Wexford County Council Appropriate Assessment for The

Wexford County Council Bannow Bay Appropriate Assessment

Wexford County Council

Appropriate Assessment for the purposes of the Waste Water

Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007

(S.I. No 684 of 2007)

For For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 5 Stage 1 Screening ...... 5 Section A.1 Individual site screening ...... 6 A.1.1 Adamstown and Environs ...... 6 Management of Site ...... 6

Description of the Project ...... 6

Assessment of Significance ...... 11

A.1.2 Ballycullane and Environs Agglomeration ...... 14 Management of Site ...... 14

Description of the Project ...... 14

Assessment of Significance ...... 18

A.1.3 Carrick and Environs Agglomeration ...... 21 Management of Site ...... 21

Description of the Project: ...... 21

Assessment of Significance ...... 25

A.1.4 Clongeen and Environs ...... 28 Management of Site ...... 28

For inspection purposes only. Description of the Project:Consent of copyright...... owner required for any other use...... 28

Assessment of Significance ...... 32

A.1.5 Fethard and Environs ...... 34 Management of Site ...... 34

Description of Project ...... 34

Process Description ...... 35

Assessment of Significance ...... 39

A.1.6 Newbaun and Environs ...... 40 Management of Site ...... 40

Project description ...... 40

Assessment of Significance ...... 43

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A.1.7 St Bridget’s Terrace and Environs (Tellarought) ...... 45 Management of Site ...... 45

Project Description ...... 45

Assessment of Significance ...... 48

A.1.8 Wellingtonbridge Environs ...... 50 Management of Site ...... 50

Project Description ...... 50

Process Description ...... 52

Assessment of Significance ...... 53

Characteristics of Site (Bannow Bay and its designation status) ...... 55 Special Protected Area ...... 55 Special Area of Conservation ...... 56 National Heritage Area ...... 56 European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations ...... 56 Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment ...... 57 Introduction ...... 57 Fethard and Environs – Appropriate Assessment ...... 57 Qualifying Interests (Habitats/Species) ...... 57 Habitats: ...... 57

...... 58 Species – Flora/Fauna For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Flora ...... 58

Fauna ...... 59

Site Conservation Objects ...... 60 Direct Impact Prediction ...... 62 Cumulative Impacts ...... 63

Mitigation Measures ...... 64 Wellingtonbridge and Environs – Appropriate Assessment ...... 68 Qualifying Interests ...... 68

Qualifying Interests (Habitats/Species) ...... 68 Habitats: ...... 68

Species – Flora/Fauna ...... 69

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Flora ...... 69

Fauna ...... 70

Site Conservation Objects ...... 70 Direct Impact prediction ...... 73 Direct Impacts ...... 73

Cumulative Impacts ...... 75

Mitigation Measures ...... 76 Appendix ...... 79

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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Introduction

This document is an “appropriate assessment” for waste water discharges occurring from Wexford County Council Agglomerations which either directly discharge or ultimately discharge to Bannow Bay Nature

Conservation Sites.

This appropriate assessment is prepared in accordance with EPA guidance notes and Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government

Circular Letter L8/08 with data from the NPWS web Site and the SERBD, in combination with Wexford County Council data.

As this report is a commutative report covering all agglomerations within the catchments of Bannow Bay nature conservation sites, namely Adamstown and

Environs, Ballycullane and Environs, Carrick and Environs, Clongeen and

Environs, Fethard and Environs, Newbaun and Environs, St Bridget’s Terrace and Environs (Tellarought) and Wellingtonbridge and Environs. Location of

For inspection purposes only. the agglomerations and dischargeConsent of copyright points owner required in relationfor any other use. to the receiving waters and designated sites are outlined in the Map attached in appendix 1.

Stage 1 Screening Note:

As there are 8 agglomerations of interest within the catchment(s) of the

Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites, each agglomeration’s individual screening process is outlined in section A.1 below. However, as each agglomeration shares ‘common’ Nature Conservation Sites, ‘common’ details of the characteristics of the Nature Conservation Sites are provided in

Section A.2 below.

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Section A.1 Individual site screening

A.1.1 Adamstown and Environs

Management of Site The Adamstown agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature

Conservation Site.

Description of the Project The Adamstown Agglomeration is serviced by Adamstown Waste Water

Treatment Plant, which is located at Woodview Drive housing estate,

Adamstown.

The plant treats the waste water generated within the Adamstown

Agglomeration from both domestic and institutional sources to a secondary standard. There are currently no plans in place to either increase the existing plant size or to modify the treatment process.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Sources of Emissions from the Waste Water Works: There is one single discharge from the Adamstown Waste Water Treatment

Plant, the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to the receiving stream, (head waters of Tomgarrow River, which discharges to the Corock River North of Foulkesmill) located adjacent to the plant.

The nature and quantities of foreseeable emissions from the waste water works into the receiving aqueous environment as well as identification of significant effects of the emissions on the environment:

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The plant is designed to cater for a population equivalent of 900 or 54 Kg of

BOD daily with a 25/35 discharge standard. There are no plans to increase the plant beyond its current size.

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There are currently no proposals with regard to above.

Further measures planned to comply with the general principle of the basic obligations of the operator, i.e., that no significant pollution is caused:

It is Wexford County Councils intention to continue to operate and maintain the existing plant to ensure that the above obligations are met.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

Wexford County Council will monitor the final effluent, in accordance with For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. our monitoring regime. This work is undertaken on behalf of Wexford County

Council by an independent ILAB accredited laboratory. The contract for this testing is renewed every three years by open procurement. The current contract is with Environmental Services Limited, Acorn Business Campus,

Mahon Industrial Park, Blackrock, Co. Cork. The current contract has just been renewed for a period of 3 years and thus the contract will have to be re-tendered under open procurement regulations in January of 2012.

