Local Authority News Vol 34. No 4

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LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS Vol 34 No 4 2015

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CONTENTS VOL. 34 No 4

FEATURES ARE TRADITIONAL SCADA SYSTEMS A THING OF THE PAST? 2 Published by:

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL ANNOUNCE TWO MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS 7

GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH.

DELIVERING FOR TIPPERARY INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP 8

Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd. Tel: 046 - 9091891

ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

IRISH WATER SUPPLEMENT IRISH WATER TO INVEST OVER €21M TO UPGRADE ESSENTIAL WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN KILKENNY

IRISH WATER AND LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL COMPLETE €2.6M UPGRADE OF LOCAL WATERMAIN

€7.75M IN WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN CLIFDEN, CO. GALWAY

REGULARS DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

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CLASSIFIEDS LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Are traditional SCADA systems a thing of the past? traditional SCADA programmes, MAPS delivers a tightly integrated SCADA and PLC solution built around pre-configured and tested engineering libraries, with a built-in full suite of diagnostics and maintenance tools and integrated document management capabilities.

he pressure being placed on municipal and county utilities continues to rise as customers demand quicker problem identification and resolutions. Regulatory organisations are imposing stricter compliance requirements, while reporting requirements are becoming increasingly more demanding.

Engineers require an enhanced integrated SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system that does not require ongoing alterations, upgrades and or pose other difficulties associated with maintaining consistency and integrity. Traditional SCADA systems are no longer up to the task and a fresh contemporary approach is needed. This is where Mitsubishi Electric has stepped in to offer a solution in the form of MAPS (Mitsubishi Adroit Process Suite).

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MAPS, a windows-based SCADA system, delivers a fully integrated automation design, engineering and life cycle management solution that reduces the engineering effort and costs associated with automation projects. As Life Cycle Management starts the day you decide to engineer a new part of your manufacturing process, it is paramount to maintain a solution with increasing returns. Designed to offer a fully integrated management solution, MAPS can significantly reduce lifecycle engineering effort and costs, offering savings of up to 50%.

Designed to offer a fully integrated design, engineering and management tool, MAPS can significantly reduce automation system lifecycle engineering effort and costs, offering savings of up to 25%.

One such industry that benefits greatly from the installation of MAPS is the Water/ Waste water industry. This can be seen by the operators of a waste water treatment plant and four associated purification plants in County Wicklow. The installation of MAPS and other Mitsubishi Electric Automation products saw reductions in ongoing operating costs as well as increasing energy efficiency and optimising the transfer of data. MAPS allowed operators to accurately track and control all process stages and systems remotely.

MAPS provides a streamlined lifecycle approach for complex plants that drives down costs and boosts productivity. The program has unrivalled openness, features scalability and extensibility and delivers tight integration with Mitsubishi Electric PLC-based automation systems.

MAPS provide a structured lifecycle engineering approach in process applications using Mitsubishi Electric PLCs along with SCADA solutions from the market leader in South Africa, Adroit Technologies.

MAPS adds value throughout all the phases of the automation system project, from process design to engineering, development of the control systems, installation, commissioning, start-up and acceptance testing, all the way through to operations, maintenance, repairs and ongoing upgrades. Unlike

“We have installed a complete Mitsubishi Electric Solution comprising of MAPS alongside their range of PLCʼs and Variable Speed Drives in some of our

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Waste Water Treatment Plants. The most attractive feature for us is the remote access availability to the site conditions which minimizes call out requirements and means more can be achieved with less staff involvement required. The data collection and reporting aspect is an added bonus and frees up significant amounts of time during the annual reporting period.”- Paul Olthof, Executive Engineer, Wicklow County Council.

MAPS provides a wizard that can be used to generate PLC and SCADA projects automatically, saving a significant amount of time during the engineering and configuration phases. It also ensures a structured system design and makes routine lifecycle system maintenance much easier.

manually by engineers, however with MAPS, it can be requested and compiled automatically by the Mitsubishi Business Intelligence System, thus saving on time and effort.

Frequency inverters increase energy efficiency A high level of energy efficiency combined with maximum availability is one of the central requirements for automation components. The same applies to frequency inverters: not only do they need to provide high dynamics and speed stability but they also need to make a significant contribution towards saving energy and consequently improving plant efficiency. At the waste water treatment and purification plants in the Wicklow, Mitsubishi Electric FR-F740 frequency inverters and the IP20 FR-FSU (Floor Standing Unit) take care of the task of regulating the high-pressure pumps. The special characteristics of the FR-F740 include SensorLess Vector control (SLV), automatic motor data recognition during operation, Soft-PWM for reducing noise and additional special processes for achieving extra-ordinary energy savings.

MAPS brings reduced engineering costs

DDC Ltd, a Mitsubishi integration partner, installed a complete integrated automation solution based on the Mitsubishi Electric iQ Platform, various frequency inverters and GOT series HMIʼs. The solution was designed and visualised using the MAPS. These treatment plants in County Wicklow will enjoy the benefits encompassed in a complete Mitsubishi Electric automated solution; Automatic reporting and documentation One key feature of MAPS that greatly benefits the water/waste water industry is its ability to automatically generate EPA reports. In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keep a close eye on businesses in order to make sure that its environmental protection requirements are strictly adhered to. The method used to do this is based on a special reporting procedure results in regular timeconsuming visits to plants on a daily basis. By means of collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric, the aim is not only to improve the efficiency of data transfer but also to reduce the energy consumption at plants – in order to save on resources and reduce costs. It is important for the plant operators of Ireland to be able to supply the Irish environmental authorities with information for the EPA report in a prescribed format.

Beforehand, this information used to be collected

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Engineering, commissioning and maintenance costs can be reduced considerably by installing MAPS. This involves combining three basic tasks within the construction of the plant – the programming of the PLC, the development of the process control application and the creation and updating of documentation. The MAPS library contains preassembled modules or templates for doing this.

In the case of the water and waste water industry, the templates relate to automation objects such as pumps, valves, tanks and flow meters. The faceplate, i.e. the graphic representation, alarms, the data archiving for the object in question, tags for the process control system, including a list of all the digital and analogue inputs and outputs used in the program are included in a template in accordance with the processes displayed in the controller.

The result is an efficient PLC program, a process control application in which alarms, trends, data archiving and faceplates are generated along with a list of the inputs and outputs used. By means of collaboration with Adroit Technologies, customerspecific templates were created for use at the Irish waste water treatment and purification plant. The full commissioning of four small to medium-sized purification plants was carried out in less than a week. It is highly unlikely that the commissioning of the plants could have been carried out in such record time if conventional engineering tools had been used.

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Secure remote access Modern communication solutions, remote control concepts and flexible data management mean that the plant operators are now able to visualise the status of all the parts of the plant from a central location at any time. All the data required are archived automatically, which has meant dispensing with local data collection costs as plant values are checked remotely. Windows Security ensures that only authorised persons are able to access the system by managing users and groups.

The Mitsubishi Electric frequency inverters of series FR-F740 are specially tailored to the requirements of pumps and fans.

Adroit SCADA Intelligence Suite – the right information in the right format Besides the need to archive data, all information occurring has to be presented as clearly as possible so that the operators can react quickly to a situation if necessary. In the case of the plant in Ireland, the Adroit SCADA Intelligence Suite (ASI) looks after the preparation of data.

MAPS supports consistency and integrity right across the automation system throughout its lifecycle, from process design and engineering through installation and commissioning to maintenance and set-up.

The database is searched at regular intervals for relevant information which is then put into a specific context such as a special pump, for example. Details relating to location, availability, delivery rates, energy consumption and other user-specific data will be stored for that pump. Once configured, this information will be periodically stored in the so-called data warehouse, while taking account of the relevant context, from where it can then be quickly and clearly displayed in an Excel-based report, for example, for the purpose of studying the efficiency of the pumps by comparing delivery rates and energy consumption.

