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Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant

Annual Environmental Report 2011

February 2012

Waterford County Council

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Dungarvan WWTP.doc 28 January 2010


Annual Environmental Report 2011

February 2012

Waterford County Council

Issued Water Services

Section

Waterford

Co. Council

Date 27th

March 2011

Originator C Flynn EE _________________ _______________

Approver Ml Quinn DOS _________________ _______________

Revision 0

Description Final draft

Date 27/03/2012

Issue and revision record

Chapter Title Page

Executive Summary i

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Licence register number ______________________________________________________________ 1 1.2 Name ____________________________________________________________________________ 1 1.3 Site location _______________________________________________________________________ 1 1.4 Description of activities at the site _______________________________________________________ 1 1.5 Company environmental policy (where available) ___________________________________________ 1 1.6 Company organisation chart for Environmental Management _________________________________ 2

2. Summary Information 3

2.1 Self-Monitoring Data (summary) ________________________________________________________ 3 2.1.1 Emissions to waters/sewer ____________________________________________________________ 3 2.1.2 Influent Monitoring Results ____________________________________________________________ 4 2.1.3 Waste Arisings _____________________________________________________________________ 5 2.2 Agency Monitoring and Enforcement ____________________________________________________ 6 2.3 Energy and Water Consumption ________________________________________________________ 6 2.3.1 Energy Consumption ________________________________________________________________ 6 2.3.2 Water Consumption _________________________________________________________________ 6 2.4 Environmental Incidents and Complaints _________________________________________________ 7 2.5 PRTR Report for 2011 _______________________________________________________________ 7 2.6 PRTR Proposals for 2012 ____________________________________________________________ 8 2.7 Improvement Programme Report _______________________________________________________ 8

3. Licence-Specific Reports 10

3.1 Summary Report on Monthly Influent Monitoring __________________________________________ 10 3.2 Treatment Capacity Report for the WWTP _______________________________________________ 12 3.3 Data Collection and Reporting Requirements under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive _____ 12 3.4 Storm Water Overflow Identification and Inspection Report __________________________________ 12 3.5 Network Integrity Assessment Summary Report ___________________________________________ 13 3.6 Development/Infrastructural Works Summary (completed for previous year or prepared for current

year) ____________________________________________________________________________ 13 3.7 Summary Report on Ambient Water Quality in Tramore Bay. _________________________________ 14 3.8 EPA Assessment of 2010 AER ________________________________________________________ 14

4. Environmental Liabilities 15

4.1 Annual Statement __________________________________________________________________ 15 4.2 Environmental Liabilities Risk Assessment _______________________________________________ 15

Content

i

This Annual Environmental Report is prepared in accordance with EPA guidance documents to cover the

period January 2011 to December 2011.

The report relates to Tramore Agglomeration which is subject of Discharge Licence No. D0015-01 as

issued by the EPA on the 21st December 2009. The content of the report relates primarily to the

performance of the new Wastewater treatment plant and also the plans for improvements to the

Agglomeration in order to satisfy the extensive area of environmental legislation.

Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant is a new plant, commissioned in 2008. The sewage network main

pump station at the promenade was also modified and upgraded during the construction period of the plant

to provide for all of the Dry Weather sewage arisings in Tramore to be delivered to the treatment plant. The

Sewer Network is combined in the old Town areas, giving rise to the need for Storm Water overflows from

the system during heavy rainfall. The WWTP is operated by Veolia who are contracted to operate and

maintain the WWTP for a 20 year period.

The WWTP was largely compliant with the Licence requirements in 2011, with only a single non-

compliance for Total Oxidised Nitrogen (TON) in June. There were no complaints or incidents received or

notified in 2011. The removal efficiencies for the various parameters in the plant are better than expected

for a plant of this design. The plant is operating at 66.1% of its Biological Capacity and this loading is not

likely to be significantly increased in the short term.

The Licence requires that SW2 be upgraded by 31st December 2010 so as to be Emergency Overflows

only. As outlined in the 2010 AER, this overflow is not in use and has been replaced with an alternative

overflow that will require a Technical Amendment to the Licence. This alternative overflow discharges to a

constructed wetland that will provide detention and some level of treatment to the overflow from the

Promenade Pump Station.

Executive Summary

1

1.1 Licence register number

D0015-01

1.2 Name


1.3 Site location

Crobally, Tramore, Co. Waterford

1.4 Description of activities at the site

The Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant located at Crobally, commenced operation in Feb 2008 and is

designed to serve a population equivalent of 20,000. The plant was procured under a DBO contract and the

management of the facility is contracted to Veolia Water by Waterford County Council.

The Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant treats domestic, commercial and industrial effluent from

Tramore Town. The industrial effluent loading is between small and none as Tramore is principally a

dormitory town. Wastewater is transferred to the plant via twin rising mains from the Promenade Pumping

Station, near the beach in Tramore Town and via a single rising main from the Garraun sewer Pumpstation,

near the Wastewater Treatment plant site.

Primary and Secondary treatment of waste water at Tramore is achieved by screening and grit removal at

the inlet works, settlement, secondary biological treatment (activated sludge), clarification and sludge

removal. Sludge undergoes dewatering by way of direct dewatering of Waste activated sludge from the

settlement tanks. This dewatered sludge is transported to Dungarvan for thermal drying, to produce a final

product which meets the requirements for use in agriculture.

The primary discharge (SW1) from Tramore WWTP is via an outfall pipe and diffuser system directly out

into Tramore bay for a distance of 1.5Km.

1.5 Company environmental policy (where available)

Waterford County Council is committed to environmental protection and improvement as part of it’s role in

Local Government and it’s statutory obligations. It does not have a specific environmental policy as all such

policies are included in the Councils Strategic plan, but not in a format suitable for extract to this document.

1. Introduction

2

1.6 Company organisation chart for Environmental Management

Organisational Structure.

Water Services Staff Structure: Water Quality, Pollution& Drinking Water

The above structure was developed in 2010. Waterford County Council has divided the Water

Services Operations & Maintenance Team into three relevant individual teams namely, the

Waste Water Team, the Pollution Control and River Basin District Team and the Drinking

Water Quality & Supply Team.

All of the above listed team members have duties in other areas of work under the umbrella of

Water Services Operations & Maintenance.

Michael Quinn

Director of Services

Transportation and

Infrastructure

Pat McCarthy

Senior Engineer

Water Service Operations

& Maintenance

Waste Water

Operation and

Maintenance

Pollution Control

Team

Administrative Staff

Mary

Hayes

Vacant

Declan

Halpin

Tech. Grade

2

John O’Sullivan

Senior Executive

Engineer

Conor Foley

Senior Executive

Engineer

Tim Bourke Senior

Executive

Technician

Paul

Carroll

Executive

Scientist

Drinking Water

Quality & Supply

Team

Pollution Control

and River Basin

District Team

Jimmy Mansfield

Senior Executive

Engineer

Thomas

Butler

Technician

Grade 1

Susan

Cook

Technician

Grade 2

3

2.1 Self-Monitoring Data (summary)

2.1.1 Emissions to waters/sewer

This section details the emissions to water from Tramore WWTP over the period January 2011 –

December 2011.