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Plant Process and Design Capacity:

The Adamstown Waste Water Treatment Plant was originally constructed in the mid 1970’s with Primary Treatment only, which solely serviced the

Woodview Drive housing estate. In 1995, a new Waste Water Treatment Plant was constructed on the existing site to service the greater Adamstown

Agglomeration, to provide treatment to a secondary standard, utilising Rotating

Biological Contactors (RBC) as the treatment process. At this stage, both the primary settlement and humus settlement elements were over sized to cater for future expansion, with RBC treatment capacity of 600 P.E. being provided.

In 2000, additional treatment capacity of 300 P.E. was provided by the fitting of a third RBC unit, taking the plant treatment capacity up to 900 P.E.

The raw sludge enters the site at manhole No 1, (which is fitted with an emergency overflow, which directs excess flows around the secondary treatment element (RBC units) directly to the humus settlement tank). From manhole 1, the flow enters the inlet of the primary settlement tank, where For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. gross solids are allowed to settle (settled sludge is removed and disposed by a tanker, approximately every 13 weeks). This settlement process removes approximately 40% of the Total Suspended Solids and 30 % of the Biological

Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

From the primary settlement tank, liquor is split and flows by gravity to the 3 no. installed RBC units, which operate in parallel. The RBC principle of operation is extended aeration, where the biological activity is carried out by the biological growth on the surface area of the discs, with the oxygen being

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Following the RBC units, flows are recombined and flow by gravity to the humus settlement tank, where the suspended humus, resulting from biological activity in the RBC, is allowed to settle. Settled final effluent is then discharged (by displacement) to the receiving waters.

The humus sludge tank is equipped with a sloping floor and 2 No. sludge return pumps operating as duty/standby. The function of these pumps is to remove settled sludge from the humus tank and return it to manhole No 1, from where it flows into the primary tank (the logic for this process step is improve both primary tank settlement and optimise settlement capacity in the humus tank).

Summary of Plant results:

The average results of effluent discharge from the Adamstown and Environs For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. agglomeration is summarised in table A.1.1 below, all sampling was by grab.

Table A.1.1 Summary of Adamstown effluent results

Chemic al Total Total Oxygen Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl Deman Suspende Phosphoro Nitrogen(TO Phosphat Nitroge Ammoni Nitroge d d Solids us BOD N) e n a n Date mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 20-Jan-09 17 18 1.7 12 8.66 0.8 12 4.07 < 1 17-Feb-09 40 6 4.4 8 6.1 3.87 22.9 12.9 3.9 23-Mar-09 49 12 4 12 17.9 3.94 21.7 6.6 < 3 09-Apr-09 29 9 2.5 10 7.13 1.59 14.2 5.01 2.1 12-May- 09 37 9 4 5 16.4 3.18 20.7 2.53 1.8 08-Jun-09 29 < 1 4.6 6 17.9 2.65 19.24 0.713 < 1 14-Jul-09 32 8 1.61 12 5.18 1.49 12.5 7.52 1 11-Aug-09 34 24 5.8 9 18.8 4.68 23.48 4.98 < 1 33.38 12.29 3.58 9.25 12.26 2.78 18.34 5.54 2.20

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Additional comments/clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Primary

Discharge Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to a head stream of the Tomgarrow River, some 15km upstream of the ultimate discharge to the Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites via the Corock River.

This application does not propose nor seek approval for any additional civil works (excavation, construction, intrusion works etc) nor modification of the treatment process or site activities, nor expansion of the discharge beyond its current capacity and committed loading.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on the Bannow

Bay Nature Conservation Sites is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the original discharge (primary treated) installed in the late 1970’s and the existing upgraded treatment level in place since 1995. Therefore, it would be For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. fair to infer that, as the discharge preceded the site designation (and indeed issuing of father directive) the requirements for knowledge of the existence of the development by, and consultation with, all interested parties, have been meet.

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Assessment of Significance

Assessment as per Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1

1. Is the development in a nature conservation site? No.

2a. Is the development in the surface catchments of a nature

conservation site? Yes. Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites.

Discharge occurs to a tributary stream of the Tomgarrow River, some

15km upstream of the ultimate discharge to Bannow Bay via the Corock

River.

2b. Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a

nature conservation site? No.

There are no designated nature conservation sites within 5 Km of the

discharge, the nearest designated site is Wexford Harbour and Slobs,

SPA site code 004076. However, the natural surface water catchment is

towards Bannow Bay and the determined Groundwater basin is the For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Fethard basin, thus, neither surface nor ground water from the area of

the discharge is directed to the Wexford Harbour and Slobs designated

area, therefore, the project does not effect the Wexford Harbour and

Slobs designated area water quality nor its dependant habitats and

species.

3. Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

4. Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes.

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There are sub basin plans for the actual area of the discharge, namely

the Tomgarrow River, tributary of the Corock Sub Basin Plan and the

Adamstown Ground Water Sub Basin Plan, in addition to the Sub Basin

Plan for Bannow Bay from the SERBD.

Based on the following Points:

• The Primary and sole discharge occurs at a head stream of the

Tomgarrow River, some 15km upstream of the ultimate discharge to

Bannow Bay via the Corock River.

• Based on the monitoring results, there is a reduction in water quality

downstream of the discharge, however, given the large increase in

water body volume from the actual point of discharge and the lead

time to the confluence of the Tomgarrow and Corock River, it would

be feasible to state that the impacts, if any, are well assimilated in

the Tomgarrow River prior For inspection to the purposes discharge only. to the Corock River, let Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. alone at the ultimate discharge to the Bannow Bay.

• While the Tomgarrow River is not monitored as part of the WFD River

Monitoring Programme conducted on behalf of Wexford County

Council by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional

Laboratory, Kilkenny, a number of points on the Corock River are

monitored. The two monitoring points of interest are the station at

Aughaphort Br (13C01-0020) situated upstream of the confluence of

the Tomgarrow and Corock Rivers, and the station located at the

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Bridge East of Foulkesmill (13C01-0100), which is located downstream

of the confluence of the Rivers.

