Expertise
Surface Water Management
The natural and built environments invariably interact and where water is concerned this is no different. The natural route of water from rainfall to river is unavoidably interrupted by development. Traditionally this takes the form of piped systems but, with the desire to mitigate our impact on the natural environment, sustainable drainage and flood risk management is on the rise. HartFair has extensive experience in the analysis and design of both traditional and sustainable drainage systems.
Sustainable approaches to drainage also help to address issues with existing piped systems: new developments can actually enhance network performance, for example, by providing carefully-modelled storage and treatment features. Efficient data collection and shrewd asset management are required to address existing integrated flooding issues and we are well-placed to assist with all aspects of surface water management.
We understand that early integration of drainage expertise in the overall infrastructure design, along with timely consideration of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, will result in best practice design and a smooth planning application process. All of these aspects are addressed daily by our specialist teams across the country.
Water and Wastewater Systems
The importance of a reliable water supply to developed areas cannot be underestimated; likewise, the robust collection of wastewater from urban space. New systems must be designed to provide a target level of service; the performance of existing systems must be maintained or even improved despite the potential impact of new developments, urban creep, changing water usage, or climate change. Whether designing new systems or improvements to existing systems, the engineering challenges are embraced by our experienced staff.
The environment also needs protection from pollution; this issue is complicated by a legacy of wastewater systems being used to convey sewage combined with surface water flows. HartFair has a longstanding reputation for excellence in hydraulic modelling, including assessment of combined sewer systems and the development of durable solutions. This, along with our experience in water supply modelling, provides an added dimension to our rounded experience.
The Water Cycle
Effective management of surface water, water resources and wastewater are subtly entwined. Tapping the natural water cycle is to the long-term detriment of water resources thus the ambitious desire for water neutral development has led to a more focused effort to minimise the impact on this resource. Exploration of grey water recycling can provide a triple benefit: reducing demand from the potable water supply system, freeing capacity in the wastewater collection system, and reducing the volumes requiring treatment. An infiltration system, perhaps best mimicking the natural environment, promotes both water recharge and reduced, attenuated flows to a piped system or watercourse. HartFair offer holistic guidance through such issues, particularly to developers, ensuring an optimised approach to interacting elements of the water cycle.
Urban Flooding
In extreme rainfall, exceedance of both designed drainage and natural drainage can cause significant problems to the built environment and must be considered carefully. Particularly devastating in urban areas, neglecting exceedance design puts life and property at risk when deep, fast-flowing (and possibly contaminated) flood waters develop. Increasingly, the lack of ‘flood-risk free’ land has resulted in innovative solutions to flood problems being required as an integral part of the landscaping of new developments. Sources of flooding can include the piped network, watercourses, groundwater and overland flow - but most likely a combination of all of these. HartFair has a range of experience in integrated and sustainable flood risk management.
In the earliest phases of a new development, it is vital that a range of experts have input to the layout. This aids an optimal and cost-effective design, ensuring that access, SuDS and environmental considerations are elegantly integral rather than expensive adjuncts. We draw on the proven experience of our infrastructure design teams, developing ‘failure mode’, above-ground conveyance systems to ensure minimal risk to life and property during extreme flooding events.
Data Collection and Management
Rigorous analysis requires data that is accurate and relevant. Well-managed data is a strong asset that enables sound conclusions to be drawn. HartFair is expert at commissioning and closely supervising the cost-effective collection of essential data. We deliver bespoke tools for managing this valuable resource into the future. Our in-house GIS Data Management System (GDMS) can provide our clients with a web-based portal for data collation and presentation, offering access to the data by a range of users without the requirement for specialist software compatibility or investment. We offer a wide range of services in the field of data collection and management.
The natural and built environments invariably interact and where water is concerned this is no different. The natural route of water from rainfall to river is unavoidably interrupted by development. Traditionally this takes the form of piped systems but, with the desire to mitigate our impact on the natural environment, sustainable drainage and flood risk management is on the rise. HartFair has extensive experience in the analysis and design of both traditional and sustainable drainage systems.
Sustainable approaches to drainage also help to address issues with existing piped systems: new developments can actually enhance network performance, for example, by providing carefully-modelled storage and treatment features. Efficient data collection and shrewd asset management are required to address existing integrated flooding issues and we are well-placed to assist with all aspects of surface water management.
We understand that early integration of drainage expertise in the overall infrastructure design, along with timely consideration of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, will result in best practice design and a smooth planning application process. All of these aspects are addressed daily by our specialist teams across the country.
Water and Wastewater Systems
The importance of a reliable water supply to developed areas cannot be underestimated; likewise, the robust collection of wastewater from urban space. New systems must be designed to provide a target level of service; the performance of existing systems must be maintained or even improved despite the potential impact of new developments, urban creep, changing water usage, or climate change. Whether designing new systems or improvements to existing systems, the engineering challenges are embraced by our experienced staff.
The environment also needs protection from pollution; this issue is complicated by a legacy of wastewater systems being used to convey sewage combined with surface water flows. HartFair has a longstanding reputation for excellence in hydraulic modelling, including assessment of combined sewer systems and the development of durable solutions. This, along with our experience in water supply modelling, provides an added dimension to our rounded experience.
The Water Cycle
Effective management of surface water, water resources and wastewater are subtly entwined. Tapping the natural water cycle is to the long-term detriment of water resources thus the ambitious desire for water neutral development has led to a more focused effort to minimise the impact on this resource. Exploration of grey water recycling can provide a triple benefit: reducing demand from the potable water supply system, freeing capacity in the wastewater collection system, and reducing the volumes requiring treatment. An infiltration system, perhaps best mimicking the natural environment, promotes both water recharge and reduced, attenuated flows to a piped system or watercourse. HartFair offer holistic guidance through such issues, particularly to developers, ensuring an optimised approach to interacting elements of the water cycle.
Urban Flooding
In extreme rainfall, exceedance of both designed drainage and natural drainage can cause significant problems to the built environment and must be considered carefully. Particularly devastating in urban areas, neglecting exceedance design puts life and property at risk when deep, fast-flowing (and possibly contaminated) flood waters develop. Increasingly, the lack of ‘flood-risk free’ land has resulted in innovative solutions to flood problems being required as an integral part of the landscaping of new developments. Sources of flooding can include the piped network, watercourses, groundwater and overland flow - but most likely a combination of all of these. HartFair has a range of experience in integrated and sustainable flood risk management.
In the earliest phases of a new development, it is vital that a range of experts have input to the layout. This aids an optimal and cost-effective design, ensuring that access, SuDS and environmental considerations are elegantly integral rather than expensive adjuncts. We draw on the proven experience of our infrastructure design teams, developing ‘failure mode’, above-ground conveyance systems to ensure minimal risk to life and property during extreme flooding events.
Data Collection and Management
Rigorous analysis requires data that is accurate and relevant. Well-managed data is a strong asset that enables sound conclusions to be drawn. HartFair is expert at commissioning and closely supervising the cost-effective collection of essential data. We deliver bespoke tools for managing this valuable resource into the future. Our in-house GIS Data Management System (GDMS) can provide our clients with a web-based portal for data collation and presentation, offering access to the data by a range of users without the requirement for specialist software compatibility or investment. We offer a wide range of services in the field of data collection and management.