Fault detection during a service visit: alarm signaling by SMS Local GOT operator terminals from Mitsubishi Electric, which are used for the monitoring and manual control of the individual stations, bring transparency to the functional sequences and enable process-oriented dialogue between operator and plant. As all the relevant information is immediately accessible, a service engineer can display a comprehensive overview of all the system processes.

For more information Mitsubishi Electric Ireland

Besides being easy to operate and configure, the GOT control devices have powerful diagnostic functions. The reporting system ensures rapid fault detection which means that down times are reduced as a result. Alarms are displayed immediately within the control room via the centralised alarm system. In addition, if a problem arises the system sends a text message to the members of the service team via standard mobile data terminals within a very short time so that they are able to react quickly and thus save on resources and reduce down times.

Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 24 Tel.: 353 1 4198800 Web: ie3a.mitsubishielectric.com

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Donegal County Council Announce Two Major Road Projects onegal County Council has just released details of two major road projects commencing shortly. When completed the N15 Blackburn Bridge Phase 1 Scheme and the N56 Boyoughter to Kilkenny Scheme will see significant improvements to two crucial routes in east and west Donegal.

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The work in question will take place on the main Ballybofey to Donegal Town and Glenties to Dungloe roads and will last 12 months and 18 months respectively.

Both projects have been welcomed by Donegal County Councilʼs Chief Executive, Seamus Neely. He described the undertakings as “another example of the council working to improve the countyʼs road network”.

“These jobs when completed will see a major improvement for road users in Pictured at the official signing of the contracts for these schemes: both areas and ensure traffic flows freely Back l-r): Aine McHugh, Executive Engineer NRO, Eamon Canney, Senior Engineer, NRO; John McLaughlin, Director of Roads & Housing Capital, Donegal County and safely. It will also enhance the visitor Council, Damian McDermott, Senior Executive Engineer, NRO, Aidan McCaul, Wills experience while ensuring such Bros Ltd and Rodney Irwin, Executive Engineer, NRO infrastructural developments continue to Front (l-r): Patrick Duffy, Engineering Inspector, NRA, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council and Seamus Neely Chief Executive, prove Donegal is accessible and open Donegal County Council and Charles Wills, Wills Bros Ltd. for business,” he said.

The N15 Blackburn Bridge Phase 1 scheme is located approximately 2km south of Ballybofey. The existing road is narrow with no hard-shoulders or verges. The alignment of the road is very poor and potentially hazardous. Two fatal accidents have occurred on this section in the last ten years.

The proposed scheme is 2.5km in length and will involve widening and realignment to a 7.3m carriageway with hard shoulders. A new bridge structure to cross the Burn Daurnett river is included. The project will significantly improve safety for road users and access along the N15.

Works are expected to commence in July 2015. The contract duration is 12 months. There will be some, occasionally significant, disruption to traffic during construction. The scheme is expected to be opened to the public by summer 2016.

Boyoughter to Kilkenny Scheme The N56 Boyoughter to Kilkenny scheme is located approximately 12km south of Dungloe through the village of Lettermacaward and including the Gweebarra bends. This is a second section of the N56 Dungloe to Glenties Low Volume National Secondary road improvement project funded by the NRA with the N56 Cloughbolie to Boyoughter Scheme opened in 2011.

The existing road is narrow (approximately 5.5m with neither hard shoulders nor verges) and the horizontal and vertical alignments are particularly poor over the majority of this section. There are nine local road junctions, all with restricted junction visibility.

The scheme will involve widening and realignment to a 6.0m carriageway with 0.5m hard strips. The project also includes a cycle track for its full length, 1.5km of which uses bypassed sections of the old N56. The project will significantly improve the level of service for road users especially cyclists and tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way. It will enhance the general accessibility of West Donegal including the access to the Regional Airport at Carrickfinn and to the Gaeltacht areas.

Project construction will commence this month, June. The contract duration is 18 months with the scheme expected to be opened to the public by early 2017.

Will Bros Ltd. has been appointed contractor for both sets of works.

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LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

Irish Water Supplement 2015

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CONTENTS Irish Water Supplement 2015

FEATURES IRISH WATER TO INVEST OVER €21M TO UPGRADE ESSENTIAL WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN KILKENNY 3 IRISH WATER AND LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL COMPLETE €2.6M UPGRADE OF LOCAL WATERMAIN

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€2.8M IN UPGRADES TO WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN BREAFFY, CO. MAYO

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Published by: GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH.

IRISH WATER WORKING TO ADDRESS THE BUILD UP OF FATS, OILS AND GREASES (FOG) IN THE WASTEWATER NETWORK IN GALWAY

Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

€7.75M IN WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN CLIFDEN, CO. GALWAY 7

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd.

€5.6M INVESTMENT IN CLAREGALWAY AND MILLTOWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT SCHEMES

ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

IRISH WATER PRIORITISES REPLACEMENT OF 14.3KM OF WATERMAINS IN CARRAROE

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IRISH WATER INVITES LOCAL COMMUNITY TO VIEW €7M UPGRADES TO CLONAKILTY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

IRISH WATER LAUNCHES SECOND PUBLIC CONSULTATION PHASE FOR THE PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT EASTERN AND MIDLANDS REGION (WSP)

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UPGRADED DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT BOYLE CO. ROSCOMMON OFFICIALLY OPENED 11 €7.5M INVESTMENT IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT SCHEME FOR GOREY 12 IRISH WATER CONFIRMS PROPOSALS TO UPGRADE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN DONEGAL

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• Flow and Load Surveys • Water Analysis • Wastewater Analysis • Legionella Risk Assessments

Unit C3, M4 Business Park, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Phone: (01) 627 5656 Email: info@thewaterlab.ie Website: www.thewaterlab.ie

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Irish Water to invest over €21m to upgrade essential water and wastewater infrastructure in Kilkenny this project is due to commence shortly.

rish Water in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, will invest over €21 million to upgrade the water and wastewater infrastructure in Kilkenny.

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Design works are concluding on the upgrading of the Inistioge Water Supply Scheme which serves over 4,000 people and businesses in Inistioge, Thomastown and the surrounding area. It is anticipated that €5 million will be invested in this project, which will supplement the water supply sources at Thomastown and provide 17km of new watermain, reservoirs and a pumping station. Once completed the new scheme will address the current water quality and supply issues.

This level of investment is essential to ensure that people and businesses in Kilkenny can continue to enjoy a safe and secure drinking water supply and a wastewater infrastructure and network that protect the areaʼs natural environment and meet all discharge licensing standards. It is also essential that the infrastructure has capacity to meet current and future needs to support the regionʼs ongoing development.

A further €0.2 million will be invested in upgrading the Clonassy Water Treatment Plant on the Mooncoin Regional Water Supply Scheme which supplies over 9,000 customers in South Kilkenny.

Works are progressing and are expected to be completed by July 2015.

Phase 1 of the Kilkenny Watermains Rehabilitation Contract was completed in 2014 and included a total investment of €1.83 million.

The project involved the replacement of 10km of watermains at various locations throughout the county.

Over €3 million will also be invested in the replacement of watermains which will deliver significant improvements for customers in terms of water quality and supply. This will include an investment of €2 million in Phase 2B of the Kilkenny Watermains Rehabilitation Contract involving 8.9km of watermains at Newrath, Graiguenemanagh, Kilkenny City (Leggettsrath Cottages), Piltown (Belline) and Knocktopher (Cherrymount to Knocktopher). A further €1.2 million approximately will also be invested in the replacement of over 6.5km of watermains which will benefit customers in Goresbridge, Owning, Ballygriffin, Curraghmartin, Norelands and Stoneyford.

