Use of permeable, reservoir pavement constructions for stormwater treatment and storage for re-use

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Pratt

Permeable surfaces for roads and footpaths have been used as a means of disposal of stormwater in developed urban areas. Such surfaces provide an alternative to impermeable concrete or tarmacadam surfaces which would otherwise produce rapid stormwater runoff, leading to possible flooding and degeneration of receiving water quality through the uncontrolled discharge of polluted urban waters. A further advantage may be obtained from such constructions by undersealing them so as to retain stormwater for re-use for non-potable uses. The potential for general introduction of this type of storage and re-use system in residential areas is discussed and possible alternative designs for the drainage infrastructure proposed. To have widespread impact such a strategy must deliver cost savings as well as reduce the impact on the water environment of anticipated water usage demands. The source of such cost savings and the general environmental benefits of such systems will be presented. The materials used in such a sealed construction and the beneficial changes to the stored water quality are outlined. Recent work has also shown that where the pavement is used for car parking any oils dropped on the surface and washed into the structure by the stormwater may also be degraded. Details will be given of a site in the UK where the above construction is to be used to provide stormwater storage for re-use in flushing toilets at a Youth Hostel.

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 12215-12231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. S. Stock ◽  
M. R. Russo ◽  
T. M. Butler ◽  
A. T. Archibald ◽  
M. G. Lawrence ◽  
...  

Abstract. We examine the effects of ozone precursor emissions from megacities on present-day air quality using the global chemistry–climate model UM-UKCA (UK Met Office Unified Model coupled to the UK Chemistry and Aerosols model). The sensitivity of megacity and regional ozone to local emissions, both from within the megacity and from surrounding regions, is important for determining air quality across many scales, which in turn is key for reducing human exposure to high levels of pollutants. We use two methods, perturbation and tagging, to quantify the impact of megacity emissions on global ozone. We also completely redistribute the anthropogenic emissions from megacities, to compare changes in local air quality going from centralised, densely populated megacities to decentralised, lower density urban areas. Focus is placed not only on how changes to megacity emissions affect regional and global NOx and O3, but also on changes to NOy deposition and to local chemical environments which are perturbed by the emission changes. The perturbation and tagging methods show broadly similar megacity impacts on total ozone, with the perturbation method underestimating the contribution partially because it perturbs the background chemical environment. The total redistribution of megacity emissions locally shifts the chemical environment towards more NOx-limited conditions in the megacities, which is more conducive to ozone production, and monthly mean surface ozone is found to increase up to 30% in megacities, depending on latitude and season. However, the displacement of emissions has little effect on the global annual ozone burden (0.12% change). Globally, megacity emissions are shown to contribute ~3% of total NOy deposition. The changes in O3, NOx and NOy deposition described here are useful for quantifying megacity impacts and for understanding the sensitivity of megacity regions to local emissions. The small global effects of the 100% redistribution carried out in this study suggest that the distribution of emissions on the local scale is unlikely to have large implications for chemistry–climate processes on the global scale.


2020 ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Katie-Rose Cawthorne Cawthorne ◽  
Jason Dean ◽  
Richard PD Cooke

Background: Though high hand hygiene (HH) levels significantly reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), the current cost of HCAIs and the impact of optimal HH practices on HCAIs are poorly defined. The last NHS England financial assessment was in 2009. Methods: The number of HCAIs per bed per year for NHS England were calculated and average costs were attributed using data from three sources; National Audit Office report, a commercially available calculator, and a financial analysis by a specialist paediatric hospital in England. Improved HH compliance for NHS England was based on a sustained rise in compliance rates from 50 to 80% combined with an HCAI reduction of at least 20%. The cost savings based on such improvements were then calculated. Results: In 2020, it is estimated that the number of HCAIs per bed per year ranges from 3.0 to 9.3, with a midpoint of 5.1. The direct costs of HCAI to NHS England were found to lie between £1.6 and £5 billion. Based on a 20% reduction in HCAI rates, this could lead to cost savings of between £322 million and £1 billion per year. Conclusion: Current direct costs of HCAIs consume approximately 1.3% to 4.1% of NHS England’s annual budget. Improving HH compliance among healthcare workers can lead to significant cost savings. There appears to be a strong financial argument for investment into innovative HH compliance technologies that have been historically perceived as too expensive.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Husarek ◽  
Simon Paulus ◽  
Michael Metzger ◽  
Vjekoslav Salapic ◽  
Stefan Niessen

