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Environmental Consultancy Services to Industry, Business and Individuals Email Us
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Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineers respond to the needs of our clients and of the environment with a design response. We provide engineering design solution that enable otherwise potential polluting activities to be carried out, with minimized impact on the environment.

At Southwest Environmental Limited we enjoy the challenges that Environmental Engineering presents us, and look forward to helping you overcome your design challenges. We respect the role of industry in shaping our planet, and providing for humanities many needs. However, as a balance it is worth considering that out of the whole observable universe we only know of life existing in the ten mile thick  200 Million square mile surface of this planet. It is worth looking after this little patch of the cosmos, and we can provide a solution to do that, whilst maintaining industrial output.

world polpulation graphIf we consider our rapidly expanding population then by de facto we should pro-rata reduce our emissions to account for this. For example Acid Rain was first detected in the 1960's when the world population was around 2.5 billion, a solution was engineered to deal with Acid Rain. We now have a population of 7.5 billion, so we would only be required to emit 30% of acid forming gases pro rata per capita before we would see a return of Acid Rain. Luckily we can almost complexly remove acid forming gases from emissions, we have Environmental Engineered a solution to this problem.

It is curious how little alarm this population causes. If it were included in an engine diagnostics print out, or a medical chart it would likely prompt swift action.

Environment Engineering is not only about equipment, it is also about choice of raw materials, or choices in formulations.

So lets break this biz down! What actually is Environmental Engineering, and how can Southwest Environmental actually help you (our potential client) clean up your processes.

Laws and Regulations

Quite often when when Environmental Engineers design a solution we are looking to meet regulatory requirements in some cases these might be absolute values such as NO2 levels according to Air Quality Objectives or in some cases they might be site specific, based on modeling of emissions and then determining a safe post abatement concentration for discharge.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Flawed but necessary. EIA seeks to check how bad the local environment is, and set an allowable emissions threshold. It is flawed because quite often you have to "guess" (we would say estimate) what the emissions might be before they start this might involve using reference values from another country. Ideally you might have a pilot project, but even when these are available the scaling up may result in some unexpected changes and design challenges. Despite the disadvantages it is Environmental Impact Assessment that can often guide design choice for the Environmental Engineer.

Services Offered

Chemical Manufacturing

The equipment used in Chemical Manufacturing can be relatively simple, perhaps various storage tanks, and a reactor for "cooking up" your product. The Environmental Engineers role here is to look at the chemical processes them selves suggesting adjustment, perhaps based on outcomes from a life cycle assessment study.

Services Offered

Waste Water Treatment

Virtually all manufacturing sites will require that waste water is treated in some way. Very common affects on water quality are increases in oxygen demand or alterations in pH. Other processes may introduce more exotic elements in to process effluents which will need to be cleaned up prior to discharge to sewer, or water body.

Services Offered

Professional Environmental Engineering Consultancy

Engineering Solutions for Complex Environmental Challenges

Environmental engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles to protect and improve the quality of the environment. At SWEL, our Environmental Engineering Consultants act as problem solvers, moving beyond initial assessment to the design and implementation of technical solutions. Whether addressing industrial pollution, managing water resources, or ensuring air quality compliance, we provide the engineering rigor required to secure planning consent and maintain long-term operational viability for our clients.

Wastewater and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) Design

Managing industrial and domestic wastewater requires a bespoke engineering approach. We specialize in the design and specification of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), ensuring that discharges meet strict environmental permit limits. From primary settlement and biological treatment to advanced chemical dosing and filtration, we tailor our engineering solutions to the specific chemistry of your effluent. This technical oversight is vital for protecting local watercourses and ensuring compliance with utility company trade effluent consents.

Air Quality Abatement and Emission Control

Industrial processes often generate atmospheric emissions that require active management to protect human health and the environment. Our engineering team designs Air Abatement Systems, including wet scrubbers, carbon filters, and baghouses, to reduce VOCs and particulates. By integrating these designs with detailed Air Quality Impact Assessments, we provide a "closed-loop" solution that satisfies regulatory scrutiny and ensures that emissions remain well within national air quality standards.

Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) and Surface Water Management

Effective water management is a cornerstone of modern development. We provide technical Drainage Engineering services, specializing in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). Utilizing BRE 365 Soakaway Testing and hydraulic modeling, we design attenuation ponds, permeable paving, and green roofs that manage flood risk at the source. This engineering approach is essential for modern planning, ensuring that surface water runoff from new developments does not exceed greenfield rates and minimizes impact on the wider catchment.

Integrated Engineering for Planning and Compliance

The success of a planning application or permit often rests on the feasibility of the proposed engineering measures. We provide the technical evidence required for robust Planning Statements and Environmental Statements. By delivering verifiable "True Data" and professional engineering drawings, we bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and site reality. With over 900 projects successfully delivered across the UK, SWEL provides the technical authority and multidisciplinary expertise needed to solve your most complex environmental engineering hurdles.