a geo-environmental audit.

Ground investigation

Ground investigation is the physical investigation, normally by intrusive exploratory means, of the materials comprising the surface and underlying strata of a site. Ground investigation is often referred to as a Phase 2 site investigation.

Groundwater modelling

Groundwater models can help to improve understanding of hydrogeological systems and to predict effects. We are experienced in the use of a range of models including LandSim 2.5, R&D P20, ConSim, and MODFLOW. We can advise on whether the use of modelling is appropriate for the problem in hand, and can build and test robust models based on site specific data using the latest techniques.

Groundwater remediation

Remediation is the process of improving the quality of a polluted body of water or an area of land, either by carrying out works on the pollutant source or by treatment of the affected water or land. We are experience in designing and supervising schemes to remediate contaminated land and groundwater. We use appropriate risk assessment tools to determine remedial targets and can liaise with the Environment Agency and Local Authority on your behalf.

Hydrogeological risk assessment

We are experienced in the preparation of hydrogeological risk assessments. We undertake both groundwater resource and quality risk assessments for waste management licensing and permitting purposes, historic landfill sites and petrochemical spills as well as quarry developments and infrastructure dewatering projects.

Landfill risk assessment

The Environmental Permitting (EP) Regulations came into force on 6 April 2008. These combine Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and Waste Management Licensing (WML) regulations. We can prepare Hydrogeological Risk Assessments (HRAs) to support the permitting process and ensure compliance during the operational and post-closure phases of an installation.

Mine water discharge assessment

Mining works have left a legacy of soil and groundwater contamination throughout the UK and in particular in the South West of England. We are experienced in acid mine drainage assessment and can provide remediation options.

Oil spill response

We offer a complete solution to fuel and oil spills, from emergency response through to remediation and reinstatement. We are fully accredited by the UKSpill Association and can provide fast response to reduce the impact of the spillage. Contracting works are managed by our contracting division, Paulex Environmental, with the full support of our qualified consultants.

Oil storage risk assessment

Oil storage installations should comply with the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001. Domestic oil storage installations should comply with Part J of the Building Regulations 2000. We regularly see the consequences of leaking oil storage facilities. Prevention is better than cure, and we are experienced in the assessment of facilities to ensure that they are compliant with regulations.

Phase 1 site investigation

Phase 1 site investigation is normally the first phase of a Geo-environmental Site Assessment which seeks to gather information on a site without intrusive or other field investigation, laboratory testing and/or monitoring. This type of investigation is often required by local authorities as part of the planning process. We can produce Phase 1 reports on your behalf at a low cost with a rapid turnaround.

Phase 2 site investigation

Phase 2 site investigation is normally the subsequent phase of a Geo-environmental Site Assessment which may comprise ground investigation. We can design an appropriate ground investigation and arrange the site works on your behalf. We will carry out sampling, in situ testing and send the samples to an accredited laboratory for analysis. We will then assess the results and compile a report detailing our findings.

Pumping test analysis

We have extensive experience of undertaking pumping tests to investigate hydrogeological conditions. We are experienced in specifying test systems and procedures that optimise the relevance of the data to the aim of the investigation.

Septic tank discharge assessment

Septic tanks treat sewage through bacterial activity prior to discharging to ground via a soakaway, usually comprising a buried network of porous pipes. Some sites are more vulnerable than others, and the Environment Agency regulates septic discharges through the Discharge Consenting process (see above).

Sub-consulting

Some of our main clients are engineering consultancies. We regularly work in collaboration with consultants from a range of disciplines on large scale environmental projects, such as Environmental Impact Assessments.

Water resources management and drought plans

Under the Water Act 2003, water companies are developing and publishing water resources and drought management plans. Our staff are qualified and experienced in the fields of hydrogeology and water resources analysis and we are able to assist with the preparation of these plans.