Over the years the first thing we have always looked for on projects is the technical data which is required to establish the nature of the issue to be addressed.  This data will provide the basis for addressing the clients requirements including, licence requirements, environmental management and cost-benefit control. Way too often we have found...

How often has been found that insufficient data has been available relating to key control parameters of wastewater treatment operation and performance?  Unfortunately the answer is “way too often”. Many business could save themselves a lot of time and money through recording and reviewing key control parameters on a regular basis. The establishment of target and...

Quite often in wastewater treatment, problems arise where basic checks and balances have been overlooked or not acted upon. This basic guide for the operation, management and monitoring of the activated sludge process addresses fundamental issues which can mitigate against problems arising or assist in their resolution – saving time and money. Mass Balances It...

The European Investment Bank is providing a €200m loan to Ireland’s Water Service Investment Programme (WSIP) to support 23 water investment projects across Ireland. The projects include provision of new water mains, water and wastewater treatment facilities and reservoirs, as well as measures to improve water conservation. The responsibility for water services delivery is moving...

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) has published the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 to regulate wastewater discharges from all homes that are not connected to the public sewer network. This is as a result of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgment made against Ireland in 2009 (Case C-188/08) in relation to...

The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, announced on 17 December 2012 that a grant scheme will be available for householders whose septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems need repairing or updating following inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. Householders will need to register their system by 1 February 2013...

What is an IPC Licence The EPA Act 1992 (as amended) sets out the activities for which an Integrated Pollution Control or IPC Licence is required. An IPC Licence is a singular licence granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  An IPC licence addresses all activities undertaken on site which may impact on the environment...

In Ireland, in cases where Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) is not applicable, the control of water pollution is exercised through the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977-1990. City and County councils are the licensing authorities A discharge of wastewater (effluent) to waters (river, stream, lake, estuary etc. and groundwater) or to a municipal sewer...

Sustainability must address Economic, Social and Environmental Requirements. In many instances the word Viability could be used instead of Sustainability ECOS Environmental Consultants provide expert Knowledge, Advice and Solutions to all types of businesses Water & Wastewater – Quality, Treatment, Compliance Environmental Management – Investigation, Innovation, Optimization Troubleshooting & Problem Solving – All of the above...

The Water Pollution Act (1977) defined a ‘trade effluent’ as an effluent, “which is discharged from premises used for carrying on any trade or industry (including mining) but does not include domestic sewage or storm water”. All ‘trade effluents’ must be licensed. Discharges of domestic-type wastewater (sewage) from commercial and industrial premises to municipal sewers...