Summary Table for Emissions to Waters

Licensed ELVs % compliance

Flow (m3/d)

pH 6.0-9.5 100

cBOD (mg/l) 25 100

COD (mg/l) 125 100

SS (mg/l) 35 100

Ammonia 5 100

Total Oxidised Nitrogen (TON) 20 91.66

Source: PMS reports Veolia (operator)

Tramore final effluent, average monthly values

COD mg/l

O2 BOD mg/l

O2 SS mg/l NH3-N mg/l TP TON mg/l PO4

3- mg/l Month

13/01/2011 33 7 14 0.4 0.96 9.3 0.75

10/02/2011 18 3 <5 <0.1 0.63 7.6 0.54

03/03/2011 21 <4 <5 0.2 1.52 17.8 1.36

13/04/2011 16 <2.0 <5.0 2.1 1.76 14.1 1.65

05/05/2011 43 5 <5 <0.1 1.88 15.1 1.68

02/06/2011 24 <4 <5 0.2 2.65 24.2 2.43

07/07/2011 30 6 <5 4.9 1.66 6.1 1.39

04/08/2011 48 7 5 5.7 4.15 18.0 3.64

08/09/2011 23 3 7 0.1 3.09 21.4 2.72

06/10/2011 23 3 <3 0.1 2.51 21.6 2.34

03/11/2011 17 3 5 <0.1 1.43 12.5 1.22

07/12/2011 30 1 2.5 <0.19 1.75 21.0 1.79

Average 27.16 3.58* 4.16* 1.16* 1.99 15.73 1.79

*Where the result is below the detectable limit, a value of 50% of the limit is assumed

The monitoring data presented above is the final effluent from Tramore WWTP.

2. Summary Information

4

All licensed parameters are included in the monitoring programme (under Schedule B of the Licence) and

monitoring results are complete for 2011. Metal and Organic Compounds were analysed and are included

in Appendix A. No significant results were noted in the sample taken in December 2011.

There was a single non-compliance in 2011 for Total Oxidised Nitrogen (TON). The ELV limit for TON in

the licence is 20mg/l. A result of 24.2mg/l was recorded in June 2011. This result is greater than 20%

above the ELV and is thus non-compliant, as set out in Condition 2.1.1.iv of the Licence. This non-

compliance should have been notified as an incident to the Agency when it was discovered. However, they

were not reported at that time due to a misinterpretation of Condition 2 of the Licence. It should be noted

that while three other results for TON did exceed the ELV, none of these exceedences was greater than

20% above the ELV and do not constitute a non-compliance as set out in Condition 2.1.1.iv of the Licence.

Summary of Non-compliances

Date Non-compliance Cause Corrective Action

02/06/2010 TON No Denitrification step in WWTP processes

Monitor TON results to see if pattern emerges

No corrective action was possible. System is extended aeration with no nitrogen specific reduction facilities.

Source: Operator PMS reports

The receiving water body for the discharge from the Tramore WWTP is designated as a Bathing Water

area (Tramore Main Strand). This beach complied with the regulatory requirements for Bathing Water

Quality in 2011. The Bathing Water Monitoring Results are outlined in more detail in Section 3.7 of this

report. Thus, the bathing waters at Tramore were not adversely impacted by the discharge from the

Tramore WWTP.

From the results of final effluent monitoring for 2011, it appears that the ELV of 20mg/l for TON may pose a

future compliance issue. At the current loading on the plant, the results for 4 of the months are greater than

the 20mg/l limit while the other 8 months of the year are comfortably less than the ELV. Only one of these

results constituted a non-compliance. It is still unclear if the four results above 20mg/l are typical or isolated

incidents. The loading on the plant increases during June, July and August because of the tourist nature of

Tramore, but only one of the four exceedences occur in that period. It is recommended that further

monitoring of discharged TON results in 2012 be undertaken to see if the non-compliance in June 2011 is

typical or an isolated incident. The AER for 2012 can make proposals for Improvement Works should the

TON results warrant such works. The cost of the works to upgrade the existing WWTP would be estimated

at that time also, but these costs would not be insignificant and would likely require major civil engineering

works at the plant. Such significant improvement works would likely attract funding under the DoECLG’s

Water Services Investment Programme on a Marginal Cost basis and the Council would be required to

fund part of the costs from our own resources. It is not possible to estimate the associated parametric

improvement in the discharge until the works associated with an improvement programme are defined.

Similarly, the associated water quality improvement cannot be defined at this stage.

There is only one WPA Licensed Activity in Tramore. This is for the Splash World leisure centre. The

discharges would typically be of a largely domestic nature. There has been no evidence of impacts from

their discharges on the WWTP in 2011 or heretofore.

There are no secondary discharges from the agglomeration.

2.1.2 Influent Monitoring Results

Influent Monitoring was carried out monthly in accordance with the requirements of Condition 4.15 of the

licence. The table below details the results of the monitoring for cBOD, COD, Suspended Solids, Total

Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous for 2011.

5

Date cBOD mg/l COD mg/l SS mg/l Total Nitrogen mg/l Total Phosphorous mg/l

13/01/2011 81 135 52 15.6 1.82

10/02/2011 71 121 57 13.5 1.42

03/03/2011 160 290 247 29.1 3.92

07/04/2011 200 357 136 34.3 4.94

05/05/2011 185 223 158 23.4 3.33

02/06/2011 233 301 156 37.4 5.3

07/07/2011 133 307 105 27.4 3.68

04/08/2011 255 328 171 41.5 5.96

08/09/2011 258 403 31 43.1 6.35

06/10/2011 490 1263 458 60.9 7.84

03/11/2011 99 135 146 23.2 2.9

07/12/2011 134 378 98 43.9 5.17

Source: Operator PMS reports

These results were then used to calculate the total mass of each parameter passing through the plant in

2011 and included in the PRTR report. A more detailed analysis of the mass loading and efficiency of the

WWTP is included in Section 3.1 of this AER.

2.1.3 Waste Arisings

Excess sludges from the treatment process are dewatered on site and transported to Dungarvan plant for

further treatment and eventual disposal to agriculture. Table below gives the monthly quantities of wet

sludge produced during 2011.

Tramore Sludge Outputs

Month Total Wet Sludge

kgs

Jan-11 107,040

Feb-11 94,760

Mar-11 88,000

Apr-11 88,160

May-11 83,660

Jun-11 52,740

Jul-11 85,160

Aug-11 93,600

Sep-11 95,620

Oct-11 81,220

Nov-11 115,360

Dec-11 66,560

Total 1,051,880

The plant operator carried out analysis of each individual load and informed us that the total dry solids

produced were 150,356 kg. This equates to an average dry solids content of 14.29% in the wet sludge.

