ECOFACT has recently prepared receiving water impact assessment (RWIA) reports for a large number of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WwTPs), on behalf of Laois County Council. This large scale assignment included assessments of the WwTPs serving almost every town and significant village in the county including; Abbeyleix, Rathdowney, Durrow, Mountrath, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Ballylynan, Stradbally, Borris-on-Ossory, Ballinakill, Ballyroan, Castletown and Clonaslee; with an additional 15 smaller villages also assessed.

The studies include chemical and biological water quality assessments both upstream and downstream of the plants and the preparation of Waste Assimilation Capacity (WAC) models for the receiving waters. The purpose of the reports will be to assess whether the existing waste water discharge(s) from the plants are having a significant adverse impact on the receiving waters, or any Natura 2000 Site. The reports will also recommend design standards necessary for proposed future plants to ensure compliance with the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). As a number of these WwTPs have been located within or adjacent to designated Natura 2000 sites, it has been necessary to complete individual Article 6 Appropriate Assessments for plants that were identified with potential to cause an adverse impact on a designated conservation site.

ECOFACT has also prepared impact assessments for other local authorities, including assessment for treatment plants at Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny; Mountbellew, Milltown, Craughwell and Claregalway, Co. Galway; Thurles, Co. Tipperary; and Burnfoot, Co. Donegal. ECOFACT were also recently commissioned to prepare a Receiving Water Impact Assessment for a private waste water treatment plant at Ballinora, Co. Cork as part of a residential housing development.

ECOFACT have recently prepared water quality modelling impact simulations for a number of proposed waste water treatment plants including installations at Mountrath and Durrow in the River Nore catchment in County Laois; Clara on the River Brosna in County Offaly; and Mountbellew in the Suck catchment in County Galway. The models prepared have allowed the design parameters proposed for the plants to be reconsidered at the early planning stage to ensure that the receiving waters can maintain 'good ecological status' in the future.

ECOFACT have undertaken hydrological modelling assessments for streams adjoining quarries in Counties Limerick and Cork. The DWF, 95 percentile and 100 year flood flow in these streams were estimated based on on-site measurements and catchment extrapolations. The impact of proposed discharges into the streams was assessed in relation to channel conveyance capacity and waste assimilation capacity.

Mountbellew Sewerage Scheme

ECOFACT are currently preparing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Ecological Impact Assessment for the proposed upgrading of the Mountbellew Sewerage Scheme, Co Galway. The scheme will discharge treated effluent into a tributary of the River Suck; a nationally important salmonid and coarse fishing river.

Athlone Sewerage Scheme

ECOFACT prepared the Surface Water Assessment for the proposed upgrade to the Athlone Wastewater Treatment Plant, discharging into the River Shannon, downstream of Athlone town. This assessment was completed during 2008 and included a water quality, fisheries and aquatic ecology assessment of the River Shannon upstream and downstream of the proposed new outfall.

Portlaoise Sewerage Scheme

During 2008 we completed an Appropriate Assessment of the likely effects of the new Portlaoise Wastewater Treatment Plant on the River Barrow and River Nore SAC.

Clara Sewerage Scheme

We prepared a terrestrial and aquatic ecological assessment for Phase II of this scheme which would affect the River Brosna, an important trout river.

Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme

ECOFACT also prepared the full Ecology Section, including all specialist studies, of the EIS for the proposed Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme. The scheme would cover the areas of Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Passage West, Monkstown, Shanbally, Ringaskiddy and the wider lower harbour area. The proposed development would collect raw sewage and intercept numerous storm water outfalls, before treating collected sewage to a secondary level at a proposed new wastewater treatment facility near Carrigaline. The treated wastewater would be discharged inside the mouth of Cork harbour through the existing IDA outfall. Both terrestrial and marine ecological assessments were undertaken for this major scheme.