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Project Code [2012-W-MS-12]
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Project title
The impact of on-site wastewater effluent on rivers and wells
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)
Lead Applicant
Laurence Gill
Project Abstract
The domestic wastewater of approximately one third of the population in Ireland, ~500 000 dwellings, is treated by on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems (DWWTSs). The potential impacts of such on-site effluent are the pollution of either groundwater and / or surface water, in particular in areas of low permeability subosils (for surface water pollution) or Extreme vulnerability (for groundwater pollution). This project will evaluate 2 study catchments in areas of low permeability with high DWWTS density to evaluate upstream and downstream water quality (in particular phosphorus loads). It will also investigate 2 trial catchments in areas of Extreme vulnerability to evaluate microbial pathogen and phosphorus impact on wells (in addition to groundwater baseflow contributions into rivers). Finally, the project will determine a cost effective method of fingerprinting DWWTS loads on both domestic wells and rivers from a synthesis of exisitng team expertise, international literature review and targeted sampling of wells and rivers in the 4 trial catchments. The expected outputs are as follows: - final report and 2-page summary report - advice for appropriate low cost fingerprinting techniques for DWWTS effluent. - at least 6 peer reviewed papers in highly ranked international journals - research capacity buidlign in the field of contaminnant hydrology with 3 PhD students - input into national media fora - data and analysis for policy makers with repst to deicison being made on the pressures n catchments in both surface water and groundwater
Grant Approved
�416,677.15
Research Hub
Natural Environment
Research Theme
Improve our Knowledge on the State of our Water Resources and Pressures
Initial Projected Completion Date
01/04/2016