The requirement for compliance with both national and EU legislation with regard to water quality has led to an increase in Waste Water Treatment Plant (WwTP) upgrades and also the commissioning of new plants. All assessments carried out by ECOFACT are with regard to the requirements of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 272 2009) and the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).

ECOFACT has extensive experience in the provision of environmental services to fulfil the legislative requirements for Waste Water schemes. We offer:

• Receiving Water Impact Assessments
• Article 6 Appropriate Assessments for discharges affecting designated Natura 2000 sites
• Water quality monitoring and predictive modelling
• Waste Assimilation Capacity (WAC) assessments
• Hydro-ecological assessments
• Baseline biological and chemical water quality assessments
• Long term biological water quality monitoring
• IPPC And Waste Licensing Compliance Monitoring

Receiving Water Impact Assessments (RWIA)

ECOFACT offers a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of discharges on rivers and streams in the form of a Receiving Water Impact Assessment (RWIA). Our team offers to clients the following services in relation to RWIA's.

• Comparative biological sampling at reference and receptor sites
• Chemical water quality sampling and analysis for a range parameters, including BOD, nutrients, and dangerous substances
• Waste Assimilation Capacity (WAC) and Consumption Assessment
• Article 6 Appropriate Assessment if discharging to a waterbody designated within the Natura 2000 network

Our RWIA's are prepared under the EC Environmental Objectives (Surface Water Regulations) (S.I. No. 272 of 2009), Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations (2007) (SI No. 684 of 2007), the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 254 of 2001) and the Environmental Protection Agencies Waste Water Discharge Licensing Application Guidance Note.

If a Natura 2000 Site is potentially affected we can undertake an Article 6 Appropriate Assessment (AA). The Appropriate Assessment process has been a legal requirement since implementation of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997.

ECOFACT is also equipped to carry out Waste Assimilation Capacity (WAC) examinations for watercourses. WAC is the ability of a body of water to cleanse itself and to receive waste waters or toxic materials without deleterious effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water (capacity of a waterbody to receive the discharge to be assessed).