6

Other Waste arisings comprise screening and grit and total quantity given below. Quantity is based on 75%

bins full on average and determined in m3. These waste streams are collected in plastic wheelie bins of

varying size.

General Process Waste

Year Description No of bins Destination 2011 Grit &

Screenings 20 x 660L

@100kg/bin Greenstar Ltd.,Carrignard, Six

Cross Road, Waterford.

11 x 700L @250kg/bin

193 x 1100L @400kg/bin

Total kg waste 85,500kg

It should be noted that the Wheelie Bins are not capable of being lifted if full of grit and screenings.

Therefore an assumption has been made as to the average weight capable of being lifted for each bin size.

2.2 Agency Monitoring and Enforcement

A site visit and audit was carried out by the Agency on November 24th 2011. The Council awaits the report

on the audit and will address the audit and any issues/recommendations in the 2012 AER for Tramore.

2.3 Energy and Water Consumption

2.3.1 Energy Consumption

Energy Consumption Summary

Energy Supply kWhr

Heavy fuel oil N/A

Light fuel oil N/A

Natural Gas N/A

Electricity 617,010 kWhrs

Coal, etc. N/A

2.3.2 Water Consumption

Water Consumption Summary

Water Source Volume (m3)

On-site ground water nil

On-site surface water nil

Municipal supply 6,343 m³

The electricity and water usage form 2011 is almost identical to 2010.

7

2.4 Environmental Incidents and Complaints

Section 6.1 of the licence states that:

“The licensee, shall notify the Agency by both telephone and facsimile, to the Agency‟s headquarters in

Wexford, or to such other Agency office as may be specified by the Agency, as soon as practicable after

the occurrence of any incident (as defined in this licence). The licensee shall include as part of the

notification, date and time of the incident, summary details of the occurrence, and where available, the

steps taken to minimise any discharges.”

“The following shall constitute an incident for the purposes of this licence:

(i) any discharge that does not comply with the requirements of this licence;

No such incidents occurred in 2011. The incidents relating to the overflow from the network to the

Backstrand in 2010 (7 No. complaints via EPA) were resolved by the construction of a wetland to

intercept and treat any future emergency overflows from the network at this location.

(ii) any incident with the potential for environmental contamination of surface water or groundwater, or

posing an environmental threat to land, or requiring an emergency response by the Relevant

Water Services Authority.”

No incidents of this type occurred during 2011.

Section 6.6 of the licence states that:

“The licensee shall record all complaints of an environmental nature related to the discharge(s) to waters

from the waste water works in accordance with the national environmental complaints procedure. Each

such record shall give details of the date and time of the complaint, the name of the complainant (if

provided), and the nature of the complaint. A record shall also be kept of the response made in the case of

each complaint.”

No complaints regarding the discharges from the WWTP were received in 2011 nor were there any

complaints for noise and/or odour to the Operator of the WWTP in the period covered by this report.

2.5 PRTR Report for 2011

A Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Report has been prepared for 2011. It was prepared in

conformance with the Agency’s guidelines for the PRTR. The influent monitoring data and waste arisings

data were utilised to complete the PRTR calculation tool. Priority and hazardous substances have been

estimated by the use of this PRTR calculation tool. The report was uploaded through the EPA’s on-line

system on 1st March 2012. The relevant pages from the uploaded PRTR are included in Appendix B of this

report.

There was a total of 1,538,816³ of treated effluent discharged from the WWTP in 2011 with fugitive

emissions of 7,951m³ as a result of stormwater overflows from the plant. There were no releases to sewers

or other wastewater networks nor any releases to lands from the WWTP. There was no on-site treatment of

sludges. Thickened sludges were transported off-site to the Dungarvan WWTP for further processing.

There were also off-site transfers of grit and screenings as outlined in Section 2.1.3 of this report.

8

2.6 PRTR Proposals for 2012

Since the PRTR report for 2011 was carried out using the EPA’s calculation tool and PRTR template, there

is no requirement for the Council to submit proposals for 2012

2.7 Improvement Programme Report

Report on progress made and proposals being developed to meet the improvement programme

requirements namely those set out in Schedule C of the licence. This summary report shall provide detail

on all measures proposed and undertaken under Water Services Investment Programme for

agglomeration, including progress reports on infrastructural works and a statement of compliance with

timeframes set out in this licence.

Schedule C of the licence - C.2 Improvement Programme for Secondary Discharge

Specified Improvement:

Implement a programme of works to ensure SW2 only discharges in the event of an emergency, that is,

during pump failure and/or power failure at the associated pumping station. Refer to Condition 5.6.

Completion date – 31st

December 2010.

Report: SW2 does not currently discharge, and the necessary stormwater and emergency overflow

discharge is via an unlicensed discharge. See section 3.4 below for further description of existing

operation. The unlicensed discharge has operated on a few occasions during the year, induced by heavy

rainfall and or pump blockages. We are currently upgrading the said unlicensed overflow, by the installation

of screens on same. The whole issue of overflows is addressed in a scheme report, namely Tramore

Sewerage Stage 2, where the purpose of the scheme is to reduce overflows to the Bathing area in

Tramore, in compliance with the bathing water directive. This scheme is currently at the Planning Stage of

the Water Services Investment Programme

Any other overflows notified in writing by the Agency. Completion date – as agreed.

The emergency overflow from the Promenade Pump Station as described above needs to be notified to the

Agency with details of its operation. This will be done in early 2012. The overflow does not go directly to the

Backstrand area anymore. There is now a Constructed Wetland in place to contain and treat any overflows

prior to discharge to the Backstrand.

Schedule C of the licence - C.3 Improvement Programme for Storm Water Overflows

Specified Improvement:

Upgrading of sewer network, as required to ensure Storm Water Overflows comply with the criteria outlined

in the DoEHLG ‘Procedures and Criteria in relation to Storm Water Overflows, 1995‟. Refer to Condition

4.13. Completion date – 1st

November 2012.

Report: Due to the storm water overflows at SW3 and SW4 being directly to the beach, they do not comply

with the bathing water requirement of the criteria for storm water overflows, due to their spill frequency.

Despite non compliance with criteria, the bathing water quality for Tramore bay in 2011 has complied with

the bathing water directive and actually meets the Blue Flag standard. Tramore Sewerage Scheme Stage 2

is set to address spill frequency and compliance within the network of all storm overflows. This scheme is

at planning stage on the WSIP 2010-2012. The works envisaged in the scheme amount to circa €11.0m

and cannot be provided by Waterford County Council funding alone. The provision of such a scheme is

dependent on WSIP funding. SW5 by calculation in section 3.3 below is compliant as it would only require

9

to comply with formula A criteria. Given the extent of works to the sewerage system for full compliance, the

date of Nov 2011 is not achievable.

Any other overflows notified in writing by the Agency. Completion date – as agreed.

