Based on the proceedings of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies Symposium held at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, this book serves to highlight a wide variety of areas of civil engineering where microbiological activity needs to be considered more thoroughly by engineers during the design, construction and operation phases of projects. Examples of where microbial processes are now known to have a significant affect include corrosion, deterioration of concrete and other construction materials, impairment of flow in groundwater abstraction systems in pipes and pumps, pressure relief and drainage systems in embankment dams, clogging of irrigation and drainage systems, alteration of soil and rock properties and the production of harmful gases. For a long time many of these "buried" problems have been thought of, purely in terms of physical and chemical processes. What is often happening, but going unnoticed, is some form of microbial activity, which initiates, enhances or is encouraged by other processes. When it is considered that the average bacteria cell is only a few microns in size, then it is hardly surprising if their activity does often go unnoticed. At

Groundwater abstraction plays a very important part in water supplies throughout the world. Yet too many wells and boreholes operate inefficiently or are abondoned. Until relatively recently, very many water well operators had valuable assets in the form of groundwater abstraction works, of which they really had little idea of condition or operating efficiency. Inadequate monitoring and little if any maintenance occurred. As long as some water was gained little else seemed to matter. If a well failed for some reason, then it was often abandoned and water obtained quickly via an engineering solution varying from drilling a new well, to manipulation of other parts of the supply/distribution system. Rehabilitation, if attempted, was on a "suck-it-and-see" basis and frequently failed. Such approaches prevail in many parts of the world. Yet it must be regarded as particularly serious in developing countries where weak economies could well do without the added strain of supporting inefficient systems or where failure can simply lead to going without. The author, in this book explains how today attitudes are changing. Whereas maintenance and rehabilitation used to lack glamour, and were o

This book examines some of the successes and failures of actual implementation of modern water policy options in the light of the principles and concepts which have emerged from the Rio Earth Summit, the Dublin Statement and other international consensus. The book attempts to share real practical experience at all levels: local, regional, national and international, emphasising the co-operation between different professions and sectors that must take place to ensure adequate supplies of fresh water in future.

This book examines some of the successes and failures of actual implementation of modern water policy options in the light of the principles and concepts which have emerged from the Rio Earth Summit, the Dublin Statement and other international consensus. The book attempts to share real pratical experience at all levels: local, regional, national and international, emphasising the co-operation between different professions and sectors that must take place to ensure adequate supplies of fresh water in future.

Throughout the world, boreholes and tubewells operate inefficiently or have been abandoned. Diagnosis of the problems requires hydrogeological and operational information, which is often not available because appropriate monitoring has not taken place. Guidelines on cost effective monitoring and maintenance need to be established; information on successful rehabilitation techniques is needed. This book forms the proceedings of a conference organised to exchange practical experience and scientific knowledge on these aspects of water wells.

Although most public health and environmental engineers are aware of the importance of microbial activity, many civil engineers do not appreciate the part microbiological process play in, for example, biodeterioration of concrete and other construction materials, alteration of soil and rock properties, clogging of boreholes, distribution and irrigation systems, and biofouling in embankment dams. There is a need for greater interaction between scientists and engineers in this respect. Recent advances in applied microbiology and biochemistry could usefully be extrapolated to fields of civil engineering. Indeed an understanding of microbiological activity in what is often thought of as purely physical and/or chemical processes and an awareness of what to look for is becoming increasingly important for civil engineers in their design of a variety of systems and structures. This book forms the Proceedings of the International Conference held at Cranfield Institute of Technology, UK, in September 1990.