Approximately €5 million will be invested in upgrading the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme, which serves a population in excess of 27,000 people, including the associated businesses.

This project will upgrade the water treatment facilities at Troyswood Water Treatment Plant and improve network interconnectivity to the Radestown supply area, providing security of supply to the city and environs.

Further investment in the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme is progressing with the planned construction of Outrath Reservoir, which has an estimated project cost of €1 million. This will address the lack of storage at the southern extremity of the Kilkenny Regional Supply Scheme. The tendering of

Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council are also progressing a number of wastewater infrastructure

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The Freshford Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is located on a green field site approximately 600m from the village, will be operational in June 2015. The new plant has capacity to serve 1,100 PE (population equivalent) ensuring current and future residential and business development in the area can be met.

projects representing a significant investment of over €7 million.

Approximately €3.3 million is being invested to upgrade the wastewater treatment plants in Castlecomer, Urlingford and Stoneyford. Treatment of wastewater at existing plants serving these areas does not currently meet required environmental standards resulting in inadequately treated wastewater being discharged into the receiving waters. This is particularly important in Castlecomer and Stoneyford where the treated wastewater is discharged into the River Barrow and River Nore SAC (Special Area of Conservation).

New treatment plants in Johnstown and Goresbridge are currently under construction at the existing sites of the old plants and will have capacity to serve 800 and 600 P.E. respectively. Johnstown is expected to be completed in August 2015 and Goresbridge in September 2015.

Treatment standards at the new plants will meet the Waste Water Discharge Licence requirements issued by the EPA and improve the water quality of the receiving waters.

The project which is expected to take 12 months to complete, will serve 1,300 existing households and businesses in these towns and the increased treatment capacity at each plant will allow for future development.

Aisling Buckley, Regional Information Officer, Southern Region, Irish Water said - “We are delighted to have works underway or in scope to bring much needed improvements to the water and wastewater infrastructure serving the businesses and communities of Kilkenny. Addressing the serious deficiencies that exist across the network is essential so that families and businesses receive a water service that supports their current and future needs.”

A new pumping station at the River Dinin Crossing in Castlecomer will also reduce storm water flow to these treatment plants and improve their overall operational efficiency.

Over €3 million is also being invested in new wastewater treatment plants in Freshford, Johnstown and Goresbridge.

Irish Water and Laois County Council complete €2.6m Upgrade of Local Watermain and Timahoe. Over 300 homes and businesses will benefit from the improvements in drinking water supply and quality.

rish Water in partnership with Laois County Council, has completed a €2.6m upgrade of 14km of watermains in Mountmellick, Portlaoise, Ballyroan

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This project involved a detailed assessment of the watermains locally including burst history, leakage rates, condition of the pipes, carrying capacity and water discoloration issues. The assessment highlighted the areas of watermains that were in the poorest condition and rehabilitation and replacement works were targeted on these sections.

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The completion of this project has meant substantial reductions in leakage and maintenance costs, a more reliable supply and fewer instances of water discolouration. The project also included the removal of old

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Road and onwards to the existing Kilkenny Cross pumping station.

Once completed, the project will greatly improve the water quality of the River Clare and protect the conservation objectives of the River Corrib Special Area of Conservation. The treatment capacity of each plant will also meet current and future residential and industrial development.

A second new pumping station at Breaghwy will collect effluent from Breaghwy and Lisnarnan and a third in the town land of Carrickhill will collect effluent from Carrickhill, Roemore, Creggannavar and Lisgowel.

Sean Corrigan, Regional Information Officer, North West Region, Irish Water said - “This is an important project for the communities of Claregalway and Milltown and will deliver key environmental benefits with a high standard of wastewater treatment, capable of protecting the water quality of the River Clare.

Irish Water working to address the build up of Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG) in the wastewater network in Galway

€2.8m in upgrades to Wastewater Infrastructure in Breaffy, Co. Mayo

Irish Water has announced details of a pilot study it is launching to prevent the damaging effects of fats, oils and greases in the wastewater network in Galway City.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD officially turned the first sod ahead of construction getting underway on the new Breaffy Village Sewerage Scheme.

Irish Water is to invest approximately €2.8 million in the project which is due for completion by mid-2016.

Currently the village of Breaffy has no public sewer network or treatment facilities, with all existing properties in the village served by individual septic tanks or treatment systems which percolate to ground.

This project will provide 3 new pumping stations and a new sewer network in the village. Effluent will be carried to the first new pumping station on Cottage

Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG) in the wastewater network can solidify and cause blockages. FOG

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service lines, including lead services, along the watermains and the decommissioning of older cast iron mains. The improved network in these areas will also allow for future population growth and development.

Treatment Plant for the town is due for completion in October 2015.

Clifden has a population of over 2,000 according to the most recent census, but as a key tourism destination in Ireland, seasonal population figures are multiples of that number. The EPA Urban Wastewater Report 2014 identifies 44 large urban areas that did not achieve the mandatory EU water quality effluent standards and Clifden is of these locations. Clifden Beach has also been rated as ʻpoorʼ in the recent EPA Bathing Water Quality Report, a report that describes many issues that contaminate beach areas, including sewage discharge, agricultural runoff and other contaminated runoff in coastal areas.

"Half of Ireland's treated drinking water literally goes down the drain due to leaking pipes," according to Tom Leahy, Water and Wastewater Regional Operations Manager, East and Midlands Region, Irish Water. "Laois is one of many regions with ageing pipes susceptible to leaks that are not fit for purpose.

We are delighted to have completed this project providing a more secure supply to homes and businesses in Laois.”

Watermains rehabilitation is one aspect of Irish Waterʼs plan to reduce leakage. Irish Water is also supporting customers in reducing leaks on their property through the Interim First Fix Scheme. Since detecting over 30,000 suspected leaks on customer properties during its first meter reading cycle, Irish Water has so far contacted 2,500 customers offering them a free leak investigation under their Interim First Fix Scheme.

The Commission for Energy Regulation has this week begun public consultation on Irish Waterʼs continuing Draft First Fix Leak Repair Scheme. The Government has allocated a total of €51m to the end of 2016, to fund the implementation of the continuing First Fix Scheme.

Sean Corrigan, Regional Information Officer with Irish Water said - “Improvements in bathing water quality that will result from this significant investment in Clifden are not only important in environmental terms, they will have direct positive effect in an area where coastal tourism is a key economic driver locally.

"The inadequacies of the wastewater infrastructure in Clifden, as a result of decades of underinvestment, have directly resulted in negative ratings in two separate EPA reports. These vital projects have been in planning for a number of years and Irish Water is fast-tracking the work required to ensure that Clifden can maintain its reputation as a renowned tourist attraction while allowing for future growth and business development.ʼʼ

€7.75m in Wastewater Infrastructure in Clifden, Co. Galway

€5.6m investment in Claregalway and Milltown Wastewater Treatment Schemes

Irish Water investing €7.75m in wastewater infrastructure in Clifden, Co. Galway to address significant inadequacies in the wastewater treatment infrastructure in Clifden, Co. Galway, is on track for completion later this year.

Irish Water, in partnership with Galway County Council, is investing €5.6m in new Wastewater Treatment Schemes for Claregalway and Milltown.

5.2km of a new foul sewer collection system has been completed and the construction of two new treatment plants is due to start in early May. The project is expected to be completed by April 2016.

Works will include the construction of two new treatment plants in Claregalway and Milltown, four new pumping stations, the upgrade of 3 existing pumping stations and the connection of housing estates to the new foul sewer collection system which is already in place.

