The EPA has issued a draft guidance documented is intended for use by EPA licensed sites in order to provide licensees with a methodology for setting appropriate site specific trigger levels at storm water discharge points. The EPA has issued a draft guidance documented intended for use by EPA licensed sites to provide licensees with...

Eutrophication is the increase in chemical nutrients in an ecosystem which results in excessive plant growth and decay. Whereas nutrients are a requirement in order for aquatic plants and animals to grow, unnaturally high levels of nutrients cause excessive growth. When the plants die, they are decomposed by micro-organisms including bacteria which consume oxygen dissolved...

Pollution prevention as a term has become less used recently, supplanted by sustainability.  However, the fundamental idea of preventing pollution rather than trying to address problems caused by pollution is essential for efficient, economically viable development, ie Sustainable Development. It  makes sense, both economically and environmentally, to. Reduce the input of materials and energy Minimize the...

The components of an Environmental Management System (EMS) (as defined under the ISO 14001 specification, EMAS Regulation or in a license) incorporates: Baseline Environmental Review/Audit Planning Environmental Policy Environmental Objectives and Targets EM Programme Implementation and Operation Operational Control Emergency Preparedness and Response Responsibility Allocation Awareness and Training Communications Check and Review Checks and Corrective...

Up to 90% of the country’s 1.35 million households will start paying water charges from 2014, according to a new report prepared for the Government. Consumers will also pay VAT on top of their bills, as a private company, Irish Water, will be charging for the services instead of a public body.   The water...

Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland has a mandatory target to achieve 16% of its total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland has also set itself a binding target to achieve a 40% renewable energy share of total electricity supply by 2020. The “proposal” was that the vast bulk of this will...

Groundwater is the water that trickles through the soil and into underlying rocks during the Water Cycle. Once in the bedrock the water moves slowly through and is stored in the pores or cracks in the rock.  If enough water is stored in this way in a bedrock deposit, it is referred to as an aquifer. Groundwater seeps up...

The WFD was created in December 2000 and implemented in 2003 with the aim of improving the quality of our water environment. Its purpose is also to integrate existing European directives into the new legislation. The directive requires each Member State to implement changes to the management of water bodies, taking account of all aspects of the...

Limerick County Council’s Enforcement Policy document sets out the policy framework that Limerick County Council will use in acting against illegal waste activity. The legislation which The Council operate under is the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2008 (WMA Acts). Underlying the policy against illegal waste activity are: Proportionality in the application of environmental law...

View Drinking Water Quality data for the Public Water Supply and for Public and Private Group Water Schemes on the Limerick County Council Drinking Water Quality Information System. http://www.lcc.ie/waterworks/