Since E-Mobility is on the rise worldwide, large Charging Infrastructure (CI) networks are required to satisfy the upcoming Charging Demand (CD). Understanding this CD with its spatial and temporal uncertainties is important for grid operators to quantify the grid impact of Electric Vehicle integration and for Charging Station (CS) operators to assess long-term CI investments. Hence, we introduce an Agent-based E-Mobility Model assessing regional CI systems with their multi-directional interactions between CSs and vehicles. A Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) is applied to quantify the impact of 11 technical levers on 17 relevant charging system outputs. The GSA evaluates the E-Mobility integration in terms of grid impact, economic viability of CSs and Service Quality of the deployed Charging Infrastructure (SQCI). Based on this impact assessment we derive general guidelines for E-Mobility integration into regional systems. We found, inter alia, that CI policies should aim at allocating CSs across different types of locations to utilize cross-locational effects such as CSs at public locations affecting the charging peak in residential areas by up to 18%. Additionally, while improving the highway charging network is an effective lever to increase the SQCI in urban areas, public charging is an even stronger lever in rural areas.


Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Alhamad ◽  
Parastou Donyai

Background: A range of pro-environmental behaviors are recognized, promoted, and investigated, but urgent action is also needed to tackle the direct and indirect environmental impact of medication waste. One solution is to reissue medicines, returned unused to pharmacies (i.e., reuse medicines). Yet, if medicines reuse is to be formally introduced in the UK, it is imperative also to understand people’s willingness to take part in such a scheme and importantly, the underpinning drivers. This study aimed to develop, validate, and evaluate a Theory of Planned Behavior model aimed at predicting medicines reuse behavioral intentions. Methods: The behavior of interest, medicines reuse, was defined according to its Target, Action, Context, and Time. Then themes from an existing qualitative study were used in order to draft, validate and pilot a Theory of Planned Behavior-based questionnaire before its completion by a representative sample (n = 1003) of participants from across the UK. Results: The majority expressed pro-medicines reuse intentions. The three direct measures accounted for 73.4% of the variance in relation to people’s intention to reuse medicines in the future, which was statistically significant at p < 0.001. People’s specific beliefs about medicines reuse and how they evaluate other people’s expectations of them had a substantial impact on their intentions to reuse medication in the future, mediated in an intricate way via attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Conclusions: This study shows how people could embrace medicines reuse via practical measures that illustrate the safety and quality assurance of reissued medicines, educational interventions that bolster beliefs about the pro-environmental benefits, and norm-based interventions encouraging doctors and pharmacists to endorse the practice. The findings add to the emerging work on medicines reuse and, significantly, provide a theoretical framework to guide policymakers and other organizations looking to decrease the impact of medication waste through medicines reuse schemes.


Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Kairat Ospanov ◽  
Timur Rakhimov ◽  
Menlibai Myrzakhmetov ◽  
Dariusz Andraka

The paper presents the results of research on the environmental impact of sewage ponds serving the city of Kostanay (Kazakhstan). The scope of the research included the determination of basic quality parameters of raw and treated wastewater, an analysis of the chemical composition of groundwater in the vicinity of sewage ponds, and the analysis of the water quality of the Tobol River. The obtained results indicate that sewage from storage ponds, infiltrating into the ground, caused groundwater pollution in the area of about 100 km2 around the reservoirs. Due to the fact that the groundwater aquifer in the vicinity of sewage ponds feeds the Tobol River, it also affects water quality in the river, which does not meet the requirements for most of the analyzed parameters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 688-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongrong Zhang ◽  
Zhongfa Zhou ◽  
Haotian Zhang ◽  
Yusheng Dan