The Clifden sewerage network has already been upgraded and the construction of a new Wastewater

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Irish Water has commenced a tendering process which will take up to two months to complete. A project start date of December 2015 is anticipated with works expected to take 20 months. A carefully managed traffic management plan will be put in place to minimise disruption to the public during the scheduled works. This includes time constraints on the contractor in relation to any potential lane closures, road closures and water service disruptions. Different construction techniques (e.g. trenchless technology) will also be used where possible which will also minimise disruptions in service for customers.

blockages can contribute to foul odours, flooding of premises and disruption due to associated clean-up.

The initial study will cover the areas between Bohermore to Sea Road and Salthill. These locations have the highest density of food service establishments in the City. Irish Water is carrying out the study in conjunction with Galway City Council (GCC).

Commenting on the study, Sean Corrigan, Regional Information Officer for the West and North regions at Irish Water said - "Galway City Council previously initiated this project on the basis of EPA recommendations in relation to odour problems in the City. Irish Water, in partnership with GCC, is happy to now bring the project to fruition by engaging with the business community in order provide information on how best to manage the issue of FOG.

“The watermains in Carraroe have been prioritised for replacement and we look forward to delivering this upgrade project and an improved drinking water quality and supply for families and businesses in Carraroe,” said Sean Corrigan, Regional Information Officer, North and West Region, Irish Water.

Irish Water will work in partnership with local businesses to monitor, license and control discharges to the sewer. Similar FOG programmes have been successful in other urban centres, such as Dublin City and Limerick City.

This work is part of Phase Two of the watermain rehabilitation works in Galway. Phase One has included the implementation of water management systems and the establishment of Active Leakage Control for the entire county. These works were successful in reducing leakage in the county by 12,000m³/day and also identified that there was a need to commence the next stage of the project rehabilitation of watermains.

Invitation letters are currently going out to owners of food service establishments in the City Centre (Bohermore to Sea Road) and Salthill areas to a briefing session with Irish Water on FOG. If you wish to attend, please confirm your interest to galwayfog@water.ie

Irish Water prioritises Replacement of 14.3km of Watermains in Carraroe

Irish Water invites local community to view €7m upgrades to Clonakilty Wastewater Treatment Plant

The project is part of a number of watermains rehabilitation works to be carried out across County Galway.

Irish Water welcomed members of the local community to view upgrades to the value of €7 million at Clonakilty, Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The project, which is in the final stages of construction, will provide four times the capacity of the existing wastewater treatment plant in Clonakilty using state-of-the-art technology. The project also includes an upgrade to the main pumping station at Long Quay and provides additional capacity for storm water storage at Long Quay, which will significantly reduce the frequency of overflow to Clonakilty Bay at Croppy Park.

An assessment of all the watermains in County Galway identified those sections of mains that are the highest priority for replacement due to their high leakage rates, poor condition, carrying capacity and water quality issues. The 14.3km section of watermains in Carraroe has been prioritised for replacement as part of this assessment.

One of the primary drivers for this project is the protection of Clonakilty Harbour, classified as a National Heritage Area, Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area. The protection of water quality in the bay to maintain Inchydoney as a

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Blue Flag Beach is a key benefit of this project for Cork County.

Irish Water launches second public consultation phase for the proposed Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP) Irish Water has published the Options Working Paper on the proposed Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP) which outlines an independent review of all previous studies undertaken on providing a new source of water supply for Dublin and the Eastern and Midlands Region.

The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant in Clonakilty will involve the use of new state of the art Nereda® Wastewater Technology. This technology facilitates treatment of wastewater within a third of the footprint compared with conventional wastewater treatment processes. It also reduces the volume of sludge produced and chemicals consumed during the operational phase of a plant, thus achieving a more environmentally and economically sustainable wastewater treatment solution.

The wastewater treatment plant in Clonakilty is the first plant constructed in Ireland and the UK using Nereda® technology and the first in the world that is built mostly underground to minimise the visual impact.

Finding a sustainable new source of drinking water to cater for population and economic growth in this area has been a key priority for the past decade. This consultation will run for 8 weeks from the 9th June to the 4th August 2015.

Ten options identified to-date have already been evaluated as part of Strategic Environmental Assessments (2007-2011) which looked at environmental, technical, risk, economic and socioeconomic perspectives. Four of the ten options were identified as being technically viable and Irish Water, having independently validated the four options is now bringing each forward for further consideration in the planning process. No decision on a preferred option has been made to-date.

Aisling Buckley of Irish Water said - "The wastewater capacity in Clonakilty and surrounding areas, including Inchydoney, Ring and Shannonvale, has come under increasing pressure in recent years due to development in the town and its hinterland. The work being carried out by Irish Water will greatly increase the capacity of wastewater treatment for Clonakilty and surrounding areas for the benefit of both residents and local industry.

Public consultation and on site studies in each of the four areas will form a key part of the decisionmaking process to identify an emerging preferred option by late 2015.

Following detailed environmental assessments on the preferred option, a planning application will be submitted by Irish Water to An Bord Pleanála in mid-

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2017. At this stage Irish Water is now looking in detail at the four options to identify the Constraints which will define the positioning of option infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, treatment plants etc.) and also to identify the ʻAssessment Criteriaʼ which will be used to consider each of the four options relative to each other.

of the process which will result in a Preliminary Options Appraisal Report (detailing an Emerging Preferred Option) due for publication and consultation later in 2015.

It is expected that a preferred option for meeting the water supply needs of Dublin, the Eastern and Midlands region once agreed and subject to relevant environmental consideration will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for planning approval in mid-2017.

Jerry Grant, Head of Asset Strategy with Irish Water, commenting on the project said - “The Eastern and Midlands region urgently needs a new source of drinking water and work has been ongoing to secure this for more than a decade. Irish Water wants to engage with people on how we are going to look at and assess the viable options to meet that need moving forward in order to ensure security of supply and economic growth for the Eastern and Midlands Region as well as the country as a whole.”

The Water Supply Options Working Paper is available to view in County Libraries and at Local Authority Planning Counters within the project study area and can be downloaded from www.watersupplyproject.ie.

Further information can also be made available by calling Lo-call 1890 252 848.

Irish Water is inviting members of the public and interested groups to give their views on their proposed Constraints and Assessment Criteria (and the approach to their use) to identify an Emerging Preferred Option whilst minimising the impact on people and the environment.

Upgraded drinking water treatment plant at Boyle Co. Roscommon officially opened

The four technically viable options confirmed by Irish Water in no particular order of priority, are as follows -

Minister for Environment Alan Kelly TD officially opened the upgraded Water Treatment Plant at Boyle Co. Roscommon following the lifting of a Boil Water Notice for the town by Irish Water at the beginning of May. Providing this significant improvement in drinking water quality for 6,000 customers in Boyle has been the first step in an integrated programme to resolve all outstanding Boil Water Notices in Co. Roscommon in 2015. This has been achieved though a dedicated prioritised programme of work and a total investment by Irish Water of €26.8m.

DESALINATION LOUGH DERG (DIRECT) LOUGH DERG AND STORAGE PARTEEN BASIN (DIRECT) Irish Water is now inviting submissions on the following What other national, regional or locally important constraints should Irish Water take into account when locating the infrastructure associated with each water supply option?

Have you any comment on the proposed constraints and the approach to their use?

Are there any Assessment Criteria other than those proposed which should be used in the next phase of options appraisal?

How would you like to be communicated with us as the project progresses?

Feedback from the consultation process will be obtained through stakeholder meetings and written submissions which can be made by email to watersupply@water.ie or by post to - Water Supply Project, Merrion House, Merrion Road, Dublin 4.