The emergency overflow from the Promenade Pump Station as described above needs to be notified to the

Agency with details of its operation. This will be done in early 2012. The overflow does not go directly to the

Backstrand area anymore. There is now a Constructed Wetland in place to contain and treat any overflows

prior to discharge to the Backstrand.

10

3.1 Summary Report on Monthly Influent Monitoring

4.15 The licensee shall carry out monthly monitoring of the influent stream to the waste water treatment

plant for cBOD, COD, Suspended Solids, Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in order to measure the

mass loadings and removal efficiencies within the treatment plant.

The following tables give the monitoring results for influent, the mass loadings for influent, effluent and the

removal efficiencies for the process.

Table 1 Analysis Results for Screened Influent 2011

Average for Month

COD mg/l O2

BOD mg/l O2

SS mg/l

NH3-N mg/l

TN mg/l

TP mg/l

Total Inflow m³

Jan 212.80 139.00 131.50 12.40 28.80 1.82 186,548

Feb 179.30 121.20 129.50 9.90 30.60 1.42 180,987

Mar 306.70 168.20 209.20 20.60 38.90 3.92 115,524

April 383.40 215.40 207.90 24.50 42.00 4.94 102,597

May 368.40 175.80 235.90 21.90 41.40 3.33 116,123

June 321.90 195.60 203.40 21.60 39.80 5.30 115,788

July 335.60 195.00 254.40 25.00 47.00 3.68 117,121

Aug 408.60 269.50 268.30 31.20 50.80 5.96 96,681

Sept 374.10 249.70 209.10 27.80 41.10 6.35 104,864

Oct 415.60 245.00 196.00 31.40 50.80 7.84 119,822

Nov 369.10 195.80 202.30 28.00 48.00 2.90 137,536

Dec 495.70 204.00 248.70 32.30 44.20 5.17 126,909

Table 2 Mass Loadings Tramore Influent 2011

Month

COD Kg

BOD Kg

SS kg

NH3-N Kg

TN Kg

TP kg

Jan 39,697 25,930 24,531 2,313 5,373 340

Feb 32,451 21,936 23,438 1,792 5,538 257

Mar 35,431 19,431 24,168 2,380 4,494 453

April 39,336 22,099 21,330 2,514 4,309 507

May 42,780 20,414 27,393 2,543 4,807 387

June 37,272 22,648 23,551 2,501 4,608 614

July 39,306 22,839 29,796 2,928 5,505 431

Aug 39,504 26,056 25,940 3,016 4,911 576

Sept 39,230 26,185 21,927 2,915 4,310 666

Oct 49,798 29,356 23,485 3,762 6,087 939

Nov 50,765 26,930 27,824 3,851 6,602 399

Dec 62,909 25,889 31,562 4,099 5,609 656

Totals 508,478 289,713 304,944 34,615 62,154 6,224

3. Licence-Specific Reports

11

Table 3 Tramore Treated Effluent Mass Loadings 2011

Month COD Kg

BOD Kg

SS kg

NH3-N Kg

TN Kg

TP kg

Jan 3,473 831 661 32 1,831 181

Feb 2,015 513 330 7 1,402 115

Mar 2,098 372 520 8 2,117 179

April 2,602 416 1,030 47 1,686 183

May 2,676 533 1,314 13 1,794 223

June 4,759 627 987 40 2,832 308

July 3,526 649 986 200 1,276 193

Aug 3,654 1,153 956 188 2,325 407

Sept 2,308 405 740 14 2,273 327

Oct 3,376 413 607 8 2,635 305

Nov 2,379 280 583 7 1,757 200

Dec 3,432 550 809 12 2,732 227

Totals 36,298 6,742 9,523 576 24,659 2,847

Table 4 Tramore Treatment Efficiencies 2011 (Influent vs. Effluent)

Month COD BOD SS NH3-N TN TP

Jan 91.25 96.80 97.31 98.60 65.92 46.63

Feb 93.79 97.66 98.59 99.61 74.69 55.09

Mar 94.08 98.08 97.85 99.65 52.89 60.52

April 93.39 98.12 95.17 98.11 60.87 63.86

May 93.75 97.39 95.20 99.51 62.69 42.44

June 87.23 97.23 95.81 98.39 38.54 49.87

July 91.03 97.16 96.69 93.18 76.82 55.33

Aug 90.75 95.58 96.31 93.77 52.67 29.36

Sept 94.12 98.45 96.63 99.52 47.27 50.95

Oct 93.22 98.59 97.41 99.79 56.71 67.55

Nov 95.31 98.96 97.90 99.81 73.39 49.82

Dec 94.54 97.87 97.44 99.71 51.30 65.46

Average 92.70 97.66 96.86 98.31 59.48 53.07

As can be seen from Table 2, the average removal efficiency for COD is 92.70%, for BOD is 97.66% and

for Suspended Solids is 96.86%. These rates of removal show that the Tramore WWTP is performing well

and treating the effluent load effectively. The treatment efficiencies are also higher than in 2010.

The removal efficiency for Ammonia (as N) is 98.31%, for Total Nitrogen is 59.48% and for Total

Phosphorous is 59.41%. The Ammonia removal efficiency is high, as would be expected for a standard

secondary treatment plant. The efficiencies s for Nitrogen and Phosphorous removal indicate that while the

plant is operating at its current capacity that Nitrogen and Phosphorous removal is adequate to meet the

requirements of this licence. It should be noted that there is no ELV for Total P in this licence. These

efficiencies may not be sufficient if the plant has to treat a load close to the full 25,000 p.e. capacity or if

there is a revision of the ELVs for the WWTP. A review of the treatment processes may be necessary at

that time.

12

3.2 Treatment Capacity Report for the WWTP

The Tramore WWTP has a design capacity of 20,000 population equivalent. This translates to a hydraulic

capacity of 12,000m³ (3 DWF) and 1,200kgs of BOD. The current population equivalent as calculated by

the PRTR tool is 13,181. This equates to 65.9% of the design capacity. The average daily flow into the

WWTP was 4,166m³. This equates to 34.7% of the design capacity. The average daily BOD load in the

influent to the WWTP was 794kg/day. This equates to 66.1% of the design capacity.

As can be seen from the foregoing, there is currently sufficient capacity left in the plant to ensure that there

is no environmental risk posed to the receiving waters with the current loading on the plant. It is extremely

unlikely that the loading will increase to the point of being a risk in the next three years.

3.3 Data Collection and Reporting Requirements under the Urban

Wastewater Treatment Directive

Data collection for Urban Waste Water Treatment returns for Tramore has been prepared for uploading via

the EDEN on-line system but cannot be uploaded until the issue with converting the information to XML

format is resolved with the LGCSB. It is anticipated that this will be resolved by the end of March 2012. The

on-line WWTP database for Waterford has been updated with respect to WWTP details and complaints for

all WWTPs including Tramore. This was completed in advance of the closing date of 26th February 2012.

