Excess rainwater may cause flooding within existing locations or proposed developments especially in urban areas. Serious consideration must also be given to overloading of sewage treatment plants. These risks will be reduced by the application of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Due to our changing climate flooding is becoming an increasingly regular phenomenon and overloading of sewage treatment plants a risk for the environment. Soakaways and pervious pavements are examples of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) that deal with excess rainwater in urban areas or proposed developments.
Recycling and reduction in waste going to landfill has become a major issue of social responsibility and, as such, the construction of waste recycling and energy from waste facilities has become a growth industry.
Fly ash or pulverized fuel ash (PFA) from the combustion process in power stations needs to be contained and treated onsite to avoid air pollution and to minimise environmental issues it may pose around the plant.
The nature of urban development has been forced to change in order to suit the increasingly crowded environment. For example, where once older industrial sites would be left derelict, brownfield redevelopment is now the norm.
The face of a slope and its geometry can be critical to long-term performance and any change to its angle or shape may even lead to failure. Progressive surface erosion poses risks to the stability and in the long term can lead to falls of debris, rocks and boulders with the associated threat to neighbouring areas.
As urban development or leisure activities move into more mountainous regions, the risk posed to buildings and particularly to motorists on roads built into the mountain sides is increased by rockfalls and avalanches.
Wind power as a clean energy source has gained significant territory. Wind turbines are constructed creating large wind farms. The local soil in these areas is often weak and lacking bearing capacity for the heavy equipment needed during construction and maintenance.
When geomembranes are used to protect retention ponds or lined impounding reservoirs, they need to be protected against UV and mechanical damage, usually by a layer of soil.