Work on the Boyle Ardcarne Regional Water Supply Scheme which was completed by Irish Water in December 2014, 7 months ahead of schedule,

All issues raised from this consultation will be reviewed and considered as part of the next phase

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overseeing the contract secured by Roscommon County Council in late 2013. Following the required period of audit and testing by the Environment Protection Agency and the Health Services Executive, final certification of the treated drinking water supply in Boyle/Ardcarne was confirmed following a final inspection at the end of April and the boil water notice was officially lifted on 1st May. Boil water notices in Castlerea and South Roscommon (Killeglan) for a further 11,300 customers are expected to be lifted in the coming weeks also due to Irish Waterʼs prioritised work programme. These 2 plants are in full production and are undergoing continuous testing and final audits.

An additional 5,400 customers in North East Roscommon are also expected to have a temporary UV treatment system in place by September 2015 that could allow the boil water notice to be lifted in advance of full completion of the permanent water supply scheme in that area in early 2017. This would restore a normal drinking water supply to customers in Strokestown, Elphin, Roosky and Tarmonbarry and surrounds, for the first time since March, 2014.

Prioritised investment of €26.8m by Irish Water in Roscommon will therefore provide clean secure drinking water supply to more than 22,700 customers in the county by late 2015.

The existing Gorey treatment plant is overloaded and unable to meet the required treatment levels and capacity. As a result a new pumping station was commissioned and this currently diverts part of the treatment flows from Gorey to the Courtown Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project includes works to extend the treatment capacity of the Courtown plant to cater for all current and future treatment flows from the combined Gorey/Courtown catchment population. Treatment capacity at the plant will be increased from a current PE (population equivalent) of 12,000 to a design PE of 35,000.

The works have been procured under a Design Build Operate (DBO) contract. In addition to the construction and extension works, the DBO Scheme will allow for the operation and maintenance (for 20 years) of the completed wastewater treatment plant at Courtown and pumping stations at Gorey, Courtown Harbour, Riverchapel, Ballinatray and Poulshone. The contract also includes the operation and maintenance of the interconnecting rising mains from these pumping stations to the Courtown plant, the existing outfall from the plant to the Irish Sea and the sludge facility at Courtown.

John Tierney Managing Director of Irish Water, speaking at the launch said “Dealing with the boil water notices endured by thousands of customers in Roscommon has been a top priority since Irish Water came into existence. The contract for this work was secured by Roscommon County Council in late 2013 and Irish Water as a national water utility has been able to fast-track and co-ordinate the completion of this and other projects in Co. Roscommon so that Boil Water Notices will be lifted by nearly 23,000 customers in Roscommon by the end of this year. We acknowledge the work of the contractors and Roscommon County Council in helping us to achieve this.”

€7.5m Investment in wastewater treatment scheme for Gorey

Irish Water confirms proposals to upgrade water treatment plants in Donegal

Irish Water in partnership with Wexford County Council, is investing €7.5m in a new Wastewater Treatment Scheme for Gorey. The project, which commenced in September 2014, is on schedule and expected to be completed in April 2016.

Irish Water has confirmed that it is advancing plans to upgrade the two drinking water treatment plants at Lettermacaward and Killybegs. This will ensure sufficient clean drinking water to this region of West Donegal, including the area supplied by the

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Glenties/Ardara Public Supply. The supply currently providing water to the Glenties/Ardara area is on the EPAʼs Remedial Action List due to water quality risks associated with it and is not suitable for providing a long term drinking water supply for the area.

Sean Corrigan, Regional Information Officer with Irish Water explained. “Irish Waterʼs priority is to deal with the public water supplies at Portnoo/Nairn, Fintown and Glenties/Ardara that are currently on EPAʼs Remedial Action List, meaning there is a threat to them being able to continue supplying sufficient drinking water locally”, he explained. “The most cost effective way to secure water supply for this area for the long term is to upgrade the water treatment plants at Lettermacaward and Killybegs providing long term capacity for existing five supplies in the region.

The existing substandard treatment plants at Portnoo/Nairn, Fintown and Glenties/Ardara will be decommissioned. This solution is the most cost effective and it also has a lower risk attached in terms of securing the necessary planning and environmental permissions required to provide future quality water supply.”

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

Grundfos S-tube® the impeller at the cutting edge

astewater pump designers face a range of challenges when seeking to create innovation within the industry. These include how to tackle moving more waste, over longer distances, using less water and less energy, and all with minimal post-installation maintenance. Incorporating these elements into new pump designs that will deliver real improvements is something that Grundfos has looked to achieve through an intensive focus on research and development in recent years.

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The holistic approach Some of the leading players in the market have recognised that a holistic approach is required to optimise a pump system. Grundfosʼ modus operandi is rooted in its philosophy that embraces the entire lifecycle of a pump, from design and development to production, installation and maintenance, scrap and recycling.

End-customer involvement during product development project as was undertaken with the S-tube® helps ensure that any solution will match the demand; but this is not the sole driver of design refinements.

Modern wastewater management systems must be able to transport an increased volume and diversity of waste over longer distances, but using less energy and transportation fluid. This requires a centrifugal pump that does not compromise on either clogging or hydraulic efficiency and offers an extended life span with minimal maintenance.

Today the S-tube® is proving that an age-old tube concept, refined by skilled 21st-century engineers, is capable of delivering the effective all-round solution the industry has been seeking.

One of the culminations of this investment was apparent two years ago with the official launch of the Grundfos S Tube that followed rigorous field-testing at multiple sites around the world, including the UK. The fundamentals of the S-tube® impeller have actually been on pump designersʼ drawing boards for decades. It is just that for many years no wastewater pump manufacturer was able to make this impeller design work successfully.

The challenges facing modern utilities The main – and interlinked – challenges facing utility companies today in relation to the transport of waste can be summarised as follows:

➢ Rising cost of water and energy and stricter controls (e.g. the introduction of water meters) ➢ Lower water consumption – and energy usage ➢ Less fluid mix of modern wastewater.

A core reason for utility companies to change their approach to wastewater management has been the rising cost of water. This in turn has meant that consumers have cut down their consumption.

Government regulations, standards and directives have added further layers of complexity as they demand that pumping installations should take into account such factors as “energy usage,” “operations and maintenance requirements” and “environmental impact.”

Apart from stricter controls on usage, the rising cost of energy has increased the incentive to find better methods of transporting wastewater. Water-saving innovations have created new problems.

For example, low flush toilets use less transportation fluid, thus increasing the risk of clogging farther down the line. Traditional wastewater pumps then add to this clogging risk rather than solving it due to: pipe edges on which waste material easily catches; bends in the pipework; cutting mechanisms and reduced free passage.

Different impellers, different problems The industry response to these changes and pressures has been a general trend towards centralised waste management systems where possible. Variable-speed pumping has also become commonplace as a means to save energy, but with reduced-flow velocity comes greater risks of clogging in the system, which affects both efficiency and longevity.

Various designs of wastewater impellers have been developed over the years all searching for greater reliability and higher hydraulic efficiency – vortex types, semi-open or closed impeller solutions or hybrid variations for example.

The S-tube® Impeller: means no trade-off Optimised efficiency and the ability to pass permitted solids without clogging are seen as vital attributes of a pump. However, customers have been led to believe that they must accept a tradeoff between the two. The S-tube® impeller, which features in Grundfos wastewater pumps, dispels this notion, offering both excellent hydraulic efficiency and free passage, which prevents the pump from clogging.

The key advantage of the smooth S-tube® design over impellers with leading edges is that there is nowhere waste matter can catch and cause clogging as special features at the front and back plate of the closed S-tube® also optimise the leak flow into the cavities between the rotating impeller and the stationary pump housing.

Because the non-compromised inner diameter of the S-tube® is uniform, there is less likelihood of clogging, even with a relatively low volume of transportation fluid as found in modern-day wastewater.