Abstract In water pollution source research, it is difficult to quantify the impact of human activities on water quality. Based on pollution load theory and the concept of spatialization of social data, this study integrates land-use type, slope gradient, and spatial position, and uses the contribution of human activities to quantify the impact of farmland fertilizers, livestock and poultry wastes, and human domestic pollution on water quality in the study area. The results show that livestock manure is the largest source of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) discharges in the research area, and domestic pollution is the largest source of chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharges. The total equal standard pollution load (as well as the load of each pollution source and its pollutant amount) is the highest in the Nayong River Basin and the lowest in the Baishui River Basin. The contributions of human activities to TP and TN have similar spatial distributions. The impact of human activities on COD discharge is minimal. The quantitative results of this model are basically consistent with the actual conditions in the Pingzhai Reservoir Basin, which suggests that the model reasonably reflects the impact of human activities on the water environment of the basin.


1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. House

The visual and odorous characteristics of the environment tend to be those which have the greatest impact upon the public's assessment of environmental quality. In many cases the public's perception of water quality may be based entirely on these aesthetic aspects of a water environment. Those responsible for the management of surface water quality recognise the need to apply a range of management strategies including a consideration of the public's perception of water quality and the impact of this upon their use of rivers and beaches for recreation and amenity. This paper reports upon the results from a recent investigation into the impact of sewage derived litter on perceived water and environmental quality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 98-103
Author(s):  
Annita Sari ◽  
Mahatma Lanuru .

The life of coastal communities is always associated with water. Anafre River estuary is one of the river estuaries that empties directly into the Gulf of Yos Sudarso. The amount of particles swept away and buried in estuary sedimentation Anafre inflicts not only the river but the Gulf of Yos Sudarso. Declining water quality of the Gulf of Yos Sudarso is caused by the influx of water from the Anafre River, whereas all Anafre River watersheds are located in close proximity to residential areas. This study aims to determine the level of public knowledge on the effects of sedimentation and community based management. Data are collected by field observations and interviews with the community, and analyzed using the qualitative descriptive method. The results showed that the community plays an active role in the maintenance and utilization of the Yos Sudarso area, because the gulf of Yos Sudarso serves as transportation routes, tourist areas, and workplaces (fishermen). The maintenance of water environment in river estuaries and the gulf is based on the principles of awareness and cooperation without ignoring the people's culture.


2020 ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Justyna Olesiak

W wielu obszarach miejskich widoczna jest skrajna segregacja przestrzeni publicznej oraz fakt, że wiele dzielnic mieszkaniowych jest przestrzennie odizolowanych od miasta jako całości. Ponieważ tradycyjne metody analiz urbanistycznych dają słabe wytyczne w tym kontekście, podjęta zostanie próba ujęcia problemu i odmiennego podejścia do segregacji w projektowaniu urbanistycznym. Niniejszy artykuł bada, w jaki sposób teorie i metody analizy Space Syntax mogą przyczynić się do stworzenia bardziej dopracowanych opisów relacji przestrzennych w różnych dzielnicach i całym mieście. Przyjęto metodę badawczą: analizę literatury fachowej (krajowej i zagranicznej) oraz dostępnych publikacji. Analiza urbanistyczna oparta na teorii Space Syntax umożliwia wykazanie zasadniczych różnic strukturalnych między dzielnicami i określenie wpływu form urbanistycznych na zalety przestrzenne różnych obszarów miasta. Otwiera to nowe możliwości rozwiązania problemu segregacji w zakresie projektowania urbanistycznego oraz sformułowanie bardziej skutecznych interwencji antysegregacyjnych. Space Syntax analysis in the Face of the Phenomenon of Social Segregation and Spatial Isolation of Residential Areas In many urban areas there is an observable extreme segregation of public space, in addition to the fact that many housing districts are spatially isolated from the city as a whole. As traditional methods of urban analysis provide poor guidelines in this context, an attempt to investigate this problem and present a different approach to segregation in urban design was made. This paper presents an investigation about how Space Syntax theories and methods can contribute to creating more detailed descriptions of spatial relationships in different districts and in the entire city. The research method employed was an analysis of the literature (both domestic and trade). Space-Syntax-based urban analysis enables demonstrating significant structural differences between districts and to determine the impact of urban forms on the spatial advantages of different areas of the city. It provides new opportunities to address segregation in urban design and formulate more effective anti-segregation interventions.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 12-13
Author(s):  
Holly Cranmer ◽  
Tanja Podkonjak ◽  
Eugene Benson ◽  
Jonathon Dabora ◽  
Graham H Jackson