• The results from these two monitoring stations show that the overall

Biological and Chemical Water Quality disapproves after the

confluence of both rivers, indicating that the water quality in the

Tomgarrow River is superior to that of the Corock River. The EPA

“River Water Quality in Co Wexford” Report for 2008 assesses the

Corock River as follows: “Nitrate levels are moderately elevated –

otherwise water quality is normally satisfactory. However, the Corock

River has been subjected to intermittent agricultural pollution (BOD,

o-phosphate & ammonia are elevated sporadically)”.

Conclusion

Therefore, based on the points above, the assessment of impacts of the discharge is that; while there is a localised impact in water quality For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. immediately downstream of the discharge, the receiving waters have recovered prior to the ultimate discharge to the Nature Conservation Sites, and as such, the discharge is not impacting on Bannow Bay Nature

Conservation Sites, specified habitats or dependant species, and no further assessment is required.

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A.1.2 Ballycullane and Environs Agglomeration

Management of Site The Ballycullane agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation site.

Description of the Project

A description of the waste water works and the activities carried out therein:

The Ballycullane Agglomeration is serviced by Ballycullane Waste Water

Treatment Plant, which is located at St Martin’s Park housing estate,

Ballycullane.

The plant solely treats the waste water generated within the St Martin’s

Park estate, (which is wholly domestic) to a secondary discharge standard.

There are currently no plans in place to either increase the existing plant size or to modify the treatment process.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

The sources of emissions from the waste water works:

There is one single discharge from the Ballycullane Waste Water Treatment

Plant, the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to the receiving stream.

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The plant is designed to cater for a population equivalent of 125 p.e or 7.5

Kg of BOD daily with a 25/35 discharge standard. There are no plans to increase the current plant beyond its current size.

As the plant is not equipped with flow measurement, the estimated Dry

Weather Flow based on served population of 212 P.E., the calculated Dry

Whether flow is 35.40 cubic meters per day.

Flow = P.E. multiplied by 167l

212 * 167l = 35.40 cubic meters

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There are currently no proposals with regard to above.

Further measures planned to comply with the general principle of the basic obligations of the operator, i.e., that no significant pollution is caused: For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. It is Wexford County Councils intention to continue to operate and maintain the existing plant to ensure that the above obligations are met.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

Wexford County Council monitors the final effluent, in accordance with our monitoring regime (4 times per year). This work is undertaken on behalf of

Wexford County Council by an independent ILAB accredited laboratory. The contract for this testing is renewed every three years by open procurement.

The current contract is with Environmental Services Limited, Acorn Business

Campus, Mahon Industrial Park, Blackrock, Co. Cork. The current contract

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2012.

Plant Process and Design Capacity

The Ballycullane Waste Water Treatment Plant was originally constructed in the mid 1970’s with Primary Treatment only. Around 1994/95 a new Waste

Water Treatment Plant was constructed on the existing site to overcome poor performance and pollution issues arising from original plant, which was sized to service additional houses within the estate.

Ballycullane plant is designed to discharge a secondary standard effluent, utilising Submerged Aerated Media (SAM) as the treatment process. The stated capacity of the treatment unit is 125 p.e.

The raw sewage enters the site at manhole No 1. From Manhole 1, the flow enters the inlet of the primary settlement zone, where gross solids are allowed For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. to settle (settled sludge is removed and disposed by a tanker, approximately every 13 weeks). This settlement process removes approximately 40% of the

Total Suspended Solids and 30 % of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

From the primary settlement zone, settled liquor flows by displacement into the aeration zone. The aeration zone utilises the activated sludge process, additionally, it has fixed hard plastic media, which greatly increases the available surface area for bacterial action to occur, thus providing a high level of treatment activity for a given volume. Aeration of this zone is by means of

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fixed floor mounted diffusers, with air supplied by a surface mounted air

blower which operates continuously.

Following the aeration zone, liquor flows by displacement into the secondary

settlement zone, where suspended sludge particles are allowed to settle

(settled sludge is returned to the primary zone by means of an air lift pump

automatically on a routine basis ca every 6 hrs). From the secondary

settlement zone, treated final effluent flows by displacement into the outlet

manhole and discharges, via the old outlet line (combination of a french drain

and 150mm uPVC piping), to the receiving water (field drainage ditch network),

which forms part of the head waters of the local Taulaght Stream.

Summary of Plant results

Summary Average effluent results for 2007 / 2009 are outlined below in

table A.1.3

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Table A.1.3

Chemical Total Oxygen Suspended Total Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl Demand Solids Phosphorous BOD Nitrogen(TON) Phosphate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 61.44 15.67 8.23 12.56 2.41 7.79 47.81 40.69 9.72

Additional comments/clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Primary

Discharge Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to the

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Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the original discharge (primary treated) installed in the late 1970’s and the existing upgraded treatment level in place since 1995. Therefore, it would be fair to infer that, as the discharge preceded the site designation (and indeed issuing of father directive) the requirements for knowledge of the existence of the development by, and consultation with, all interested parties have been meet. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Assessment of Significance

As part of this certificate application an assessment under Circular Letter

L8/08 was conducted, details as follows:

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? No.

2a. Is the development in the surface catchments of a nature conservation site? Yes. Bannow Bay Nature Conservations Sites. The actual point of discharge is headwaters of a local stream some 3.4 upstream of designated areas.

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2b. Is the development in the groundwater catchments or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? Yes . The discharge point is only 2.6 linear meters from designated areas

3. Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

4. Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes. “South East River Basin District Bannow Bay sub basin plan”.

5. Therefore based on L8/08 further assessment is required at this stage.

Based on the following points

• Distance of discharge point from designated waters, discharge

occurs 3.4 Km upstream of designated areas.

• Level of treatment provided: plant is designed to 25/35

standard i.e. 25mg/l (BOD) and 35 mg/l (TSS), and with the

measured average effluent quality as outlined above of 12.6mg/l

For inspection purposes only. BOD and 15.56mg/lConsent of copyright of TSS. owner required for any other use.