Consequent hydraulic efficiency gains drive down energy costs for the end-user, plus the lack of a leading edge has the benefit of significantly lowering NPSH inside the centrifugal pump where the hydraulic system is most prone to cavitation.

GRUNDFOS (Ireland) Ltd. Unit A Merrywell Business Park, Ballymount Road Lower, Dublin 12. Phone: (+ ) 1 4089 800 www.grundfos.com LAN IRISH WATER SUPPLEMENT

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

Nicholas O'Dwyer Ltd. Consulting Engineers

icholas O'Dwyer were appointed this year as Irish Water's engineering consultants for the upgrading of Dublin's Vartry Water Supply Scheme, a critical piece of the capital's water supply infrastructure. The firm is a leading service provider in the water industry with over eight decades of experience as specialists in the design, procurement and management of large-scale water projects.

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The Vartry scheme includes the upgrading of Vartry Water Treatment Plant; upgrades to Vartry Reservoir inlet, draw-off and spillway; replacement of the Vartry Tunnel; upgrade of the Stillorgan Reservoir by-pass and inlet trunk main infrastructure and the provision of covered storage at Stillorgan Reservoir. The firm is also providing environmental services related to these developments and in the environmental sector has managed the delivery of the strategic environmental assessment of Irish Water's national plan.

Unit E4, Nutgrove Office Park, Nutgrove Avenue, Dublin 14 T: +353 1 296 9000 F: +353 1-296 9001 E: rcrowe@nodwyer.com www.nodwyer.com

Flow and Load Surveys – what you need to know low and Load surveys produce critical data for the designers of wastewater treatment plants. Although the initial inputs in terms of the manpower, equipment and laboratory analysis required is high, they can prove to be a major cost saving if the data captured is used correctly. The surveys can be difficult to conduct without the ability to carry out an initial site survey. By doing this, the exact monitoring locations can be chosen to prevent bad data, loss of data, operational issues or potential health and safety implications.

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Flow monitors themselves can suffer from rags, silt and other debris around the probe itself, and so it is important the data is monitored on a regular basis to prevent incomplete data being produced. The majority of flow monitoring is carried out using area velocity probes which rely on a probe sending out a signal to determine the velocity and the water depth along with the channel size and shape being inputted by the engineer. The data is typically recorded at two minute intervals.

Along with the flow monitoring, it is typical to install a composite sampler to characterise the wastewater with routine laboratory analysis such as BOD, COD, suspended solids and nutrients. A rainfall gauge is necessary to assess the impact of rain events on flow and load data. It is important to determine the lag time between a rainfall event and the subsequent flow volume to increase.

This will vary depending on the size and various characteristics of the catchment area.

If you require a small or large Flow and Load Survey, Call The Water Lab now on 01-6275656, and we can guide you through the ups and downs of flow and load monitoring.

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

Using premium-efficiency IE3 motors and Contrablock Plus impellers, the submersible sewage pump type ABS XFP is the most efficient wastewater pump on the market.

The XFP pumps benefit from significant efficiency in both motor and hydraulics, resulting in substantial savings:

•

Lower energy consumption

•

Reduced operating costs

•

Fewer maintenance costs

•

Less downtime caused by breakdowns and blockages

Great savings means a healthier environment, reducing your carbon footprint and the risk of harmful overflows. XFP pumps make your operation more competitive while contributing to a greener future.

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Ireland, Unit B3Riverview Business Park, New Nangor Road, Dublin 12 Tel: +353 1 4608 888 / Fax: +353 1 4608 889 www.sulzer.com WEW Engineering have been solving Water, Energy and Wastewater problems for over 40 years for both Municipal and Industrial Clients.

The WEW team consists of chartered professional engineers, planners, consultants, technical specialists and CAD designers. Our Engineering specialities include Process, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Automation Engineering.

We provide Best Available Techniques with cost-effective engineering solutions to meet our clientʼs individual challenges.

Our services range from feasibility/pilot studies and planning reports, discharge licence applications, detailed design & engineering reports and specifications through to construction & commissioning stages. We have worked successfully with local authorities in upgrading municipal treatment facilities and in improving performance & energy efficiency.

Efficient design doesnʼt just happen. WEW create it.

Tel: (056) 776 3932 • Email: info@weweng.ie • Web: www.weweng.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

WILO – SOLUTIONS TO WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Wilo is a name synonymous with water management solutions and its range of pumps and pumping systems rivals any other in the marketplace. Wilo since 1872 has a wealth of pump and system experience and have progressed successfully from a manufacturer to being a solutions provider, working closely with partners worldwide, providing expertise and integration skills complimenting pumps and systems that allow the most efficient project engineering solutions.

Amongst the options available from Wilo is the new Zetos submersible borehole pump with efficient delivery time, benefits from reduced manufacturing costs and improved hydraulic efficiencies.

Wiloʼs range of split case pumps offer high reliability, high efficiency and performance. The top casing is easily demountable, giving access to all rotating parts of the pump without needing to disconnect it from the pipework system.

A full product portfolio range of 50Hz and 60Hz options with performance up to 3000 m3/h and up to a 170m head are available.

Wiloʼs low speed, premium efficient mixers are now widely used on a number of projects due to their high efficiency characteristics where their inclusion alongside state of the art aeration systems is seeing excellent results in water treatment plant projects and running cost benefits.

For details of these and other Wilo solutions, visit www.wilo.ie for information.

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Delivering for Tipperary Innovation & Leadership Patrick Moran executive area engineer with Tipperary county council In September 2011 due to inadequate sludge processing and high sludge removal costs from wastewater plants my focus turned to see how this could be addressed for plants in my functional engineering area.

bio gases.

• Implemented energy efficiency improvements resulting in reduction in electrical consumption in water and wastewater plants Why these dewatering beds as the solution: These beds are simple to operate and energy efficient, providing the least cost technology option for efficiently dewatering sludge. The operation and maintenance costs have to be considered as a labour cost although this work is carried out by full time caretakers who also performs various other duties at these plants.

Previously operation of sludge holding tanks on sites, resulted in watery low dry solid sludge being produced and insufficient holding processing of sludge in the plants, with a knock on effect from the plants final discharge to the receiving river.

I engaged my team in planning the construction and operation of new sludge dewatering beds with innovative decanting doors and weather resistant breathable covers.

The dewatering beds: These beds were constructed of reinforced concrete to hold wet heavy corrosive sludge. The bed floors have sharp cross and longitudinally falls to decanting doors

We then engaged with John Mooney T/A Lisheen Engineering in the detailed design & construction of this sludge management infrastructure on our wastewater sites. The infrastructure created varies slightly from site to site governed mainly by process control and individual sludge characteristics.

Decanting doors: The new beds were fitted with self bleeding stainless doors designed with slots at intervals to mimic the old laths decanting system, but operating to continuously bleeding the water at all levels from the sludge.

These decanting doors were manufactured in stainless steel due to its corrosion resistance and pliability which aid their cleaning by tapping with a hammer or water jet.

Recognising Ireland has very high annual rainfall and therefore the typical problem is that the efficiency of the traditional sludge dewatering beds decreases as a result of rainfall inputs. We decided to cover the beds which have proven to produce sludge with higher dry solids, resulting in further reduced sludge volumes.

Our previous accomplishments included reducing waste and pollution, increasing water quality, and reducing energy usage, with works such as • Construction of intake works and automated screen installation to wastewater plants and rag catchers to pump stations which have improved effluent quality and greatly reduced blockages.

• Contracted a company and project managed them carrying out robotic cleaning of live reservoirs which meant continuity of water supply could be maintained throughout and leaks in the reservoir structure could be identified due to the head of water, which were then later repaired. This robotic technology eliminated the need for staff to enter a confined space.

• Implemented and had carried out a programme of unidirectional scouring of public drinking water networks.

