News in brief

THE Environment Agency has sent out information to companies affected by the new Dee Water Protection Zone (WPZ) Order that came into effect at the end of June. Guidance from the agency includes a flow chart to allow recipients to assess whether they require consent under the new Order. Companies who store or use controlled substances or substances identified by manufacturers as being toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant need to apply for consent.

Water UK has launched an international internship scheme under which water industry scientists, engineers and technicians from less developed European countries will live in the UK to learn from the water industry here. The scheme is being launched as part of a European initiative to improve public health through preventing, controlling and reducing water-related disease.

THE Environment Agency has published a consultation document for the Tees Estuary. ‘Tees Estuary – Present and Future’ is the result of close collaboration between the agency, industry, Durham University, English Nature and the Industry and Nature Conservation Association (INCA). It reports on the current state of the Tees Estuary and suggests a strategy for future improvements. Existing water quality targets were set in the late 1970s and it is anticipated that these will be met by 2002. The aim of the document is to propose new targets and indicators for managing the future improvement of the estuary.

GAMBICA, the association for the instrumentation, control and automation industry, has announced DTI support for UK companies wishing to exhibit at the Instrument Asia or the Enviromex/Watermex Asia exhibition in Singapore, starting on 30 November. The DTI grant, available to eligible UK companies, will offset a portion of the direct cost of participation. Contact Gambica on 0171 793 3050.

JOINT ET ’99 organisers, Faversham House Group and Reed Exhibition Companies have announced record visitor and exhibitor figures from the event held at the NEC, 8-10 June. ET2000 will be split into three areas – ET2000 Technology, ET2000 Water and ET2000 Waste – and run from June 6-8 2000. Contact David Clarke on 0181 651 7112 or Richard Miller on 0181 910 7912.