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes a respiratory illness known as COVID-19. COVID-19 is a pandemic affecting many countries globally.(1) As of 23rd July 2020, there have been 297,146 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK and 45,554 people who tested positive for the virus have died.(2) Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and experiencing more severe outcomes.(3-6) The higher risk is driven by a compromised immune system, the use of immunosuppressive agents and patient characteristics aligning with key risk factors - patients with MM are often elderly and have multiple co-morbidities.(7) In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, NHS England and NICE have issued guidance to modify usual care to reduce patient exposure to COVID-19. For patients with cancer, NICE recommend delivering systemic anti-cancer treatment in different and less immunosuppressive regimens, different locations (ideally at home) or via another (less invasive and/or less resource intensive) route of administration where possible.(8)(9) The objective of this analysis is to explore the impact of switching patients from intravenous (IV) treatments requiring hospital administrations to subcutaneous (SC) or oral alternatives which can be administered at home or in an outpatient setting which reduces the patient's potential exposure to COVID-19. Methods: A decision tree model was developed in Microsoft Excel® (Figure 1). Patients enter the model and are assigned a probability of being treated; those that are treated are then assigned a probability of IV, SC or oral-based therapy. Based on the route of administration, patients are assigned a probability of contracting COVID-19 and, for those patients that do contract the virus, a probability of death from the virus is estimated. The model compares the outcomes from two identical decision trees: one informed by the pre-COVID-19 treatment pathway and one informed by the post-COVID-19 pathway. Model inputs, including COVID-19 inputs (e.g., number of active and diseased COVID-19 cases among patients with MM), have been informed by the literature and clinical opinion. Costs reflected in the model include: treatment of COVID-19, treatment for MM and administration of MM treatments. Scenario analyses explore lower and upper bounds for key inputs. Results are presented from a UK perspective and a 1-year time horizon (from model entry) is considered. Results: Per the model, treating patients with oral therapies is shown to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19 deaths in patients with MM compared with IV- and SC-delivered therapies. These outcomes translate into cost savings driven by costs avoided in treating COVID-19. There was a limited difference in the costs of treating the underlying MM despite the switch. However, there were additional cost savings demonstrated through avoiding expensive and resource intensive administration appointments associated with IV therapies, and to a lesser extent SC therapies. The use of oral therapies has also aided the increase in telemedicine for routine appointments - scenarios exploring this demonstrate further savings. These results are driven by the perceived risk attached to each of the different routes of administration - scenario analyses demonstrated that assuming even the lower bound risk (an assumed additional risk of 10%) for IV therapies vs. oral therapies, a significant number of COVID-19 cases and deaths were avoided, and costs reduced. Conclusions: Changes to the treatment pathway for patients with MM in light of the COVID-19 pandemic aim to reduce the exposure to the virus for these patients. The model demonstrates that simply switching the route of administration can reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths . This has important implications in avoiding severe outcomes, decreasing the spread of the virus and reducing the cost and resource use burden to the healthcare system. In addition, the model reflects potential efficiencies which may extend beyond the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. telemedicine) to optimize clinical practice for patients with MM in the longer-term. Disclosures Cranmer: Takeda: Current Employment. Podkonjak:Takeda: Current Employment. Benson:Takeda: Current Employment. Dabora:Takeda: Current Employment. Jackson:Merck Sharp and Dohme: Honoraria; Chugai: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document