• The size of the plant in P.E. and the discharge volumes involved,

i.e. 212 P.E. and dry weather flow of 35.4 cubic meters per day.

• The relative minuscule contribution from Ballycullane

discharge/Taulaght Stream to that of overall fresh water

discharges to Bannow Bay.

Conclusion

Based on the above points, it would be fair to state that any direct impacts, if any, from the Ballycullane Discharge are localised to the headwaters of

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Bannow Bay and thus its specified habitats or species.

This deduction is supported by the Department of Marine action plan conducted under regulation 6 of S.I. No 268 of 2006 European Communities

(Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006, (action plan was prepared for Bannow Bay).

The action plan specifically states that the discharge from Ballycullane is not impacting on Bannow Bay water quality (Page 4 Discharges assessed as not impacting on water quality within designated area, copy attached in appendix 2).

Therefore no additional assessment is required at this stage.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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A.1.3 Carrick and Environs Agglomeration

Management of Site The Carrick Agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation site.

Description of the Project:

A Description of the Waste Water Works and the Activities Carried Out

Therein:

Carrick Waste Water Treatment Plant treats the waste water arising within the Carrick Agglomeration, utilising the Sequence Batch Reactor (SBR) process, with a design population of 600 P.E.

The sources of Emissions/Nature of emissions from the Waste Water

Works:

The sole emission from the wasteFor inspection water purposes only. treatment plant is the Primary Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to the receiving waters. In addition, the Primary Discharge also discharges surface and ground water generated within the site, plus the flow arising from the emergency storm overflow, from the inlet balancing tank.

While there have been historical issues and complaints from the agglomeration with regards to odours, these issues, following investigation were found to be related to the collection system and not to the treatment plant or any activities or processes that are conducted within the site.

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Quantities of discharge:

With regard to future emissions, it is not envisaged that the current capacity of Carrick Waste Water Treatment Plant will be increased beyond the current design of 600 P.E. and, as such, there will not be any increases in emissions from this site beyond this level in the future.

Effect of emissions/Prevention of Pollution:

There are currently no significant impacts on the environment arising from the waste water treatment plant, thus, there are no plans in place for any improvements or process alterations.

Toxic Substances:

Monitoring conducted as part of this application shows that the levels of substances identified under the directive are either below the detection limits or well within the prescribed limits. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Technologies:

N/A

Techniques:

N/A

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Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

The Carrick Waste Water Treatment Plant is included in the county wide monitoring programme, conducted on behalf of Wexford County Council, by an independent accredited laboratory.

Process Description

The Carrick Waste Water Treatment Plant utilises the Sequence Batch

Reactor (SBR) process, in this case Biogest SBR supplied the process offered by John Molloy Engineering (Ltd) and it was selected under the Design Build

(DB) procurement process.

Raw waste water enters the site by gravity, and passes through an inlet channel where it is screened via a 6mm screen, prior to flow measurement and discharge to the inlet buffer Tank. The inlet channel is equipped with a high level screen bypass in the case of screen failure.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. As the selected process is a batch process, the inlet buffer tank acts as a storage tank while the SBR tank is not able to accept flows (in either Aeration or Decant phases). The buffer tank has a usable storage capacity of 254 cubic meters, this equates to storage of 6 times DWF for 4.2 hours at maximum design loading of 600 P.E.

In storm conditions when the inlet flow exceeds the storage capacity, settled diluted influent will overflow from the buffer tank, bypassing the SBR and discharging directly to the effluent discharge line, discharging to the receiving waters at SW1.

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The buffer tank is equipped with 2 No. forward feed pumps, which operate either as duty/standby or duty/assist depending on the inlet buffer tank levels. The forward feed pumps discharge the contents of the buffer tank to the SBR tank.

The Biogest SBR is a conventional SBR in that it uses the four standard operational phases of fill, aerate, settle and decant. Additional processes to achieve optimisation include nitrification, de-nitrification and biological phosphorous reduction. These are inbuilt into the operational logic control system. To further reduce the Phosphorous level to less than 2mg/l, chemical dosing occurs to the end of the Aeration phases, using Poly Aluminium Chloride solution, which chemically combines with the phosphorus present, and precipitates out of the solution in the sludge.

Summary of plant effluent results

The Summary of effluent results from plant for 2009 are outlined below in For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. table A.1.3

Additional comments / clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Primary

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Discharge Point (SW1), which discharges tertiary treated effluent to the to the King’s Bridge stream some 2.9 Km upstream of stream’s ultimate discharge to coastal water (Ballyteige Bay) some 800 meters north east of

Ballymadder point.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the discharge and the existing upgraded treatment level in place since 2004. As extensive consultation was under taken at the time of planning, prior to construction of the collection system and treatment plant/discharge, requirement with regard to consultation with interested parties has been For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. met.

Assessment of Significance

Assessment as per Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1:

o Is the development within a Natural Conservation Site: No.

o Is the development within the water Catchments of Nature

Conservation Site: No . Discharge is to the King’s Stream which

ultimately discharges to Ballyteige Bay at the point which is not

designated as a Nature Conservation Site. However, there are

designated nature conservations, some 4km to the east:

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Bannow Bay Sac/NHA/Spa and Hook Head SAC and some 650

meters west of discharge point Ballyteige Burrow NHA, SAC

and SPA.

o Are the qualifying habitats/species of the site water

dependant: Yes.

o Is there a WFD Sub-basin plan in place for the site or all its

protected habitats/species: Yes. Bannow Bay Sub basin coastal

plan, Bridgetown Estuary and Eastern Celtic Sea sub basin plan.

o Under L8/08 is further assessment is required.

Additional points:

• Prior to construction of the Carrick Waste Water

Treatment Plant; extensive consultation was conducted

with interested parties, namely Central Fisheries Board,

Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Duchas.