3.4 Storm Water Overflow Identification and Inspection Report

4.12.1 The licensee shall, prior to the date for submission of the second AER (required under Condition

6.10), carry out an investigation for the identification and assessment of storm water overflows. A report on

the storm water overflows shall be submitted to the Agency as part of the second AER. The assessment

shall include a determination of compliance with the criteria for storm water overflows, as set out in the

DoEHLG „Procedures and Criteria in Relation to Storm Water Overflows‟, 1995 and any other guidance as

may be specified by the Agency.

Report:

The required report on Storm Water Overflows was provided in the 2010 AER as required under this

licence condition. In summary, it stated that SW2 is not yet operational and may not be required, SW3 and

SW4 are not compliant with the DoEHLG’s guidance document but are due to be upgraded as part of the

Tramore Sewerage Scheme Stage 2, which is currently in the planning stage under the current Water

Services Investment Programme, and SW5 which is compliant with the DoEHLG’s guidance document.

There is currently an unlicensed overflow from the Promenade pump station which discharged via a series

of open drains to the Backstrand. A Constructed Wetland was constructed by Waterford County Council in

2011 to intercept this overflow and to provide treatment of same. This overflow is intended to replace SW2

because it has a lower impact on the receiving waters than SW2 would have, even though SW2 would

have a lower overflow threshold under the DoEHLG’s guidelines. It should be noted that the Promenade

Pump Station can easily comply with the Formula A flows calculated under the aforementioned guidelines.

The Council will officially notify the Agency with respect to the unlicensed Storm Water Overflow in early

2012 and provide further details with respect to that overflow point.

The current project programme for the next phase of the Tramore Sewerage Scheme involves approval of

the Preliminary Report for the Stage 2 works, including the Storm Overflow upgrades. The Preliminary

Report is due to be issued to the DoECLG for approval in April 2012 and we will then await approval of this

13

before progressing to Detailed Design & Construction Stage. It is anticipated that the works for this upgrade

would commence in mid-2014, assuming timely DoECLG approvals and availability of funding.

3.5 Network Integrity Assessment Summary Report

The 2010 AER did not provide an assessment of the integrity of the existing wastewater works (WWTP and

Network), though the licence required it as part of the second AER. This was not carried out in 2011 either

and will now be carried out in 2012 and reported on in the AER for that year. The assessment will largely

relate to the network since the 20,000 p.e. WWTP is new and only became operational in 2008. There are

no issues with leaks at the WWTP nor are there infiltration problems. The sewer network was upgraded in

2003-2007 but there is a necessity to assess the integrity of the system to ensure maximum efficiency of

pump stations and separation of foul and surface water flows, as outlined in Sections 2.7 and 3.4

previously. Also, some upgrade works are identified in the Preliminary Report for the Tramore Sewerage

Scheme Stage 2 project.

3.6 Development/Infrastructural Works Summary (completed for

previous year or prepared for current year)

5.1 The licensee shall, as a part of the second AER (required under Condition 6.12), prepare and submit to

the Agency a programme of infrastructural improvements to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of

the waste water works in order to:

a) achieve improvements in the quality of all discharges from the works; The WWTP is new,

commissioned in Feb 2008. There are no proposals for improvement as it is working within its

design requirements and showing compliance with the licence in most parameters, excepting TON.

b) meet the emission limit values specified in Schedule A: Discharges, of this licence; Schedule A1

relates to the treatment plant, and compliance levels are shown in section 2.1.1.

c) give effect to Regulation 2 of the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No.

684 of 2007); Section 2 of S.I.684 is a statement of the purpose of the said regulations and is quite

general. It is the Council’s opinion that there are no works currently required to give effect to this

regulation.

d) reduce Total Nitrogen loadings in the discharge to the maximum practicable extent: The nitrogen

removal from the existing plant is more effective than expected from a plant of its type. The ability of

the plant to maintain the licence ELV of TON is not expected to continue when the load on the plant

begins to approach the design capacity of the WWTP (20,000 p.e.). Compliance has been achieved

in 2011 as a result of the plant’s current operating parameters and loading. It is recommended that

further monitoring of loading and TON concentration in the discharge be carried out and, if and

when necessary, a programme of works can be prepared to upgrade the WWTP. It is anticipated

that the loading from the agglomeration will not alter significantly in the short-term as residential

development in the town has virtually stopped. Compliance has been achieved in 2011 for over 90%

of the time.

e) meet the obligations of Condition 1.7. This refers to treatment capacity at the WWTP and this is

currently within capacity on the principal determinant of biological loading. The Plant has a design

capacity of 20,000p.e. equivalent to 1,200kg of BOD per day for the year 2018. The current

average daily loading to the plant, as per tables on the mass loadings section 3.1 of this report is

794 kg/day of BOD. The plant is operating at 66.1% of its design capacity.

14

There were no other development/infrastructural works carried out in the Tramore Agglomeration in 2011.

The installation of the Constructed Wetland at the unlicensed SWO was the only improvement work carried

out in 2011.

3.7 Summary Report on Ambient Water Quality in Tramore Bay.

Condition 4.17 of the Licence requires a summary report on the ambient water quality in Tramore Bay. The

discharge from Tramore WWTP is to Tramore Bay, which has a designated beach under the Bathing Water

Directive. Table below shows the results of Bathing Water Quality monitoring in 2011. The monitoring was

carried out on the Council’s behalf by the HSE South. The water quality is compliant with the Bathing Water

Directive guide values and maintained its Blue Flag status.

Tramore Strand

Bathing Water Quality Results 2011

Sampling Location Centre of Bathing Area

Total Faecal Faecal

Coliforms Coliforms Streptococci

Date Time No./ 100

ml No./ 100 ml No./ 100 ml

24-May-11 12.35 3 3 1

21-Jun-11 11.30 9 9 2

12-Jul-11 12.40 1 1 2

08-Aug-11 11.45 6 6 0

05-Sep-11 10.25 3 3 0

The foregoing would suggest that the discharges from the agglomeration are not impacting on the Bathing

Water Quality in Tramore.

3.8 EPA Assessment of 2010 AER

With respect to the Agency’s Assessment of the 2010 AER for Tramore, the recommended actions are

dealt with in Appendix C of this report.

15

4.1 Annual Statement

7.2.1 The licensee shall as part of the AER provide an annual statement as to the measures taken or

adopted in relation to the prevention of environmental damage, and the financial provisions in place in

relation to the underwriting of costs for remedial actions following anticipated events (including closure) or

accidents/incidents, as may be associated with discharges or overflows from the waste water works.

The statement of measures and assessment of risks associated with Dungarvan treatment plant is

contained in the ELRA attached, as far as it is possible to ascertain these risks. On the issue of

underwriting costs: Waterford Co. Council has a long term contract in place for the operation of the waste

water treatment plant and is committed to financing same. Local authorities are state bodies and

dependant on Government for funding. Financial provisions for remedial works, if required, would come

from current annual revenue funds, as far as these would be available.

