Public Attitudes to In-House Water Recycling in England and Wales

This study, which is based on responses from over 300 individuals in England and Wales, explores how a willingness to use a water-recycling system of specific configuration varies against a number of factors which are linked to system design, system scale, system context, and water-conservation behaviour. Findings show that there is broad willingness to accept in-house water recycling provided that public health is not compromised.     

Mapping Turbidity, Surface Temperature and Water Circulation Patterns with the Aid of Satellite Imagery

Water turbidity, surface temperature and circulation of Barton and Wroxham Broads, two of the Norfolk Broads, were studied using one reflective (TM1) and the thermal (TM6) TM band. The results indicated that the through-flowing path of the River Ant in Barton Broad is the major influence on the distribution of these parameters. In Wroxham Broad, both turbidity and surface temperature displayed a uniform distribution. This could be explained by the absence of a predominant direction of flow.     

Construction and Preliminary Performance of Reedbed Treatment Systems at Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre, Northern Ireland

In 1993, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust constructed a demonstration reedbed treatment system at its Castle Espie Visitor Centre in Northern Ireland. The objectives of the project included (a) the treatment of septic-tank effluent, (b) the protection of water quality in Strangford Lough, and (c) the establishment of a research base for constructed wetland systems. Parallel beds of equally sized sub-surface and surface flow were constructed and planted, and a research project was initiated to provide data on performance.     

Low-cost modular system of machine-to-computer communication for a flexible machining cell

Cranfield Robotics and Automation Group (CRAG) in collaboration with Texas Instruments (UK) manufacturing systems research group has built a flexible machining cell and established computer integrated manufacturing support facilities to demonstrate a low-cost, modular system of machine-to-computer communication.     

The Microbiological Quality of Private Water Supplies

This paper provides a detailed assessment of the microbiological quality of a selection of private water supplies. Samples were taken from 91 supplies and analyzed for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. The microbiological quality of the samples was generally poor, with almost 50% of the supplies failing to meet the required standards on at least one occasion. Given the high level of sanitary microbiological failures, there is the possibility that harmful microorganisms could be present and a significant risk to health cannot be discounted.     

Contamination of the Chalk Aquifer by Chlorinated Solvents: A Case Study of the Luton and Dunstable Area

A detailed investigation of contamination by chlorinated solvents of the Chalk Aquifer underlying the towns of Luton and Dunstable was undertaken to assess the extent, causes and mechanisms of pollution. The research programme incorporated land-use surveys, regional groundwater surveys, monitoring of groundwater abstraction points and aquifer profiling by means of the drilling of observation boreholes, the analysis of the recovered core material and the depth sampling of these and other boreholes.
Low-level solvent contamination of the Chalk Aquifer was found to be widespread with 'hotspots'of higher concentrations. At the drilling sites, both the saturated and unsaturated zones were contaminated with solvents, although free product was not observed. The presence of an additional contaminant, oil, at some sites was noted to influence the distribution of solvents within the aquifer.
Clean-up of the aquifer is not a practical option, and treatment of the groundwater at the abstraction points has been adopted.     

Hydrophilic antioxidants of virgin olive oil. Part 2: Biosynthesis and biotransformation of phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil as affected by agronomic and processing factors

The biosynthesis of the phenolic fraction of olive fruits during ripening and the transformations occurring in this moiety during virgin olive oil (VOO) extraction are discussed in this paper. The influence of agronomical factors that can significantly affect the phenolic profile of VOO is also discussed. Particularly, it is worth emphasizing the role of genetic factors, cultivation and climatic conditions such as water availability, atmospheric temperature, altitude, health status of the fruits, alternate bearing in the olive, and some processing factors such as crushing, malaxation time and temperature or volume of water added during milling. Among these parameters, special attention has been paid to genetic factors due to the high variability observed among Olea europaea genotypes for all recorded traits. In this context, interesting experimental results have been obtained with cultivated and wild olive trees, and also with segregating populations resulting from olive breeding programs. To the authors' knowledge, reviews evaluating the influence of the main factors that contribute to the profile of hydrophilic phenols have not been previously published. The discussion concerning olive breeding programs is a major and novel aspect to be emphasized considering recent trends to obtain new olive cultivars that confer better organoleptic properties and better quality to VOO.     

Thermal performance comparisons between passive solar and conventional housing in an Irish climate

The thermal performance of a passive solar house in Ireland having high energy conservation standards is compared with that of a similar sized conventional dwelling house. In both cases the performance over a meteorological Test Reference Year is assessed using climatically responsive models developed experimentally which predict their internal temperature without heating.

The results indicate that the conventional house required over three times as much auxiliary heating as the passive solar house. Solar gain accounted for over half the gross heat demand in the solar house compared to 13% in the bungalow. An added advantage of the increased utilization of solar gain was the estimated reduction in the heating season from nine to six months.     

Glazed spaces in Nordic climates

A semi-climatized zone in the shape of a glazed space is heated to some degree by solar radiation and to some degree by excess heat or heat loss from the main and fully insulated part of the building. Such a space will not offer full thermal comfort for permanent occupancy during the winter season, but it is useful for secondary functions such as circulation, storage, physical activities, etc. During the summer season glazed spaces will also be very attractive for ordinary occupancy.

A condition for energy conservation is that these spaces are not heated directly but utilize heat loss and possibly excess heat from the adjoining buildings. If they are properly positioned and constructed, they will also function as solar collectors.

The energy reduction potential will vary greatly with the relative size of the spaces, with the system installed, and with possibilities for long term storage. If the glazed space covers relatively large parts of the adjoining buildings, the reduced heat loss from these may be considerable. If in addition a certain minimum temperature can be kept in the glazed space, the need for heating in the adjoining buildings may be minimal.

Abroad such spaces are often used consciously as architectural elements due to their special spatial character. In countries like Norway they may in addition serve several needs resulting from the special climatic conditions.

SINTEF has developed energy conservation systems based on this concept and has tested them in experimental buildings. One example is the three solar energy houses in the Heimdal low energy dwellings project which totals 14 houses. Another example is a day care centre now under development for the local student union.