In June 2021, Exo Environmental were commissioned to carry out sediment sampling along the River Trent at Flixborough.

The sampling involved the deployment of our Trimble VRS now RTK corrected GPS system, to locate the pre-determined spot sampling sites. 

Using our Exo Surveyor dell quay dory, we navigated our way to the pre agreed sampling locations. Once in the correct location, we anchored in place, recorded our actual sampling GPS position, and the Van Veen sampler was lowered overboard.

Due to the strong currents on site, mud weights were fitted to the benthic grab to ensure straight line descent to the bed. 

Once on the bed, the sampler was closed shut by pulling the attached lever and pulled to the surface. The benthic sediment was then emptied and stored in double bagged plastic liners and placed in cold storage.

In total 12 samples were collected, each weighing roughly 1.5kg. After demobilisation and transport back to the office, the samples were sieved at 0.5mm and all organisms and debris collected was stored and sent to our ecologist for benthic species assessment.

This assessment helped the client determine the health of the water body and sediment in this stretch of the River Trent and inform future management techniques for maintaining or improving the water quality.  

In the summer of 2021, Exo Environmental were appointed by Duration Brewing, based in West Acre, Norfolk, to conduct a water sampling campaign from its bioreactor and klargester outflows.

The purpose of the sampling campaign was to ensure water quality met with environmental standards as set out by the Environment Agency concerning discharge. 

An initial sampling campaign was designed by Exo and implemented in July 2021. 

Several samples were collected from each source, using special sterilised 1000ml plastic bottles and glass jars and 40ml vials. The reason we have different sampling receptacles is that each will be tested for different determinants. For example, glass jars and glass vials are typically used for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH),  while plastic bottles are used for a general environmental suite, which measures a number of parameters including Biochemical oxygen Demand (BOD), and pH.

Following initial sampling, Exo adopted a project management role, developing a long term sampling strategy, organising laboratory testing of monthly samples from the brewery and collating all the data into a final report. All of this was carried out with the goal of helping the brewery to understand the impact of operational changes on water quality and their compliance with EA regulations.

Beccles Yacht Station and Boat Dyke has silted up over the years due to run off from the main river and the main town drain. The accumulated silt had to be removed to allow for safe navigation as well improve conveyance of the drainage system.

Exo were appointed to design and manage the desilting works, including site investigations (preliminary ecological survey, bathymetric survey and sediment sampling followed by analysis), licence applications (MMO, EA, BA and NE), facilitate a tender and project manage throughout.

The project was successfully completed in November 2021, and included dredging under D1 licence (EA), Marine licence (MMO) and Broads Works permit with a bank side long reach excavator. The dredged material was dewatered in temporary lagoons before it was transported to a spreading site under a SR2010 No.4 Landspreading licence (EA). The spread and cultivated dredged material will be sown in as a wildflower meadow to improve biodiversity of the grass swards..