• Resulting from these discussions, the design, For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. specification and final effluent standard were revised to

insure that any and all potential concerns raised by the

interested parties were addressed, insuring that there

would be no measured impact on water quality within the

receiving water nor Bannow Bay or resulting impairment of

either the NHA or the SPA status and that discharges

from the plant would not adversely affect water quality

for either fresh water fish or shell fish species or aqua

culture activities.

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• Additionally, given the standard of effluent discharged,

the relatively minuscule volume of discharge and P.E. of

the agglomeration and the distance from the actual point

of discharge to the boundaries of Nature Conservation

Sites, any effect of the discharge would be negligible.

Conclusion

Based on the above points, it would be fair to state that there is no direct impact on coastal water, let alone the water quality of the Nature

Conservation Sites, and thus there is no impact on the specified habitats or their specified species.

Additionally, this deduction is supported by the Department of Marine action plan conducted under regulation 6 of S.I. No 268 of 2006 European

Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006, (action plan was prepared for Bannow Bay).

The action plan specifically states that the discharge from the Carrick For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. agglomeration is not impacting on Bannow Bay water quality (Page 4,

Discharges assessed as not impacting on water quality within designated area, copy attached in appendix 2).

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A.1.4 Clongeen and Environs

Management of Site The Clongeen agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation site.

Description of the Project: A description of the waste water works and the activities carried out therein:

The Clongeen Agglomeration is serviced by Clongeen Waste Water

Treatment Plant.

The plant treats the waste water generated within the Clongeen

Agglomeration form both domestic and institutional sources. Secondary treated effluent is discharged to St Coan’s Stream, which discharges directly to Bannow Bay just east of Wellington Bridge some 3.5 KM downstream of the discharge. There are currently no plans in place to either increase the existing plant For inspection size purposesor to only. modify the treatment process. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

The sources of emissions from the waste water works:

There is one single discharge from the Clongeen Waste Water Treatment

Plant which is the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to the receiving stream.

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The Clongeen plant solely discharges treated effluent. The Plant is not equipped with flow measurement, based on calculated plant PE of 327, the estimated dry weather in cubic meters/day is 54.61 Cubic meters per day.

327(p.e.) multiplied by 167 (l/person/day) = 54.61

There are no plans to increase the plant beyond its current size.

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There are currently no proposals with regard to above.

Further measures planned to comply with the general principle of the For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. basic obligations of the operator, i.e., that no significant pollution is caused:

It is Wexford County Council’s intention to continue to operate and maintain the existing plant to ensure that the above obligations are met.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

Wexford County Council monitors the final effluent, in accordance with our monitoring regime, namely, 4 times per year. This work is undertaken on behalf of Wexford County Council by an independent ILAB accredited laboratory. The contract for this testing is renewed every three years by

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:30 Wexford County Council Bannow Bay Appropriate Assessment open procurement. The current contract is with Environmental Services

Limited, Acorn Business Campus, Mahon Industrial Park, Blackrock, Co. Cork.

The current contract has just been renewed for a period of 3 years and thus the contract will have to be re-tendered under open procurement regulations in January of 2012.

Plant Process and Design Capacity

The current Clongeen Waste Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 1994 with secondary Treatment, replacing an old PST constructed in the 1960’s. In

2007 the Waste Water Treatment Plant was upgraded to provide additional treatment capacity to cater for increased loading.

The raw sewage enters the site at manhole No. 1, from manhole 1, the flow enters the inlet of the primary settlement tanks (2 number, operating in

Parallel), where gross solids are allowed to settle (settled sludge is removed and disposed by a tanker, approximately every 20 weeks). This settlement For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. process removes approximately 40% of the Total Suspended Solids and 30 % of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

From the primary settlement tank, liquor flows by gravity to the secondary treatment unit, a “Sewpac” activated extended aeration package plant. The principle of operation is standard extended aeration process with an inbuilt secondary settlement zone, with passive sludge return to the aeration zone.

Aeration is by means of an air blower combined with diffuser pipes.

Following the “Sewpac” unit, secondary treated effluent flows by gravity to the receiving waters.

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Summary of Plant Results

The average plant results for 2007 to 2009 are outlined in table In A.1.4

below, plant has a design standard of 25/35 (BOD/ TSS)

Table A.1..4

Chemical Total Oxygen Suspended Total Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl Demand Solids BOD Phosphorous Nitrogen(TON) Phosphate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 42.71 22.57 20.71 1.91 12.16 1.38 20.12 12.44 8.42

Additional comments/clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Discharge

Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to the St Coan’s

Stream some 3.5Km upstream of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation Site.

This application does not propose nor seek approval for any additional civil For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. works (excavation, construction, intrusion works etc) nor modification of the

treatment process or site activities, nor expansion of the discharge beyond

its current capacity and committed loading.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic

environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the

original discharge (primary treated) installed in the late 1970’s and the

existing upgraded treatment level in place since 1995. Therefore, it would be

fair to infer that, as the discharge preceded the site designation (and

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:30 Wexford County Council Bannow Bay Appropriate Assessment indeed issuing of father directive) the requirements for knowledge of the existence of the development by, and consultation with, all interested parties have been meet.

Assessment of Significance Assessment as per Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1:

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? No.

2.a Is the development in the surface catchment of a nature conservation site? Yes. SW1 discharges to the St Coan’s stream, some 3.5Km upstream of St Coan’s streams discharge into Bannow bay. This point of confluence is designated both as an NHA and an SAC. The designated NHA/SAC area extends upstream from the bay area along both main feeder rivers namely The Corock River for some 5Km and the Owenduff River for some 2.9Km. These 2 rivers are the major fresh water sources for Bannow Bay; the volume contributed by the St Coan’s stream is minuscule in comparison to the flows contributed to the bay by both of these water bodies. Additional, given the distance from point of discharge (SW1) to confluence with designated waters of 3.5Km, the quality and quantities For inspection purposes only. of effluent discharged,Consent and of copyright the owner minimal required for any if other any use. impacts on receiving

waters at actual point of discharge. It would be fair to infer that the discharge from Clongeen Agglomeration (SW1) does not have a measured or significant impact on the designated waters 2.b Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? Yes. While the discharge is to surface water, the point of discharge is 3.5 Km from a nature conservation site i.e. Bannow Bay.

