The energy company is in the process of securing approval for the construction of a new BESS. As a part of a planning application, the energy company is mandated to establish a construction environmental management plan that includes a water quality monitoring plan.
Socotec Consultancy conducted baseline surface water monitoring and ongoing monitoring during the construction phase, addressing the requirements of their planning condition.
The project site is located adjacent to an existing sub-station and is bordered to the east by a surface watercourse. This watercourse necessitates monitoring to assess potential changes in water chemistry due to construction activities and to identify any environmental impacts stemming from the construction site.
Socotec’s involvement encompasses the collection of surface water samples from three strategically chosen locations, representing upstream, midstream, and downstream conditions at the proposed construction site. Over an 18-month construction period, nine monitoring visits will take place. A range of determinants relevant to general water quality, historical agricultural land use, soil erosion, and site-specific fuel usage will be analysed at Socotec’s UKAS accredited laboratory. During the sampling process, in-situ parameters, including electrical conductivity, temperature, and redox potential, are simultaneously recorded by Socotec’s environmental scientist.
The surface water data collected will be assessed to ascertain the condition of surface water at the construction site and to determine the necessity for any mitigation measures during the construction phase. Socotec is collaborating with the energy company to establish an effective monitoring plan that ensures compliance with the planning application condition.
Furthermore, Socotec’s role extends to providing advice to the client regarding the frequency of sampling and testing requirements, which are essential for satisfying the surface water monitoring condition. Accredited chemical testing is being conducted at Socotec’s Bretby laboratory to ensure the reliability of the data.