4.2 Environmental Liabilities Risk Assessment

7.2.2 The licensee shall arrange for the completion, by an independent and appropriately qualified

consultant, of a comprehensive and fully costed Environmental Liabilities Risk Assessment (ELRA) to

address the liabilities from present or planned discharges. A report on this assessment shall be submitted

to the Agency for agreement as part of the second AER (required under Condition 6.12). The ELRA shall

be reviewed as necessary to reflect any significant change to the volume or character of effluent

discharged, and in any case every three years following initial agreement (the results of the review shall be

notified as part of the AER).

The 2010 AER contained a copy of the ELRA for the Tramore Agglomeration. There have been no

significant changes to the volume or character of effluent discharged since that assessment was prepared,

nor are there any expected changes to the effluent discharged. Thus, there has been no requirement to

provide a new ELRA for the 2011 AER. The next revision of the ELRA will be due in 2013 and reported on

in the 2013 AER, unless otherwise recommended by the Agency.

4. Environmental Liabilities

16

APPENDIX A

PRIORITY & DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES

MONITORING RESULTS

19

APPENDIX B

POLLUTANT RELEASE & TRANSFER REGISTER

20

AER Returns Workbook Version 1.1.13

REFERENCE YEAR 2011

1. FACILITY IDENTIFICATION Parent Company Name Waterford County Council

Facility Name Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant

PRTR Identification Number D0015

Licence Number D0015-01

Waste or IPPC Classes of Activity No. class_name

30.4 General

Address 1 Civic Offices

Address 2 Dungarvan

Address 3 County Waterford

Address 4

Waterford

Country Ireland

Coordinates of Location -7.13417 52.1655

River Basin District IESE

NACE Code 3700

Main Economic Activity Sewerage

AER Returns Contact Name Colum Flynn

AER Returns Contact Email Address [email protected]

AER Returns Contact Position Executive Engineer

AER Returns Contact Telephone Number 058-20807

AER Returns Contact Mobile Phone Number 087-2388044

AER Returns Contact Fax Number 058-20883

Production Volume 0.0

Production Volume Units

Number of Installations 0

Number of Operating Hours in Year 0

21

Number of Employees 0

User Feedback/Comments

Web Address

2. PRTR CLASS ACTIVITIES

Activity Number Activity Name

5(f) Urban waste-water treatment plants

3. SOLVENTS REGULATIONS (S.I. No. 543 of 2002) Is it applicable? No

Have you been granted an exemption ?

If applicable which activity class applies (as per Schedule 2 of the regulations) ?

Is the reduction scheme compliance route being used ?

22

4.1 RELEASES TO AIR Link to previous years emissions data

| PRTR# : D0015 | Facility Name : Tramore Waste Water Treatment Plant | Filename : D0015_2011 rev 0.xls | Return Year : 2011 |

26/03/2012 15:51

SECTION A : SECTOR SPECIFIC PRTR POLLUTANTS

RELEASES TO AIR Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT METHOD QUANTITY

Method Used

No. Annex II Name

M/C/E

Method Code

Designation or Description Emission Point 1

T (Total) KG/Year

A (Accidental) KG/Year

F (Fugitive) KG/Year

03 Carbon dioxide (CO2) E ESTIMATE 0.0 210755.8 0.0 210755.8

01 Methane (CH4) E ESTIMATE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

02 Carbon monoxide (CO) E ESTIMATE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

05 Nitrous oxide (N2O) E ESTIMATE 0.0 1.4 0.0 1.4

07 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) E ESTIMATE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

08 Nitrogen oxides (NOx/NO2) E ESTIMATE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

11 Sulphur oxides (SOx/SO2) E ESTIMATE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

SECTION B : REMAINING PRTR POLLUTANTS RELEASES TO AIR Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT METHOD

QUANTITY

Method Used

No. Annex II Name

M/C/E Method Code Designation or Description Emission Point 1

T (Total) KG/Year



0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

SECTION C : REMAINING POLLUTANT EMISSIONS (As required in your Licence) RELEASES TO AIR Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT METHOD

QUANTITY

Method Used

Pollutant No. Name

M/C/E Method Code Designation or Description Emission Point 1

T (Total) KG/Year



0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

23

4.2 RELEASES TO WATERS Link to previous years emissions data


26/03/2012 15:51

SECTION A : SECTOR SPECIFIC PRTR POLLUTANTS

Data on ambient monitoring of storm/surface water or groundwater, conducted as part of your licence requirements, should NOT be submitted under AER / PRTR Reporting as this only concerns Releases from your facility

RELEASES TO WATERS Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT QUANTITY

M/C/E Method Used

No. Annex II Name

Method Code Designation or Description Emission Point 1 T (Total) KG/Year



44 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane(HCH) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.005 0.005 0.0 0.0

34 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.077 0.077 0.0 0.0

25 Alachlor E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.016 0.016 0.0 0.0

61 Anthracene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.016 0.016 0.0 0.0

17 Arsenic and compounds (as As) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 1.537 1.545 0.008 0.0

27 Atrazine E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.099 0.099 0.0 0.0

91 Benzo(g,h,i)perylene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.006 0.006 0.0 0.0

18 Cadmium and compounds (as Cd) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.083 0.083 0.0 0.0

28 Chlordane E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.003 0.003 0.0 0.0

30 Chlorfenvinphos E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.002 0.002 0.0 0.0

79 Chlorides (as Cl) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 382902.9 384806.7 1903.8 0.0

31 Chloro-alkanes, C10-C13 E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.323 0.325 0.002 0.0

19 Chromium and compounds (as Cr) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.567 0.57 0.003 0.0

20 Copper and compounds (as Cu) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 2.728 2.742 0.014 0.0

82 Cyanides (as total CN) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 2.689 2.702 0.013 0.0

33 DDT E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.017 0.017 0.0 0.0

70 Di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 1.928 1.938 0.01 0.0

36 Dieldrin E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.32 0.322 0.002 0.0

37 Diuron E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.145 0.146 0.001 0.0

38 Endosulphan E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.01 0.01 0.0 0.0

65 Ethyl benzene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.123 0.124 0.001 0.0

88 Fluoranthene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.021 0.021 0.0 0.0

24

83 Fluorides (as total F) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 538.22 540.9 2.68 0.0

40 Halogenated organic compounds (as AOX) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 3.673 3.691 0.018 0.0

42 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.002 0.002 0.0 0.0

43 Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.002 0.002 0.0 0.0

89 Isodrin E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.09 0.09 0.0 0.0

23 Lead and compounds (as Pb) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 1.531 1.539 0.008 0.0

45 Lindane E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.004 0.004 0.0 0.0

21 Mercury and compounds (as Hg) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.101 0.102 0.001 0.0

68 Naphthalene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.705 0.709 0.004 0.0

22 Nickel and compounds (as Ni) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 11.931 11.99 0.059 0.0

64 Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP/NPEs) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.102 0.103 0.001 0.0