3 Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

4 Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? No/Yes . The St Coan’s stream (receiving water) does not form part of any natural surface water sub basin, however,

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there is a sub basin plan for the ultimate discharge of St Coan’s stream i.e. Bannow Bay Sub Basin Plan.

5 Based on L8/08, additional screening and assessment is required at this stage.

Therefore based on the above facts,

a. Distance of discharge point from designated waters

b. Level of treatment provided

c. Quality of treated effluent discharged

d. The relatively miniscule volume of discharge in comparison to

actual volume discharges to Bannow Bay (tributary rivers

Corock And Owenduff)

Conclusion

Based on the above points, it would be reasonable to state that the discharge from Clongeen Agglomeration is not impacting on receiving water quality nor quality of designated waters and thus is not impacting on Nature

Conservation sites and thus on For theirinspection purposesqualifying only. Habitats and species. This Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. deduction is supported by Department of Marine action plan conducted under regulation 6 of S.I. No 268 of 2006 European Communities (Quality of

Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006( an action plan was prepared for Bannow

Bay).

The action plan specifically states that the discharge from Clongeen is not impacting on Bannow Bay water quality (Page 4 Discharges assessed as not impacting on water quality within designated area, copy attached in appendix

2).

As such no further assessment is required at this stage.

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A.1.5 Fethard and Environs

Management of Site The Fethard Agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation site.

Description of Project

A Description of the Waste Water Works and the Activities Carried Out Therein The existing Waste Water Treatment Plant at Fethard on Sea is located on the South-east of the village and South-west of Fethard Bay. Sewage generated in Fethard on Sea Village and Environs is collected via a combined gravity collection network with one housing estate being partially pumped to the network.

The existing Fethard on Sea Waste Water Treatment Plant consists of a

For inspection purposes only. Primary Settlement Tank,Consent which of copyright provides owner required primary for any other tre use.atment of the effluent.

The effluent then discharges into a stream flowing from Grangeville into the marsh via a 225mm diameter outfall pipe. This stream then enters Fethard

Bay.

There is an overflow pipe located just before the Primary Settlement Tank at the inlet channel. This rejoins the outfall pipe (Primary Discharge) at a manhole located at the end of the Primary Settlement Tank.

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It is the intention of Wexford County Council, subject to funding, to provide new Waste Water infrastructure and a new Waste Water Treatment Plant to the required standards (as no decision of procurement method has been made, it is currently not possible to give process type of the proposed

Waste Water Treatment Plant).

The current envisaged timescale for these proposed works is as follows;

• Issuing of Tender-mid 2012

• Commencement of construction-mid/late 2013

• Completion and commissioning early to mid 2014

Please Note

The current application for a discharge licence and this report are solely for the existing plant and infrastructure, the outlined plans for upgrade network and treatment levels are cited only as planned mitigation measures only.

Process Description

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Existing Fethard on Sea Waste Water Treatment Plant

The existing Fethard on Sea Waste Water Treatment Plant is a small primary settlement tank, which has reached the end of its serviceable life, both in terms of its capacity and its level of treatment provided. The treated final effluent is also having an impact on the receiving waters, Fethard Bay.

The existing Fethard on Sea Waste Water Treatment Plant will be replaced by a new Waste Water Treatment Plant. This existing plant and site will be

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:30 Wexford County Council Bannow Bay Appropriate Assessment decommissioned once the new Fethard on Sea Waste Water Treatment Plant is constructed and operational.

As yet, it is not possible to state the exact level of treatment and final effluent standards as these details have not yet been decided. However, it would be fair to state, that given the plant location and the receiving waters designations, that the plant will provide a very high level of treatment with a very stringent final discharge standard.

Effluent results

As summary of the plant effluent results for 2009 are outlined below in

Table A.1.5

As can be seen from Table A.1.5, results are typical of Primary treatment only.

For inspection purposes only. Chemical Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Total Oxygen Suspended Total Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl Demand Solids Phosphorous BOD Nitrogen(TON) Phosphate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen O2 P O2 N03-N P N NH3-N N

mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 166.80 48.79 3.87 76.26 3.60 3.12 26.64 17.80 7.29

The table below outlines mass balance transfer to the receiving waters based on an assumed average flow rate of 32.4 daily (1.5 times calculated

DWF rates)

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Total Chemical Total Oxidised Ortho Total Oxygen Suspende Phosphorou Nitrogen(TON Phosphat Total Kejdahl Demand d Solids s BOD ) e Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen O2 P O2 N03-N P N NH3-N N Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily Kg Daily 53.94 15.78 1.25 24.66 1.16 1.01 8.62 5.76 2.36

While is not possible to calculate the predicted parameter increases as it is impossible to establish 95%ile flow rates for such a water body (Celtic Sea), however, it would be fair to state that the available dilution rate would exceed 100. Thus, the worst case parameter increase for a 100 dilution rate is outlined in the table below.

Total Chemical Total Oxidised Ortho Total Oxygen Suspende Phosphorou Nitrogen(TON Phosphat Total Kejdahl Demand d Solids s BOD ) e Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen O2 P O2 N03-N P N NH3-N N mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 1.67 0.48 0.037 0.76 0.04 0.03 0.26 0.18 0.08

With regard to increased levels detected for “list 2” compounds namely For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Arsenic (As), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) and, additionally, the compound

Selenium (Se), the measured concentrations in downstream samples exceed the measured concentration in discharged effluent and as there is at least a dilution rate of 100, these increases can not be as a result of the discharge.

