We get asked a lot of questions about coal vaults: who actually owns them, who is responsible for them and how practical they are to convert into habitable space. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has published this leaflet which gives a useful insight into how they are dealt with by local authorities. If you are thinking of converting your coal vault and would like further information, please contact Duncan Eastland (Tel. 01296 739431).
Better than Burgundy?
One of the things we like about our business is the sheer variety of enquiries that we receive. We’ve been to some fairly strange places and asked to do some fairly odd things, but when we were asked to carry out soil testing at a snail farm it was a first for us.
Unknown to us Aylesbury Escargots, the UK’s largest producer of Helix Aspersa/Gros Gris – otherwise known as edible snails – , is located just down the road from our offices. They have pioneered a ‘farm-to-fork’ approach to snail farming and now produce over 5 tonnes per year. We reckon their snails are more than a match for anything produced in the traditional French centre of escargot farming in Burgundy.
Now, if only we could make better wine than Burgundy as well…..
Big Old Tanks
Have you ever wondered what is below your feet when you’re filling up at a petrol station? Big old tanks, that’s what! We’ve investigated the ground at more filling stations in the UK than anyone else and so, not surprisingly, we have a have a pretty detailed understanding of how they are put together. This sort of experience is invaluable when
it comes to assessing potential environmental risk – we know how and where problems
can occur…
Obviously owning our own specialist drilling systems, UKAS and MCerts accedited
laboratory and remediation equipment also has benefits, both in terms of cost and speed of turnaround.
For pragmatic advice and cost effective assessment strategies for the assessment
of filling station sites please contact James Skinner on 07770 611554.
When You Need to Know Fast
Our Geoprobe Drilling Systems offer something a little special when it comes to rapidly investigating a site. And when coupled with the fast turnaround from our UKAS and MCerts laboratory, our clients benefit from the best of all worlds.
We were asked to investigate a large industrial site that had a history of fuel contamination issues. The question was: how far had the contamination spread and was it migrating under the neighbouring properties. Our solution was to carry out a groundwater probing survey, comprising driving a re-useable probe into the ground to the underlying groundwater and then taking a sample of the groundwater for laboratory analysis.
We completed 54 probes in two days, accurately delineating the hydrocarbon plume. Forensic analysis of the samples by our laboratory then confirmed that there were three separate sources of the hydrocarbons, two of which were ongoing leaks, and not just the one known historic source.
We now know what the problems are, how far the contamination has spread and how to clean it up. Isn’t that better than endless phases of investigation last months and costing £££s.
Project value: £10-£15k
Free Water Supply?
We’ve recently completed construction of a water well to supply a popular car wash facility in the Swindon area.
Working closely with the main contractor, our careful pre-planning enabled us to install a 40m deep water well in challenging geological conditions, requiring 25m of retrievable casing to be used, all without affecting the site’s redevelopment programme.
On-going site contamination issues dictated that the borehole construction had to be professionally approved and tested before use. But the results of the post-development pump testing confirmed the well would supply a clean water yield in excess of the client’s requirements.
The savings in water supply costs for our client equates to a significant increase in their future profits. What difference would a free supply of 20,000 litres of water a day make to your business?
Contact: Angus Gale Tel: 01296 739471
On a More Serious Note….
The onset of autumn can only mean one thing: it’s time for the annual Subadra Conker Competition. Now in its 4th year and conducted in strict accordance with the World Conker Championship rules, the competition was a fierce as ever.
A tense series of matches, including the bettering of our Managing Director by a ten year old, saw the Golden Conker being handed to a guest for the second year running.
As in previous years we ran the conker tournament with the (even more popular)
Pudding Competition. The prize went to our lab manager, Kate, who wheeled out the
big guns this year in the form of a stunning (and delicious) sticky toffee pudding. Unfortunately the puddings got eaten before we could photograph them!
Subadra top HSE Audit
Earlier this week our Health and Safety systems were audited by a major oil company. We scored 88%, one of the highest score the auditors have ever recorded and a 4% improvement from the last time we were audited.
Opportunities at Subadra
We are busier than ever and are now looking to recruit to help deal with our busy workload.
We are interested in hearing from graduates seeking their first position and from those with 2-3 years experience looking to take the next step in their career.
Both roles will suit candidates who want to stand out from the grey masses, who will enjoy working in a very ‘hands-on’, practical role for a company that prides itself on solving problems and providing solutions rather than writing endless, dull reports that say nothing and lead nowhere.
If you are bright, innovative, have a ‘can-do’ attitude and want to join the UK’s most successful geo-environmental consultancy then we are interested in hearing from you. Please send your CV together with a covering letter to Duncan Eastland.
Subadra Celebrates 21st Birthday
Subadra celebrated its 21st birthday this week with its best annual results for 8 years. Our turnover increased by 35% and profits by 250%. With lots of exciting developments planned for 2014, the prospects for the year ahead looks even brighter.: we promise to keep you posted. Meantime we’d just like to say thank you to all our clients, suppliers and staff who have supported us over the last year.
There Has Never Been a Better Time…
….to get your own water well. The BBC reports today that energy and water bills are set to rise for the next 17 years so it makes ever more economic sense to have your own private water well installed. Subadra offer a ‘turnkey’ solution, dealing with everything from the initial (free) hydrogeological appraisal, applications and permits to drilling the well, installing the pump and connecting to your existing water supply. If you would like to know more please contact Duncan Eastland.