Hydrology

JBA started out as a specialist hydrology and hydraulics consultancy, and hydrology remains one of our main strengths.  Our staff include some of Ireland's leading specialists in hydrology, both of high flows and low flows. We can provide expertise in:

• Flood hydrology
• Low flow hydrology
• Groundwater hydrology
• Water resources hydrology
• Hydrology of land use management
• Hydrology of lakes, reservoirs and wetlands
• Impacts of climate change
• Evaporation studies
• Irrigation studies
• Hydrometry
• Development of hydrological software

We have a large range of experience in training and capacity building, and the development of technical guidance.  JBA has developed introductory and advanced courses on hydrology for a range of clients including the Office of Public Works and local authorities.

Hydrogeology

Hydrogeology is the study of underground water, especially groundwater (water below the water table).  Layers of rock or sediment that can store and transmit significant quantities of groundwater are known as aquifers.  Groundwater represents an important source of water supply.  Groundwater also supports many rivers and wetlands.  In some areas, shallow groundwater poses an engineering problem or flood risk.  Contaminated groundwater may pose a risk to ecosystems and human health.

Hydrogeology has an important role to play in meeting the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), especially in the move towards good groundwater status, in the assessment of groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems, and in the development of river basin management plans and catchment abstraction management strategies (CAMS).

JBA Consulting has an experienced team of hydrogeologists committed to providing appropriate, cost-effective and defensible solutions to groundwater problems, and communicating these to a non-technical audience. 

JBA offers a wide range of geological and hydrogeological services, including:

• Geological and groundwater investigations: site investigation (BS 5930 / BS EN 1997), hydraulic conductivity testing (falling/rising head tests, pumping tests and percolation tests), monitoring, groundwater quality assessments, chemical sampling and analysis, geophysical surveys and borehole geophysics.
• Groundwater assessment: flow and transport, rates and mechanisms, availability and vulnerability of groundwater, recharge rates, surface and groundwater interactions, groundwater flooding and rebound.
• Groundwater modelling: development of conceptual and mathematical (analytical and numerical) models of groundwater flow and quality.  Numerical modelling packages used include MODFLOW, MODPATH, MT3D and SEEP/W.
• Design and installation of boreholes for water supply or monitoring
• Applications for abstraction licences and discharge licenses
• Development of plans for wetland creation/restoration and water level management
• Peat depth probing and peat slide risk assessments
• Condition assessments of geological sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
• Ground source heating/cooling: design and resource assessment
• Dewatering schemes (quarries and tunnels),