Additionally, the measured concentrations detected in downstream samples are below those stipulated (List 2 Compounds) for tidal waters as per Table

2 - SI. No12/2001 – Water Quality (Dangerous Substances) Regulations,

2001.

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Therefore the Fethard Discharge is in compliance with the Dangerous

Substances Regulations.

Additional comments/clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Discharge

Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to the local land drains some 3.4Km upstream of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation Site.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. original discharge (primary treated) installed in the late 1970’s and the existing upgraded treatment level in place since 1995. Therefore, it would be fair to infer that, as the discharge preceded the site designation (and indeed issuing of father directive) the requirements for knowledge of the existence of the development by, and consultation with, all interested parties have been meet.

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Assessment of Significance Assessment as per Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1:

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? Yes. While the treatment plant is located outside of boundary of designated area, the actual discharge point (SW1) is located inside the designated area of Bannow Bay NHA / SAC.

2 a Is the development in the surface catchment of a nature conservation site? Yes. SW1 discharges to Coastal waters which form part of Bannow Bay designated area.

2 b Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? Yes.

3 Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

4 Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes . Bannow Bay sub Basin Plan

5 Based on L8/08, additional screening and assessment is required at For inspection purposes only. this stage. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Conclusion:

While sampling conducted as part of the discharge licence application indicated no measurable impact on receiving waters and not withstanding the relatively small size of the agglomeration and discharge volume, the

“precautionary principle” must apply in this case, thus full “appropriate assessment” on this discharge must be conducted.

The Appropriate assessment for Fethard is outline in part 2 of this report.

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A.1.6 Newbaun and Environs

Management of Site The Newbaun agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation site.

Project description A description of the waste water works and the activities carried out therein: The Newbaun Agglomeration consists solely of the LA Housing Estate Beech

View Place which is serviced by Newbaun Waste Water Treatment Plants.

The plant solely treats the Waste Water generated within the Beech View

Place Estate, which is domestic in nature. The level of treatment provided is to Primary standard.

The sources of emissions from the waste water works:

There is one single discharge from For inspection the purposes Beech only. View Waste Water Treatment Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Plant which is the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to a Percolation area.

There are no recorded complaints of either noise or odour in relation to plant.

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The Plants are not equipped with flow measurement, based on the calculated plant PE, the estimated dry weather flow is 5.3 cubic meters/day, based on

32 P.E. at 167 l/h/d.

There are no plans to increase the current plant beyond its current size.

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There are currently no proposals with regard to above.

Further measures planned to comply with the general principle of the basic obligations of the operator, i.e., that no significant pollution is caused:

It is Wexford County Councils intention to continue to operate and maintain the existing plant to ensure that the above obligations are met.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment: For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. The discharge from Beech View plant is currently not routinely monitored, due to plant and discharge to percolation.

Plant Process and Design Capacity

The raw sewage enters the site at manhole No 1, from Manhole 1, the flow enters the inlet of the primary settlement tank, where gross solids are allowed to settle (settled sludge is removed and disposed by a tanker, approximately every 26 weeks). This settlement process removes approximately 40% of the

Total Suspended Solids and 30% of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

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From the primary settlement tank, liquor flows by gravity to the Percolation area

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Discharge

Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to the local land drains some 3.4Km upstream of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation Site.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Test Results

As discharge is to percolation and the agglomeration is less than 100 P.E. there is no routine effluent testing conducted.

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Assessment of Significance Screening under Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1:

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? No.

2.a Is the development in the surface catchment of a nature conservation site? Yes . Bannow bay nature conservation site, however, there is no discharge from the agglomeration to surface waters, additionally, the site is in excess of 6km from the nearest point of a designated area. 2b. Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? Yes. Discharge to ground is only about 2 Km from the Wexford and Harbour Slobs which is designated both NHA and SPA, however, the groundwater catchments in which Newbaun lays is the Fethard Groundwater sub basin which encompasses Bannow Bay designated areas. Additionally, the Wexford Harbour and Slobs designated area solely lies in the Castlebridge groundwater sub-basin. Thus, the discharge does not in any way encroach on Wexford Harbour and slobs designated areas.

3 Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 6. Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes. There are Sub Basin plans from SERBD for Fethard Ground Water sub basin and Bannow Bay coastal sub basin plan. 7. 8. Based on L8/08 no further assessment is required at this stage

Conclusion

Given the following points

• That there is no surface water discharge from the Newbaun site i.e.

discharges is to ground via percolation.

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• The distance of percolation discharge from nearest point of

designated area, i.e. in excess of linear 6Kms,

• The minuscule volume of discharge i.e. calculated dry weather flow of

5.3 cubic meters per day

It would be fair to state that the Newbaun agglomeration discharge (SW1) is not impacting on ground water quality, thus, no further assessment is required at this stage.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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A.1.7 St Bridget’s Terrace and Environs (Tellarought)

Management of Site The St Bridget’s agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation sites.

Project Description

A description of the waste water works and the activities carried out therein:

The St Bridget’s Terrace Agglomeration which consists solely of the LA

Housing Estate St Bridget’s Terrace which is serviced by St Bridget’s

Terrace Waste Water Treatment Plant.

The plant solely treats the Waste Water generated within the St Bridget’s

Terrace Estate, which is domestic For inspection in nature. purposes only. The level of treatment provided Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. is to Primary standard.

The sources of emissions from the waste water works:

There is one single discharge from the St Bridget’s Terrace Waste Water

Treatment Plant which is the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to a Percolation area.

There are no recorded complaints of either noise or odour in relation to plant.

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The St Bridget’s Terrace plant solely discharges treated effluent. The Plant is not equipped with flow measurement, based on calculated plant PE, the estimated dry weather flow is 4 cubic meters/day based on 24 P.E. at 167 l/h/d.

There are no plans to increase the current plant beyond its current size.

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There are currently no proposals with regard to above.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

The discharge from St Bridget’s Terrace plant is currently not routinely monitored, due to plant and discharge to percolation.

