Ecoseal Developments Pvt Ltd
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Consulting and Research
 
Consulting and Research
Ecoseal Developments Pty Ltd is an environmental consulting company with extensive experience in providing services in groundwater modelling, seawater intrusion modelling, water resource management, for the water industry and for communities and water users who rely on this critical resource. The models we develop are used for options assessment such as the impact of climate change on security of water supplies.

Our mission is to help communities manage water environments and water resources towards sustainable future so that it serves the long-term economic benefit of communities that rely on this vital resource. The principle that water is a shared resource governs our work – shared for the benefit of communities, the environment and industry.
 
  Consulting and Research

Our business involves consulting and research partnership services in fields such as:

  • Groundwater modelling and management;
  • Seawater intrusion modelling;
  • risk assessment of coastal groundwater resources to climate change;
  • Modelling Reviews and Project Reviews;
  • Economic Assessment of Modelled Scenarios and Options;
  • Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources;
  • Management of shallow watertables in irrigation areas; and
  • Development of indicators for managing stressed aquifers.
We have undertaken projects in Australia, South-east Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Region for a variety of clients, including farmers, private sector businesses, educational institutions, government agencies and development agencies.
Ecoseal assembles teams with a diversity of skills and the resources to meet critical deadlines. We are proud of our reputation for delivering high quality results as required within specified timeframes and our cost effective solutions for complex natural resource issues.

Our research focus is on the development of combined bio-physical and engineering solutions to natural resource issues affecting communities. Wherever possible, our projects integrate inter-disciplinary teams comprising natural scientists, engineers and socio-economists to address the triple bottom line approach: environment, economics and social.

Ecoseal has extensive experience in developing groundwater management models and our staff have extensive experience in the provision of hydrological, groundwater and natural resource management services to industry, government and international agencies. Ecoseal has undertaken research projects within the Murray Darling Basin and the Great Artesian Basin. These are the two largest basins in Australia which cover an area of 1.06 million km2 and 1.8 million km2 respectively and have extensive and complex regional groundwater systems. Both basins are very important for agriculture with an annual economic output of $12 billion and $2.0 billion respectively.

The focus of our work and the projects we undertake contribute towards improved management of surface and groundwater resources with the aim of advancing equity, profitability and ecological sustainability. Our view is that sustainable use and management of our natural resources is vitally important for the long term economic benefit of communities that depend on this resource, and for profitable irrigated and dryland agriculture enterprises. Ecoseal has undertaken projects for both State and Federal Government agencies in Australia. Our consultants have worked on projects in Australia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

  Helping Communities
Ecoseal has considerable experience in undertaking complex modelling of groundwater systems and is undertaking research and development into new ways for managing groundwater resources on a sustainable basis. A number of our projects have benefited farmer owned and managed irrigation districts and groundwater management areas set up as shared community resources. The focus of these projects was to bring about a measurable improvement in the management of surface and groundwater resources and to ensure the use of natural resources amongst competing stakeholders was equitable and ecologically sustainable.
  • Sustainable Management of Coastal Groundwater Resources
  • Jaffna Peninsula Water Supply and Sanitation Feasibility Study – ADB for SMEC
  • Study of Groundwater Sources for Water supply in Bangladesh – ADB
  • Project Review – Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments through Serial Biological Concentration
  • Seawater Intrusion Model for the Island of Kayts, Sri Lanka – ADB for SMEC
  • Water Master Plan for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
  • Groundwater Management Model for GWMA016
Sustainable Management of Coastal Groundwater Resources & Opportunities for Further Development
The key objective of the project is to demonstrate an integrated approach for managing the availability and quality of coastal groundwater resources, as a strategy to prevent over-allocation due to rapid urban and/or intensive agricultural development. The project will combine:

  • The drilling and installing of new monitoring wells,
  • a strategic review of the way groundwater resources are monitored and evaluated,
  • geophysics,
  • socio-economic assessment,
  • monitoring and assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems and impacts on native vegetation, and
  • new state of the art groundwater and seawater intrusion modelling tools to support the long-term management of coastal sand aquifers.

An important aspect of the project will involve research and development of early warning indicators based on the initial work undertaken by Punthakey (2005). These indicators will be used to assess the condition of groundwater resources and to develop triggers for remedial action which will lead towards sustainable management of coastal groundwater resources.