• Managed the rehabilitation of water boreholes supported by CCTV surveys.

The frame for dewatering bed covers: Following materials review the decision was made to have the frame for covers to the drying beds fabricated in stainless steel, due to its corrosion resistance and strength to weight ratio making them maintenance free, durable and easy to lift when required.

Dewatering bed covers:

Managed the electrical modernisation of Roscrea wastewater plant, got our combined heat and power plant certified and signed a contract with the ESB for payment for electricity we are exporting from the combined heat and power plant running on sludge

Resulting from materials review the decision was made to have the bed covered with black water resistant breathable woven polypropylene fabric.

The black cover means all light rays pass through it

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Borrisoleigh wastewater plant new dewatering beds,with decanting doors and covers creating heat under the cover which aids evaporation of water from the sludge.

1. Supporting strong economy In late 2011 I selected Roscrea wastewater plant as a sludge hub for the smaller plants in the Eastern half of north tipperary.

The black woven polypropylene fabric is lightweight strong, breathable, water resistant, durable, flexible so transpiration of the moisture can also occur through the cover yet keeping the rain off, and requiring no maintenance.

Roscrea was selected as a hub because it has a sludge digester linked to a combined heat and power plant with excess capacity to harness and convert the gas from sludge, including sludge imported from our satellite plants, as identified by prior volatile test results for sludge始s from these plants.

See below photos showing a sample of the sites where this infrastructure was installed

Twomileborris wastewater plant Rear view new dewatering beds and cover

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Roscrea wastewater plant is exporting electricity to the national grid from its combined heat and power plant system running on sludge bio gases.

• Significantly reduced spend on LPG gas Roscrea wastewater plant due to replacement with bio gases from sludgeʼs.

Our chp has been certified and an agreement has been signed with ESB networks and a smart meter was installed on our electrical supply so as to receive payment for electricity we are exporting. Sludge transport savings, income from exported electricity should act to subsidise Irish waters operating costs, so savings should be passed on to the public.

• Reduced electricity bills Roscrea plant due to generating more of our own power on site • Irish water to receive revenue for electricity we are exporting to the national grid from Roscrea plant.

Our achievements feed into the three strategic themes of our corporate plan.

1. Strong economy Our improvements encourage and support business growth in the local economy around these plants, the reduction of waste, reduced spend on LPG and electricity Roscrea plant, significant financial savings, revenue from electricity generated export to the grid.

Since importation of these sludgeʼs the use of calor LPG to assist in heating the digester has reduced resulting in a significantly reduced spend. Sludge bio gas generated by the digester has risen resulting in increased chp running hours and the generation of electricity for more hours each day. Surplus electricity above what is used on site is exported to the national grid, generally night time hours.

2. Impact on quality of life of the community: Wastewater continues to affect our lives even after it disappears down the drain.

2. Quality of life Better public health due to less noise & vibration, less damage to roads and better road safety due to deduced truck movements. Visits to these sites provide practical learning opportunities promoting creative thinking and innovation initiatives in the community.

Wastewater treatment has the potential also to effect health, the local economy, recreation, utility bills, taxes and other aspects of everyday life.

3. Quality of Environment Improved air quality reduced truck volumes Co2 emission and improved river water quality from discharging wastewater plants.

Labatory results show that since the installation of this sludge management infrastructure final effluent performance from these plants has improved regarding discharges to the rivers from these plants There is also the local benefit for children on school trips, Engineering students, other local authorities and irishwater staff visiting these plants as they are acting as a practical demonstration of innovation in sludge management etc, thus planting the seed of learning, creative thinking and future innovative initiatives in the community.

Learning, Credits, future: The infrastructure provided has made a significant contribution to the economy through the design and delivery to the public service financial savings through innovation and lean business initiative creating process efficiencies.

3. Impact on quality of Environment: Reduced nuisance and greater recreation on uncongested roads reduced dust, noise, co2 emissions, less damage to road surface, better road safety due to decreased truck movement as result of greatly reduced number of loads of sludge being removed from sites per year.

I am proud of what we have achieved and must acknowledge my team some who have recently retired. Their assistance and diligence in engaging and embracing this new infrastructure was paramount in making it the success it proved and continues to be.

Results: • €200,000+ saving annually to the public due to greatly reduced sludge volumes needing to be removed off sites, as the new infrastructure increased typical sludge dry solids from previously 0.4% to 8% thus greatly reducing sludge volumes.

This success is a major recognition of the outstanding work undertaken each day by the team. We in waterservices are most fortunate to have such creative, motivated and committed office and outdoor staff.

We are currently working on developing sludge as a product not a waste.

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M inister Kelly and Coffey announce revised Event Licensing Regulations • Where tickets for events have been advertised and sold prior to the holding of a pre-application consultation meeting, an application for an event licence will not be accepted by the relevant local authority.

• Event licensing applications must be lodged with the relevant local authority at least 13 weeks in advance of the proposed event (currently 10 weeks).

Following consultation with Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Paudie Coffey T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced that he recently signed revised event licensing regulations.

The following are some of the main changes being introduced under the new Regulations: • It will now be mandatory for event promoters to have a pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority prior to submitting an event licence application.

• Local authorities must make their decision on an event licence application no later than 4 weeks in advance of the proposed event.

• Where it is proposed to add performances to a schedule already announced, a further pre-application consultation meeting will be required to take place before the announcement of any additional dates.

• Event licence applications will not be accepted by a local authority unless a preapplication consultation meeting has already taken place with the event promoter.

• Event promoters will not be entitled to advertise or sell tickets for events prior to the holding of a pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority.

• The public consultation period in relation to event licence applications is being reduced to 3 weeks (currently 5 weeks).

The new regulations follow on from the establishment of a Review Group in October

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2014 by Minister Kelly to examine the event licensing regulations and to make recommendations on possible changes to the legislative regime further to issues which arose in relation to the licensing of certain proposed outdoor events in the summer of 2014. The Review Group - which was chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and comprised representation from other Government Departments, state agencies and local authorities - met six times during the period October 2014 to March 2015.

parties – including event promoters, venue owners and residents living close to such venues - in relation to the conducting of such events in the future”, stated Minister Kelly.

Minister Coffey Said; “Large outdoor music events are becoming an increasing phenomenon, particularly in the summer months, with increasing numbers of major international acts coming to Ireland. These events also bring large numbers of visitors to our shores with significant benefits for our tourism industry”.

The Review Group also met with the four main promoters of outdoor events in Ireland (MCD, Aiken Promotions, Festival Republic and POD) who were invited to make presentations of their experience with the existing legislative provisions and to suggest possible changes that might be required.

In addition, the Review Group initiated a month long public consultation in November 2014 during which some 50 submissions were received from venue owners, residents associations, local authorities, statutory bodies, industry operators and members of the public.

All submissions received during the public consultation have been published on the Departmentʼs website.

“The changes announced to the current event licensing regime are intended to ensure that we have more fit for purpose and streamlined procedures in place in relation to the granting of event licences. In particular, the idea of promoters advertising and selling tickets for events before having any pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority in relation to a proposed event is a practice that should not be allowed to happen.

The new arrangements will prevent this from happening in the future”, he added.

“I am confident that the new changes now being introduced - which represent a balance of the views of all stakeholders involved - will put in place fair and reasonable arrangements in relation to the conducting of events and provide the necessary certainty in this regard”, concluded Minister Coffey.

“In establishing the review of the event licensing regulations, I was particularly anxious to ensure that the issues and confusion which arose in 2014 in relation to the licensing of specific outdoor events would not be repeated and that there would be a greater level of certainty for all

A copy of the new regulations is available on environ.ie. The Regulations will come into effect on 1 October 2015.

