Wastewater treatment (Public)

Wastewater monitoring

The Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 254 of 2001), Amendment Regulations, 2004 (S.I. 440 of 2004) and Amendment Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 48 of 2010) set specific standards to be achieved for waste water treatment plants. In addition, the regulations set out a regime of monitoring by local authorities of discharges from wastewater treatment plants.

Clare County Council is required to monitor urban wastewater treatment plants with a population equivalent (P.E.) of greater than 500. Results of influent and effluent monitoring are sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually. These results are used in the publication of the EPA wastewater reports.

Licensing and enforcement

The introduction of Wastewater Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. No. 684 of 2007) brought into effect a system for the licencing or certification of discharges [PDF,47KB] from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Discharges from WWTP's across the country must achieve best international practice and meet the discharge limits set in the waste water discharge authorisations, having regard to the:

• Latest EPA Wastewater Report [PDF, 5,589KB]
• Objectives established under the Water Framework Directive
• Dangerous Substance Directive
• The Groundwater Directive
• The Drinking Water Directive
• Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
• Habitats Directive
• Bathing Water Directive

Discharges from these plants are regulated and controlled by authorisations granted by the EPA. Where the P.E. (population equivalent) of a WWTP is >500, a Licence authorisation is required and where the P.E. of the WWTP is <500 a Certification of Authorisation is required. Remedial actions or upgrading of the treatment works to ensure that appropriate protection is afforded to the receiving water environment may be required. Failure to implement the programme of improvement set out in the Waste Water Discharge Authorisations will result in enforcement action by the EPA up to and including prosecution. The EPA enforcement of the Wastewater Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001 and amending Regulations 2004 and 2010, will be risk-based and outcome driven. The additional powers given to the agency under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007 will be used to ensure better environmental performance from wastewater treatment plants and drive the improvement of receiving water quality.

Clare County Councils wastewater discharge applications may be viewed on the EPA website.