Innovative investigation of the UK's low level waste repository

URS carried out a geological and hydrogeological investigation at the UK’s national Low Level Waste disposal facility, located on the West Cumbrian coast.

URS worked with the Low Level Waste Repository Limited (LLWR) and Boart Longyear to install groundwater monitoring wells for hydrogeological testing on this highly sensitive site near Drigg, declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Through partnership, careful planning and the latest sonic drilling methods, the project team drilled a series of low impact, high quality groundwater monitoring wells on the site.

The presence of sensitive flora and fauna on the site, including some protected species, and coupled with fragile and sandy soil meant, the drilling had to be conducted with unusually high levels of planning and coordination. To this end, the team engaged with a variety of stakeholders including Natural England, the Environment Agency, the local planning authority and local landowners at an early stage to establish open communication during the planning process.

URS representatives also engaged with the local community throughout the project, including visiting a local primary school to help pupils understand their local environment and the drilling project, which was being carried out only one mile from the school.

Prior to the start of operations, URS conducted a three-week period of site preparation and ecological surveying, which included day and night surveys to establish the presence and distribution of local fauna. As a result, the team protected the routes into the drilling areas with specialist matting and employed a rubber-tracked, low ground impact vehicle to transport the drilling equipment.

To protect the ground from the effects of drilling multiple boreholes at each location, URS placed multiple installations in single boreholes drilled using sonic rig equipment. Risk of connectivity between the water bodies was reduced by using the highest quality grouting techniques within the boreholes, which allowed the gathering of reliable data.

Hydrogeological testing using this modern, reliable, pneumatic method generated accurate and repeatable results that were representative of the observed geology. The wells are now being used as part of a long term groundwater monitoring schedule to support the operation of the site.

As a result of such inclusive stakeholder involvement, comprehensive research and the use of innovative techniques, URS generated a project scope that addressed each logistical and technical requirement, completing the project ahead of schedule and substantially within budget.