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Ministers Kelly and Humphreys meet with Local Authorities to share details of Ireland 2016 county plans The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD met with Mayors and Chief Executives from all 31 Local Authorities to share details of local county plans being developed as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

communities right across the country. People are really interested in getting involved in Ireland 2016, and communities are full of great ideas about how the centenary of the Easter Rising can be commemorated at a local level.

Thousands of people have attended the workshops right across the country over the last three months, in what was one of the biggest citizen engagement projects in the history of the State.

“I would like to acknowledge the very positive response we have received from the Local Authority network to the Ireland 2016 initiative. It is clear that they want to play their part as we commemorate the events of 1916, consider our achievements over the last 100 years and look ambitiously to the future. The county plans will be complemented by the ambitious education programme, which will be rolled out in schools across the country from September. We want to ensure Ireland 2016 is a truly national event.”

The meeting comes at the end of a major programme of citizen engagement, a key element of the Community Participation strand of Ireland 2016, which saw 81 public workshops held nationwide to stimulate discussions and ideas on how local communities should commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising next year. Supported by the Ireland 2016 Project Team in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and facilitated by the Local Authority network, meetings have been held in every county across the country.

A county co-ordinator has been appointed in every Local Authority to oversee the development of plans at a local level. Finalised county plans with a series of local initiatives to mark the centenary of the Rising will be launched in October.

Minister Kelly said: “As Minister with responsibility for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I am delighted to be working with Minister Humphreys and her team in relation to the community participation strand of the Governmentʼs 2016 Centenary Programme.

“This is a very special time in our nationʼs history and I want every citizen to participate and be part of the 1916 commemorative events. It is so important that Irish people have the opportunity to come together to celebrate and have pride in Ireland's independence, and to honour those who gave their lives for our country. I want to acknowledge the excellent inclusive workshops and consultation process that Local Authorities have facilitated with communities over the last number of months and I look forward to the roll out of vibrant commemorative county plans across communities in 2016. “

Speaking at the meeting today Minister Humphreys said: “I am so encouraged by the level of excitement and engagement in

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oor performing manhole covers and bad installations are costing Local Authorities hundreds of thousands of euros every year in un-planned budgetary spending.

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Whole-life costs are a significant consideration for service providers and local authorities when specifying municipal castings. Selecting the EJ Tarstone Roadmastic Ironwork Reinstatement system offers you product features that help improve operator safety, allow for ease of operation and are designed to last, which will deliver you cost savings over the life time of the installation.

For more information on our seminars which aim to inform Local Authorities and Consultant Engineering firms on Product Standards related to road furniture, correct product selection, specification and installation methods please call our Business development team on 057 91 23100 or ireland.sales@ejco.com

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TEGRAL UNVEILS ITS BLOCKBUSTER €2M ‘THRUTONE ENDURANCE’ SLATE, IRELAND’S STRONGEST-EVER ROOFING SLATE egral, a market leader in roofing and Irelandʼs only manufacturer of fibre-cement roof slates, today announced the launch of its €2m Thrutone ENDURANCE product, Irelandʼs strongest-ever slate and Tegralʼs biggest NPD in over 10 years.

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Thrutone ENDURANCE is the highest density slate in the Irish market which means it offers the best resistance to Irelandʼs famously volatile weather, with the extra fibres giving the product its highest flexural strength and a specialist silicone paint providing a unique water repellence. Thrutone ENDURANCE is accredited to the highest environmental standard BES 6001 and Tegral is the only Irish manufactured roofing product to achieve this rating.

Thrutone ENDURANCE is an evolution of Tegralʼs best selling ThrutonePlus slate , but with a series of major product enhancements achieved at a cost of over €2m. Following years of intensive product development and rigorous testing*, Thrutone ENDURANCE can now claim the following product benefits:

• • • • •

Highest density slate on Irish market which means the best frost-resistance Extra fibres to give the highest flexural strength Unique silicone paint to provide the best water-repellence Improved paint application & rigorous testing to ensure the highest quality standards BES 6001 Accredited – environmentally sustainable As well as being “Irish made for Irish weatherʼ and an elegant and beautifully designed product to dress any roof, Tegral Thrutone ENDURANCE comes with a 20 year colour and 30 year structural guarantee, giving roofers and home owners the ultimate peace of mind.

Speaking at the launch of Thrutone ENDURANCE, Paddy Kelly, Managing Director of Tegral said, “ThrutonePlus has been our best selling slate product for decades, and weʼve invested over €2m to enhance it with some transformational improvements to make it stronger and more durable. The end result is Thrutone ENDURANCE, and weʼre so excited to finally be in a position to launch this game-changing new product to the market.

Feedback so far from roofing contractors and merchants is extremely positive, and pre-orders have been very encouraging. Between product improvements and delivery to market, weʼve invested over €2m in developing Thrutone ENDURANCE; it represents our biggest NPD innovation in over 10 years.”

“At Tegral, we pursue a relentless focus on quality, and this focus underpins everything we do. We are always striving to improve our products and we believe the launch of Thrutone ENDURANCE cements Tegralʼs reputation as a market leader and we will continue to pioneer roofing innovation that delivers world-class quality.”

This positive announcement follows on from last Marchʼs launch of Tegral Academy, Irelandʼs first ever training facility for roofing contractors which aims to improve the quality of standards and workmanship in Irish roofing. *Tegral deployed its own rigorous product testing in its internal laboratory where Thrutone ENDURANCE was tested against several competitor products and included Thickness, Flexural Strength (Modulus of Rupture and Bending Moment), Density, Water Absorption, Water Permeability, Water Repellence and Heat/Rain Performance. These laboratory tests are carried out by an expert team in a controlled environment, and go beyond standard product testing.

For more information log onto www.tegral.com LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info WHAT IS HAPAS?

HAPAS approved. Those in the highways industry will have certainly heard the term. But what does it actually mean?

HAPAS stands for the Highways Authority Product Approval Scheme, which was developed by market experts to offer consistent and clear testing methods for products and systems designed for use in the highways industry. Products that are 'approved' lead the way in providing definitive guidance to local authorities and contractors alike, on highway maintenance.

It raises the question of why? Why would anyone choose to use a material for repairing our roads, when it has none of this assurance? Products that aren't approved haven't undergone rigorous testing, and ultimately can provide no independent evidence that they are 'fit for purpose'.

The endless 'pothole debate' continues, worsening after every extreme winter, whether that be rain, snow or wind. Our weather is damaging our road network - one of the country's biggest assets. The situation will only worsen if the use of un-proven 'quick fix' products continues. Proven materials 'stay where they are put' and don't crack or break out causing repeat maintenance visits.

Choose Ultracrete Instant Road Repair® for example, a flexible proven cold lay asphalt, that gains strength through compaction. This product has been used 'in the ground' for over 35 years, eliminating the recurrence of repeat visits, thus traffic management and lane rental charges. An endless list of benefits just from choosing a material bearing the HAPAS mark of quality.

Products that are HAPAS approved have undergone rigorous and strict independent testing, through the BBA (British Board of Agrément), to ensure they are 'fit for purpose'. Some Ultracrete products, such as Envirobed HA104® manhole bedding mortar, had been 'in the ground' for over 5 years in order to gain the proven durability required to meet the approval.

HAPAS approval is also a significant investment for any business. Such testing can cost up to £30k per certificate. Any product that has such approval, in light of this alone, can boast assurance of confidence and long-term proven durability.

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Further benefits of using a HAPAS approved material include an extended service life, a reduction in insurance or personal injury claims, and most importantly, a reduction in whole life costs.

If you have any questions on HAPAS approval or any of the products from the Ultracrete range please email ultracrete@instarmac.co.uk or call 0141 3143584 Ultracrete – Highway Maintenance for over 35 Years

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