69 Organotin compounds (as total Sn) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.015 0.015 0.0 0.0

48 Pentachlorobenzene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.002 0.002 0.0 0.0

71 Phenols (as total C) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 19.011 19.106 0.095 0.0

50 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.013 0.013 0.0 0.0

72 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 1.242 1.248 0.006 0.0

52 Tetrachloroethylene (PER) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.689 0.692 0.003 0.0

73 Toluene M ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.18 0.181 0.001 0.0

12 Total nitrogen E EN ISO 11905-1:1998 23087.83 23189.1 101.27 0.0

76 Total organic carbon (TOC) (as total C or COD/3) M ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 52991.6 53255.1 263.5 0.0

13 Total phosphorus E ALT ISO 6838:2004 3098.43 3125.73 27.3 0.0

57 Trichloroethylene E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.117 0.118 0.001 0.0

77 Trifluralin E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.003 0.003 0.0 0.0

75 Triphenyltin and compounds E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.003 0.003 0.0 0.0

60 Vinyl chloride E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.077 0.077 0.0 0.0

78 Xylenes E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 0.431 0.433 0.002 0.0

24 Zinc and compounds (as Zn) E ESTIMATE EPA WWTP Tool V4.0 54.763 55.035 0.272 0.0

25

SECTION B : REMAINING PRTR POLLUTANTS


POLLUTANT QUANTITY

M/C/E Method Used

No. Annex II Name Method Code Designation or Description Emission Point 1

T (Total) KG/Year



0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

SECTION C : REMAINING POLLUTANT EMISSIONS (as required in your Licence)


POLLUTANT QUANTITY

M/C/E Method Used

Pollutant No. Name

Method Code Designation or Description Emission Point 1

T (Total) KG/Year



238 Ammonia (as N) M OTH MEWAM 1981 556.34 740.52 0.0 184.18

303 BOD M OTH APHA 2005:5210:B 6497.27 8289.57 0.0 1792.3

306 COD M OTH APHA 2005:5220:C 35323.33 39192.1 0.0 3868.77

362 Kjeldahl Nitrogen M OTH 1135.17 1445.16 0.0 309.99

327 Nitrate (as N) M OTH 23087.83 23397.82 0.0 309.99

372 Nitrite (as N) M OTH 245.04 248.01 0.0 2.97

332 Ortho-phosphate (as PO4) M EN ISO 6878:2004 3098.43 3124.79 0.0 26.36

240 Suspended Solids M OTH APHA 2005:2450:B

26

4.3 RELEASES TO WASTEWATER OR SEWER Link to previous years emissions data


26/03/2012 15:51

8 8 16 16 6 6 6 6 SECTION A : PRTR POLLUTANTS

OFFSITE TRANSFER OF POLLUTANTS DESTINED FOR WASTE-WATER TREATMENT OR SEWER Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT METHOD

QUANTITY

Method Used

No. Annex II Name

M/C/E

Method Code


T (Total) KG/Year



0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

SECTION B : REMAINING POLLUTANT EMISSIONS (as required in your Licence)

OFFSITE TRANSFER OF POLLUTANTS DESTINED FOR WASTE-WATER TREATMENT OR SEWER Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs

POLLUTANT METHOD

QUANTITY

Method Used

Pollutant No. Name

M/C/E

Method Code


T (Total) KG/Year



0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

27

4.4 RELEASES TO LAND

Link to previous years emissions data


26/03/2012 15:51

8 8 16 16 6 6 6 6

SECTION A : PRTR POLLUTANTS

RELEASES TO LAND Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs


Method Used

No. Annex II Name

M/C/E Method Code


T (Total) KG/Year


0.0 0.0 0.0

SECTION B : REMAINING POLLUTANT EMISSIONS (as required in your Licence)

RELEASES TO LAND Please enter all quantities in this section in KGs


Method Used

Pollutant No. Name

M/C/E Method Code


T (Total) KG/Year


0.0 0.0 0.0

28

5. ONSITE TREATMENT & OFFSITE TRANSFERS OF WASTE


26/03/2012 15:51

5 6

Please enter all quantities on this sheet in Tonnes

5

Quantity (Tonnes

per Year) Method Used

Haz Waste : Name and Licence/Permit No

of Next Destination Facility

Non Haz Waste: Name and

Licence/Permit No of Recover/Disposer

Haz Waste : Address of Next Destination Facility

Non Haz Waste: Address of Recover/Disposer

Transfer Destination

European Waste Code Hazardous

Quantity T /Year

Description of Waste

Waste Treatment Operation

M/C/E

Method Used

Location of

Treatment Name and Licence / Permi t No. of R ecoverer / Disposer / Br oker Address of R ecover er / Disposer / Broker

Within the Country 19 08 05 No 150.356

sludges from treatment of urban waste water R10 M Weighed

Offsite in Ireland

Dungarvan Wastewater Treatment Plant,D017-01

Ballinacourty,Dungarvan,Co. Waterford,.,Ireland

Within the Country 19 08 01 No 85.5 screenings D5 C

Volume Calculation

Offsite in Ireland

Greenstar Ltd.,WCP-KK-054(A)-08

Carriganard,Six Cross Roads,Waterford,.,Ireland

29

APPENDIX C

RESPONSES TO THE AGENCY’S ASSESSMENT

OF THE 2010 AER

30

The Agency provided an assessment of the 2010 Tramore Annual Environmental Report (AER) in which

they raised certain issues and requested actions in particular instances. This Appendix of the 2011 AER

provides replies to that assessment. Each assessment/action is dealt with individually below:

Metals and Organic Compounds Not Reported in 2010:

As outlined in the 2010 AER, the sample for metal and organic compound analysis were lost in transit

between the laboratory company who were carrying out the overall analysis and their contract laboratory in

the UK who were carrying out part of the analysis. No analysis was completed on the samples and 2010

had passed before the loss of sample was known.

The Metals and Organic Compounds were sampled again in 2011 and the results are reported on in this

AER in Section 2.1.1 and Appendix A.

Complete Summary of Non-Compliant Results for Discharge:

The ELRA submitted with the 2010 AER highlighted 12 non-compliances with the TON ELV and 2 non-

compliances with the Ammonia ELV. The AER itself only highlighted a single non-compliance with respect

to TON. The operator at the WWTP takes daily samples of the treated effluent being discharged and

carries out tests for the various parameters at regular intervals. In the case of TON and Ammonia, analysis

is carried out approximately once a week. In 2010, there were 54 samples analysed for TON and Ammonia

and 12 of these were in excess of the TON ELV of 20mg/l and 2 samples were in excess of the Ammonia

ELV of 5mg/l.

The Licence only requires 12 samples a year to be taken and analysed. These samples are taken on a pre-

determined date which is agreed with the operator and not varied from. Only one of the 12 samples for

reporting to the Agency was in excess of the 20mg/l ELV for TON and all Ammonia results within the 12

samples were fully compliant. The other 42 samples taken were at the operator’s own discretion, but

generally once a week. They do not form any part of the licence requirement for reporting of results to the

Agency.

