Joanna Ellis, Project Hydrogeologist at GWP, was been awarded the British Expertise International Award for Young Consultant of the Year 2008-09 for a de-watering project for Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria.

Joanna co-ordinated a 6 month groundwater investigation to assess the feasibility of de-watering a 10 km², 55m deep quarry in a dipping carbonate deposit, underlain by a highly pressurized sandstone sequence and bounded on three sides by rivers. Investigations included the drilling of 25 boreholes and 2 production bores, installation of 12 multi-level piezometer nests, supervision of 75 packer tests, 40 variable head tests, 2 pumping test programmes, as well as surface and downhole geophysics, well surveys and hydrochemical sampling.

The fieldwork formed the basis of the analysis, which included geological modelling and groundwater modelling to assess quarry inflows, blow-out depressurisation risks, and impacts on local water courses and village water wells.

The award was presented to Chief Hydrogeologist and Partner at GWP, Clive Carpenter, on behalf of Joanna, at the British Expertise Awards Ceremony on 11 November 2008 by HRH Duke of Gloucester.

For more information about British Expertise and the work they do, go to their website: http://www.britishexpertise.org/ .