The Borehole Users Conference 2022 Retrospective

November 9, 2022

On the third of November 2022, experts from across the water industry gathered at Aspects, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, to invest in a day of learning, knowledge exchange, and networking.


This year marked our 10th anniversary year. The conference was hosted in collaboration with the British Soft Drinks Association and was sponsored by DrilCorp.


We were privileged to have some fantastic speakers on the day. Following a welcome from Envireau Water’s conference hosts, Dr Phil Ham and Lauren Moore, Dr Mike Jones started the morning session with a keynote lecture building on the UN-Water’s theme ‘Making the invisible, visible,’ promoting the role of groundwater as a hidden resource, and how it can be effectively managed in the fight against climate change.

Envireau Water’s very own Penny Jenkinson then delved into the science behind siting new borehole supplies, and the practical dos and don’ts for locating water supplies. Christian Bird from Terradat UK and David Hingley from European Geophysical Services rounded off the morning session, exploring the role of geophysical techniques for siting new boreholes without breaking ground, and how below ground geophysics can be used to investigate what is going on inside existing boreholes.


The afternoon provided two parallel workshops, the first of which was co-ordinated by Phil Merrin, Lydia Yates, Carl Gilbert and Bethan Harrison from Severn Trent Water. The team led a series of interactive discussions about common borehole ‘myths,’ using case studies from the water industry to demonstrate what can go wrong with boreholes, and how to avoid them going wrong in the first place. The parallel workshop on Water Stewardship was run by Envireau Water in collaboration with Steve Brown from Central Solutions and Ben Davies from The Alliance for Water Stewardship. This practical, hands-on session covered what stewardship can offer to abstractors and the journey towards certification, with a focus on how to successfully undertake stakeholder engagement.


As we approached the end of an amazing day, Lois Leslie from the British Soft Drinks Association brought the conference to a close with a plenary session, providing an opportunity for our expert speakers to address the burning questions from the day!


As always, the conference was complemented by an exhibition that provided space to connect with a variety of leading industry suppliers who offer support for every stage of your water supply journey.


Exhibitors included the Alliance for Water Stewardship, Boode UK Limited, European Geophysical Services Limited, Franklin Electric, Geoquip Water Solutions Limited, In-Situ Europe Limited, Metasphere Limited, and WB & Morgan.


As the only conference in the UK dedicated to industrial and private water supplies, the annual Borehole Users Conference offers water professionals, whether owners or operators of private water supplies, the opportunity to engage with a variety of exhibitors and specialists in the industry.


To all our speakers, exhibitors, sponsor and delegates, thank you for attending the Borehole Users Conference 2022 and for making the 10th Anniversary year the best one yet!


We look forward to seeing you at #BHUC2023 next November.

    • Exhibitors

    View more

    Share

    Hannah Muir joins Envireau Water

    By Rachael Plant • July 10, 2025
    We're always excited to see our team grow, and we are thrilled to welcome Hannah to the team. Hannah joined our Scotland office at the end of June to gain some hydrogeological experience alongside completing her university studies, and we look forward to welcoming her officially in September where she will begin her career as a Hydrogeologist. Prior to joining, Hannah completed a BSc in Environmental Sciences at University of Glasgow and is currently working towards completing an MSc in Hydrogeology at the University of Strathclyde. During her masters and undergraduate degree, Hannah has participated in various fieldwork activities where she developed an in-depth understanding of applied hydrology, soil analysis and mapping techniques.

    Rob Pickersgill joins Envireau Water

    By Rachael Plant • July 8, 2025
    Our team just keeps on growing and we are delighted to welcome Rob Pickersgill as our newest member! Rob joined us at the end of June, bringing extensive experience across both hydrology and civil engineering, with a particular focus on hydraulic modelling, Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), and Discharge Impact Assessments. Rob's academic background stems from the University of Nottingham, where he completed a MEng in Engineering, followed by an MSC in Global Urban Development and Planning at the University of Manchester. Rob joins our specialist surface water team and will be based at the RSK Group office in Bristol, providing hydrological services to a range of projects for our diverse client base, primarily within the development sector.

    World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2025

    By Rachael Plant • June 17, 2025
    Desertification and drought are two of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Exacerbated by climate change, the devastating effects of both can be felt across the globe, with an estimated 40% of the world's population impacted by water scarcity events. As global temperatures continue to rise, and severe weather events increase, regions across the globe face the potential for increased frequency and severity of droughts, often progressing rapidly and unexpectedly. As of 29th May this year, a drought was officially declared in parts of the UK, having experienced the driest start to Spring in over 130 years. Whilst the recent rainfall at the start of June has helped to stabilise concerns, uncertainty for the months ahead still remain. How is the UK landscape affected by drought?
    Show More

    Hannah Muir joins Envireau Water

    By Rachael Plant • July 10, 2025
    We're always excited to see our team grow, and we are thrilled to welcome Hannah to the team. Hannah joined our Scotland office at the end of June to gain some hydrogeological experience alongside completing her university studies, and we look forward to welcoming her officially in September where she will begin her career as a Hydrogeologist. Prior to joining, Hannah completed a BSc in Environmental Sciences at University of Glasgow and is currently working towards completing an MSc in Hydrogeology at the University of Strathclyde. During her masters and undergraduate degree, Hannah has participated in various fieldwork activities where she developed an in-depth understanding of applied hydrology, soil analysis and mapping techniques.

    Rob Pickersgill joins Envireau Water

    By Rachael Plant • July 8, 2025
    Our team just keeps on growing and we are delighted to welcome Rob Pickersgill as our newest member! Rob joined us at the end of June, bringing extensive experience across both hydrology and civil engineering, with a particular focus on hydraulic modelling, Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), and Discharge Impact Assessments. Rob's academic background stems from the University of Nottingham, where he completed a MEng in Engineering, followed by an MSC in Global Urban Development and Planning at the University of Manchester. Rob joins our specialist surface water team and will be based at the RSK Group office in Bristol, providing hydrological services to a range of projects for our diverse client base, primarily within the development sector.

    World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2025

    By Rachael Plant • June 17, 2025
    Desertification and drought are two of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Exacerbated by climate change, the devastating effects of both can be felt across the globe, with an estimated 40% of the world's population impacted by water scarcity events. As global temperatures continue to rise, and severe weather events increase, regions across the globe face the potential for increased frequency and severity of droughts, often progressing rapidly and unexpectedly. As of 29th May this year, a drought was officially declared in parts of the UK, having experienced the driest start to Spring in over 130 years. Whilst the recent rainfall at the start of June has helped to stabilise concerns, uncertainty for the months ahead still remain. How is the UK landscape affected by drought?

    Tom Onslow joins Envireau Water

    By Rachael Plant • June 12, 2025
    Envireau Water is delighted to welcome Tom Onslow to our North Office in Richmond! Tom joined us at the start of the month from Western Australia, where he gained experience working as a Field Hydrogeologist. Prior to this, Tom graduated from Newcastle University with a Master of Earth Science (MEarthSci). Tom is experienced in both field and desk-based activities, including the supervision of water exploration drilling programs, conducting hydrogeological sampling and logging, carrying out pumping tests and analysis and designing and installing groundwater monitoring networks. Tom has also built a strong foundation in technical reporting, having contributed to a wide range of water-related projects, particularly across the mining sector. At Envireau Water, Tom will continue to develop his hydrogeological expertise and provide technical support across a range of sectors both on site and in the office.
    Show More