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Investigation of Soil Contamination on Shooting Ranges in Switzerland (May 2007)
With the revised environmental law for environmental protection (USG), new regulations concerning brownfields have been in force since the 1st November, 2006. In particular, the remediation process for shooting ranges is affected. As compensation for the new laws, the federal government will provide grants for the investigation, supervision and rehabilitation of contaminated ranges on which further contamination is illegal beginning November 1, 2008. (exceptions are ranges with predominantly commercial purposes). Colenco was commissioned to investigate the 300 m shooting range in a municipality in the Canton of Nidwalden. Based on an existing report (Dr. G. Zumbühl, engineering office for the environment), samples from the bullet trap were collected and measured for heavy metal contamination by a mobile XRF instrument. This method allows for a fast, on-site, non-destructive chemical analysis.
The measurements allow us to localize the areas and extent of contamination. Based on the level of lead contamination in the soil, the area was divided into three zones (high, medium and low contamination zones). The rehabilitation measures will be decided based on the results of lead and heavy metal content in the soil for the high and medium contaminated zones. Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs - Water and Environment Colenco Power Engineering Ltd - Report of Activities 2006 Hydropower in Laos - Feasibility Study for the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Hydropower Scheme (March 2007) Already in the second half of the 1990's, the 400 MW Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower scheme in Southeast Asia should have been implemented, but with the Asian financial crisis at the end of the last century those plans came to an abrupt end. Eventually, in 2005, a Korean Construction company decided to resume the project and Colenco was put in charge to investigate its feasibility and to elaborate, design and optimize alternatives.
The project area is located in the South of Lao PDR on the Bolaven plateau. The aim of the undertaking is to store water from three catchments in a large regulation basin. From there, the water is conveyed via a 13.5 km headrace tunnel to the Southeastern edge of the plateau, where it enters a pressure conduit and drops some 700 m down to the power house which is located at the bottom of the Xe Kong river valley. The main part of the generated electricity is foreseen for export to Thailand. Colenco has initiated project activities in December 2006 with a visit to the project area. The feasibility study scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007. Thomas Ihly - Hydropower Plants Groundwater Energy Designer (GED) Computer-based tool for the dimensioning of groundwater utilisation for thermal energy use (January 2007)
The tool is designed to support persons planning and constructing small and medium sized installations as well as licensing authorities. GED takes into account the site-specific energy demand and hydrogeological situation. Starting from the analysis of heating or cooling demand, the possibilities of a direct utilization of the groundwater are tested interactively. The wellbores for groundwater withdrawal are dimensioned based on a simplified hydrogeological characterisation. The options for the reinjection of used water are investigated considering the local situation (available area and natural groundwater flow). The situation is assessed with consideration of
GED combines interactive user interfaces in English, German or French for the input of data and characterisation of the local situation, a database with technical and hydrogeological parameters and a flow and heat transfer simulator based on a finite volume code with an automatic mesh generator. 
The program is available for purchase from Colenco Power Engineering Ltd, department Groundwater Protection and Waste Disposal, beginning February 2007. Rainer Schwarz / Joachim Poppei - Groundwater Protection and Waste Disposal |
