The technical assessment of a discharge to groundwater activity is risk-based and receptor-focussed. The assessment  follows the source-pathway-receptor model which underpins all groundwater protection schemes in Ireland as well as the Water Framework Directive on which the Groundwater Regulations are based. Every discharge activity carries a degree of risk.  The challenge lies in differentiating between...

There are many different rainwater harvesting systems on the market in Ireland. The basic principles of operation are as follows: Rainwater is collected from the roof drainage system, the debris is filtered out and the water is stored in a tank. Water is supplied on demand from the storage tank by a submersible pump through...

Harvested Rainwater can be used for many activities where potable water quality is not essential. In Ireland for a domestic water user, the design figure for the amount of water used by any one person is 150 litres per day. For the majority of households this is potable/mains water much of which is not used...

The EPA have recently published a report on the quality of drinking water in Ireland for the year 2010. The report assesses the safety and security of drinking water supplies based on the results of Water Services Authority monitoring carried out in 2010 and enforcement by the EPA in the same period. The report is...

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) has published a The Water Services  (Amendment) Bill 2011 to regulate wastewater discharges from all homes that are not connected to the public sewer network.  All on-site septic tank systems or domestic wastewater treatment systems will have to be registered. Around 68% of the population of...

The Environmental Liability Regulations 2008 define environmental damage under three categories: Damage to natural habitats and protected species – any damage that has significant adverse effects on reaching or maintaining the favourable conservation status of European designated habitats or species  (i.e. those covered by the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and  Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) Damage which significantly...

The Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/EC) is based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.  It requires those operators whose activities pose an imminent threat of environmental damage to take preventive actions, and where such damage has occurred, to remediate it and cover the costs of these measures and any costs incurred by the competent authority (Environmental Protection...

The most common treatment mechanism for the removal of phosphorous from wastewater  involves the use of metal salt based coagulants: M3+ + PO43-→ MPO4 ↓ (Where M is the metal ion) A known amount of coagulant is applied to the wastewater.  A coagulated solid is formed and phosphate is precipitated out as a settled solid. ...

In Ireland the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, (as amended by the 1990 Act) provides the principal legal framework for the prevention and control of water pollution. This act includes A general prohibition against water pollution as well Provisions on licensing direct and indirect discharges Water quality standards and management plans. Increased maximum penalties...