The reason for the high TON results is the fact that when Total Nitrogen loads in the influent are high, the

plant is not always capable of adequate denitrification of the effluent. This is due to the fact that the plant

was not designed with nutrient removal in mind. However, Nitrogen removal efficiency improved in 2011

from 38.5% to 59.5%. The Council proposes to further monitor the TON levels in the discharge in 2012 to

see if improvement works may be necessary. This will be reported on in the 2012 AER.

Summary of Nutrient Removal Efficiencies for P & N not reported in 2010:

A summary table of Nutrient Removal Efficiencies for both Total Phosphorous and Total Nitrogen were

reported in Section 3.1 of the 2010 AER. These results showed that the WWTP was reducing Total P by an

average of 49.1% and Total N by 38.5%. There was no omission in the 2010 AER for this information.

31

Provide an Assessment of the Ambient Water Quality against the relevant EQS Standard.

The requirement to provide ambient monitoring data for the Tramore Licence was for the bathing area at

the Main Strand. The Bathing Water Regulations are the relevant EQS standard for the receiving waters

from the Tramore Agglomeration. The Bathing Water Quality results were included in the 2010 AER and

have been reproduced again below along with a comment with respect to compliance with the relevant

EQS standard (Bathing Water Quality).

Tramore Main Strand

Bathing Water Quality Results 2010

Sampling Location Total Faecal Faecal

Centre of Bathing Area Coliforms Coliforms Streptococci

Date Time No./ 100

ml No./ 100 ml No./ 100 ml

18-May-10 11.35 1 1 1

08-Jun-10 12.20 5 1 3

17-Jun-10 9.15 14 8 3

24-Jun-10 9.50 1 0 0

08-Jul-10 13.05 1 0 0

22-Jul-10 11.45 3 3 0

05-Aug-10 11.55 56 56 41

12-Aug-10 14.05 4 4 8

24-Aug-10 13.30 13 136 2

Bathing water quality was in compliance with National and European requirements and also met the Blue

Flag standard. This was reported in the 2010 AER and was therefore not omitted.

Complete Summary of the Complaints Provided in the 2010 AER:

There were no complaints noted in the 2010 AER. However, one compliant was notified by the Council to

the Agency on 22nd

September 2010 with respect to an overflow to the Backstrand. While the EPA received

a total of seven complaints (some directly from the public) with regard to the Tramore agglomeration and

forwarded these to the Council, owing to a misinterpretation of the licence requirements, these were not

reported in the 2010 AER as complaints. The complaints mostly related to the overflow from an unlicensed

SWO to the Backstrand at Tramore. This overflow was notified to the Agency as an incident in 2010 and

noted in the AER. The issue was resolved by installing a constructed wetland to intercept and provide

some treatment to the overflow from this unlicensed SWO. A single compliant related to an alleged

overflow at the pier and tinkering of effluent. This complaint was investigated but nothing was found. A

further complaint forwarded by the Agency in November 2010 was found not to involve sewage.

Following the resolution of the issue as outlined above, there were no complaints in the remainder of 2010

and all of 2011.

32

Provide an Estimate of the Parametric Improvement in the Discharge with respect to the recommendations of the SWO Identification & Assessment Report:

The SWO Identification and Assessment Report indicated that there would be a need to upgrade the SW3

and SW4 as well as notify the Agency with respect to the unlicensed SWO. These upgrade works are to be

provided under the WSIP-funded Tramore Sewerage Scheme Stage 2 project. The intention is to meet the

requirements of the DoEHLG’s Guidance Document on SWOs. There are no parametric improvements that

can be estimated for such an upgrade.

Provide an Estimate of the Water Quality Improvement with respect to the recommendations of the SWO Identification & Assessment Report:

The Water Quality Improvement associated with the necessary SWO upgrades will ensure that the

requirements of the Bathing Water Directive are met. While there are no parametric improvements that can

be estimated, the fact that the SWOs will comply with the DoEHLG’s guidance document on Storm Water

Overflows means that Bathing Water Quality will be enhanced.

Provide an Assessment of the Existing WWTP Performance with respect to the Receiving Water Body Designation:

The receiving water body for the discharge from the Tramore WWTP is designated as a Bathing Water

area (Tramore Main Strand). This beach complied with the regulatory requirements for Bathing Water

Quality in 2010. The Bathing Water Monitoring Results are outlined in more detail in Section 4.5 of the

2010 AER and also in Appendix C of this report. Thus, the bathing waters at Tramore were not adversely

impacted by the discharge from the Tramore WWTP in 2010.

Provide an Assessment of the Existing WWTP Performance with respect to WPA Licensed Wastewater Discharges in the Agglomeration:

There is only 1 No. WPA Licensed Activity in Tramore. This is for the Splash World leisure centre. The

discharges would typically be of a largely domestic nature. There has been no evidence of impacts from

their discharges on the WWTP in 2010 or theretofore.

Provide an Assessment of the Integrity of the Existing Wastewater Works

The 2010 AER did not provide an assessment of the integrity of the existing wastewater works (WWTP and

Network), though the licence required it as part of the second AER. The assessment was carried out as

part of the Preliminary Report for the Tramore Sewerage Scheme Stage 2 and is being currently reviewed

prior to submission to the DoECLG. A copy of the approved assessment will be forwarded to the Agency as

soon as it is available and reported on in the 2011 AER. The assessment will largely relates to the network

since the 20,000 p.e. WWTP is new and only became operational in 2008. There are no issues with leaks

at the WWTP nor are there infiltration problems. The sewer network was upgraded in 2003-2007 but there

is a necessity to assess the integrity of the system to ensure maximum efficiency of pump stations and

separation of foul and surface water flows.

33

Provide a Network Integrity Assessment in the ELRA

This assessment could not be provided in the ELRA submitted because the integrity of the Tramore

network was not assessed as required under Condition 5.2 of the licence. The assessment will be included

in the next ELRA.

Identify the Risks Associated with Pump Stations in the ELRA

The ELRA for the 2010 AER was prepared by RPS Consulting Engineers in accordance with the Agency’s

guidelines for the preparation of this report. The Pump Stations were not specifically covered in the ELRA

but the overall risk assessment scores would not be significantly changed. The next ELRA will fully cover

all aspects of the agglomeration.

Include Operations & Maintenance Procedures in the ELRA

While the ELRA did not have a separate section relating to Operation & Maintenance Procedures, it does

state that there is an Operation & Maintenance Contract in place with Veolia, who operate the WWTP on

behalf of Waterford County Council. They have O&M procedures in place. Waterford County Council has

Operation and Maintenance Procedures in place in general for all our facilities.

Requirement for a Technical Amendment

There is a requirement to seek a Technical Amendment on the Licence with respect to the unlicensed

SWO at the Promenade Pump Station. It is proposed to seek this Technical Amendment in 2012 once all

details of this SWO as a replacement for SW2 are prepared.

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