Jaffna Peninsula Water Supply and Sanitation Feasibility Study – ADB for SMEC
The feasibility study was undertaken for the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Conflict-Affected Areas Rehabilitation Project and for the Government of Sri Lanka. A numerical groundwater flow model was developed as part of the investigation to assist in the analysis of freshwater and saltwater flow for current and changing pumping and recharge conditions. The groundwater flow model MODFLOW, mass transport model MT3DMS, and salinity intrusion model SEAWAT were used to provide additional understanding of the regional flow conditions in the aquifers, including regional movement of the interface separating the freshwater and saltwater flow systems. The calibrated model was used to estimate water balance for the Jaffna Peninsula, assess the potential for seawater intrusion and upconing, and its impact on low salinity groundwater resources. The models were used for assessing sustainable water supply options for Jaffna Peninsula and for assessment of pumping options for water supply and impacts of saline groundwater upconing and saltwater intrusion along the coast.

Study of Groundwater Sources for Water supply in Bangladesh – ADB
In the southwestern part of Bangladesh the deep aquifer is an important source of freshwater for municipal wells, industrial use and private use. The distribution of salinity in the aquifers and water quality impacts due to pumping are the main constraints on increasing extractions from the deep aquifers in the Khulna area. The objective of this assignment was to assess the potential of future abstraction of groundwater in the vicinity of Khulna, which will be used by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Water Authorities for planning projects for improving water supply. Ecoseal developed recommendations for the next phase of the project which involves developing a groundwater model for the Khulna region.
Project Review – Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments through Serial Biological Concentration
Project Review of ACIAR Project LWR-2000-013 Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments through Serial Biological Concentration was undertaken. The ACIAR project was conducted in Pakistan and Australia and the process included a review of the project background, methodology, project execution, and recommendations with a comprehensive review report submitted to ACIAR. In addition the review encompassed key facets including:

  • project impacts,
  • scientific and technical impacts,
  • community impacts,
  • social impacts and
  • knowledge impacts.
Seawater Intrusion Model for the Island of Kayts, Sri Lanka – ADB for SMEC.
This study was undertaken for the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Conflict-Affected Areas Rehabilitation Project and for Government of Sri Lanka. Numerical flow and transport models (MODFLOW, MT3DMS, and SEAWAT) were developed to assist in the analysis of freshwater and saltwater flow and to evaluate seasonal supply options. The groundwater flow model, mass transport model, and salinity intrusion model were used to provide additional understanding of the regional flow conditions in the aquifers, including regional movement of the interface separating the freshwater and saltwater flow systems. The calibrated model was used to estimate water balance for the island of Kayts to assess the potential for seawater intrusion and upconing, and its impact on low salinity groundwater resources. The models were used for assessing sustainable water supply options for Kayts and for developing extraction strategies to maintain the longterm viability of water supply by limiting the impacts of saline groundwater upconing and saltwater intrusion along the coast.

Water Master Plan for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Groundwater Specialist and Project Co-Leader for preparation of the Groundwater Theme Report. The sector paper on groundwater provides an assessment of the current status of groundwater resources and opportunities for improving the sustainable management of these resources which are of vital importance for the future of Abu Dhabi. Developed a strategic assessment of the groundwater resources for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Groundwater Management Model for GWMA016.
For the Murray region Ecoseal developed a groundwater model to investigate the impacts of recharge and pumping. The aim of this project was to develop a groundwater management model, which will be used by natural resource managers and the groundwater community working group to better manage the resources of the Lower Murray. The Lower Murray aquifer system has been designated as a potential high-risk aquifer system. The services performed include development, calibration and verification of a 3-dimensional groundwater flow model. Several scenarios have been planned to develop sustainable yield for each aquifer. In addition, zones have been developed to improve management of groundwater in areas showing excessive depletion of the groundwater resource.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Helping Communities
Project Review
Ecoseal reviewed the ACIAR Project on Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments through Serial Biological Concentration, which was carried out in Pakistan and Australia.
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Seawater Intrusion Model for the Island of Kayts, Sri Lanka
Assessing sustainable water supply options for Kayts to limit the impact of saline groundwater upconing and saltwater intrusion along the northwest coast of Sri Lanka.
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Groundwater Management Model for the Lower Murray, Australia
The aim of this project was to develop a groundwater management model which was used by natural resource managers and the community to better manage the groundwater resources of the Lower Murray. This region has been designated as a potential high-risk aquifer system.
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