Plant Process and Design Capacity

The raw sewage enters the site at manhole No 1, from Manhole 1, the flow enters the inlet of the primary settlement tank, where gross solids are allowed

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Total Suspended Solids and 30% of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

From the primary settlement tank, liquor flows by gravity to the Percolation area.

Summary of Plant Results

There is no routine monitoring conducted at this site, due to discharge to percolation and size of agglomeration

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Discharge

Point (SW1), which discharges Secondary treated effluent to the local land drains some 3.4Km upstream of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation Site. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. This application does not propose nor seek approval for any additional civil works (excavation, construction, intrusion works etc) nor modification of the treatment process or site activities, nor expansion of the discharge beyond its current capacity and committed loading.

Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

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Assessment of Significance Screening under Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1:

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? No.

2a. Is the development in the surface catchment of a nature conservation site? No. Discharge is to percolation, however, the Tellarought area is part of the upper catchments of the Owenavorragh River, which ultimately discharges to Bannow Bay Nature Conservation sites (SAC/NHA) some 15 linear Km from percolation discharge from St Bridget’s.

2b. Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? .Yes Discharge to ground is about 4.5 Km from Ballykell Marsh NHA, however,

discharge is down gradient For ofinspection the purposes designated only. area of Ballykell Marsh Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. NHA and natural gradient is in the direction of Bannow Bay, some 15km from the discharge point.

3 Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

4 Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes. South East River Basin District Adamstown Ground Water Sub Basin plan and the Bannow Bay coastal waters sub basin plans

9. Based on L8/08 no further assessment is required at this stage

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Additional Comments

The estimated discharge volume is only 4 cubic meters per day.

Conclusion

There is an extremely low probability of any possible impacts on the designated area arising from the discharge of St Bridget’s Terrace and as such no further assessment is required.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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A.1.8 Wellingtonbridge Environs

Management of Site The Wellingtonbridge agglomeration and its discharge are neither directly connected nor necessary to the management of the Bannow Bay Nature conservation sites.

Project Description A description of the waste water works and the activities carried out therein:

The Wellingtonbridge Agglomeration is serviced by Wellingtonbridge Waste

Water Treatment Plant; the level of treatment provided is to Primary standard.

The sources of emissions from the waste water works:

There is one single discharge For inspection from purposes the only. Wellingtonbridge Waste Water Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Treatment Plant which is the Primary Discharge point (SW1), which discharges treated effluent to the receiving water, the head of Bannow Bay.

There are no recorded complaints of either noise or odour in relation to plant.

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The Wellingtonbridge plant solely discharges primary treated effluent. The

Plant is not equipped with flow measurement, based on calculated plant PE, the estimated dry weather flow is 11.8 cubic meters/day based on 71 P.E. at

167 l/h/d.

There are no plans to increase the current plant beyond its current size.

The proposed technology and other techniques for preventing or, where this is not possible, reducing emissions from the waste water works:

There is a proposal subject to funding to provide both an extended collection network and upgraded treatment for the general Wellingtonbridge area, however, as this very much subject to funding these proposed works will be subject of a latter application.

Measures planned to monitor emissions into the environment:

The discharge from the Wellingtonbridge plant is currently monitored, as part of County wide monitoring programme conducted on behalf of Wexford

County Council by an independent accredited Laboratory 4 times per year.

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Process Description

Plant Process and Design Capacity

Total Suspended Solids and 30% of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loading.

From the primary settlement tank, liquor flows by gravity via a field drain to the receiving water.

Additional comments/clarification

This application is being made under the Waste Water Discharge

(Authorisation) Regulations 2007 and is solely for the pre-existing Discharge For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Point (SW1), which discharges Primary treated effluent to a local land drain, which discharges some 80m downstream to the estuarine section of the

Corock River, the area of confluence is within the NHA/SAC and 1 Km upstream of the SPA Designated Areas for Bannow Bay..

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Therefore, the only potential source of any possible impact on Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Site is solely from the discharge to the aquatic environment.

Additionally, the discharge, as outlined above, is pre-existing, with the original discharge (primary treated) installed in the late 1960’s

Therefore, it would be fair to infer that, as the discharge preceded the site designation (and indeed issuing of father directive) the requirements for knowledge of the existence of the development by, and consultation with, all interested parties have been meet.

Summary of plant Results .

A summary of Wellingtonbridge effluent results for the 2007 to 2009 period are outlined in table A.1.7 below, all sampling was by grab method.

Quality of final effluent is less than that predicted for primary treated effluent.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Total Total Chemica Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl l Oxygen Suspende Phosphorou Nitrogen(TON Phosphat Nitroge Ammoni Nitroge Demand d Solids s BOD ) e n a n O2 P O2 N03-N P N NH3-N N mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 263.5 478.04 108.81 6.33 8 1.75 4.61 49.33 42.45 9.70

Assessment of Significance Screening under Circular Letter L8/08 Appendix 1

1 Is the development in a nature conservation site? No . The plant is located outside of the designated areas for Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites .

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2a. Is the development in the surface catchment of a nature conservation site? Yes. The initial discharge point is only 80m from the designated waters of Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites.

2b. Is the development in the groundwater catchment or within 5Km of a nature conservation site? Yes. The plant and initial discharge point are at nearest are only 80m from designated areas.

10. Are the qualifying habitats and species of the site water dependant? Yes.

11. Is there a WFD sub-basin plan for the site or its protected habitats/species? Yes. South East River District Coastal Sub Basin Plans for Bannow Bay.

12. Based on L8/08 further assessment is required at this stage.

Conclusion

Not withstanding the relatively miniscule agglomeration loading and discharge volumes, under the precautionary principle, this discharge/project

For inspection purposes only. must undergo appropriate Consentassessment. of copyright owner required for any other use.

The Appropriate assessment for Fethard is outline in part 2 of this report.

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Characteristics of Site (Bannow Bay and its designation status)

Bannow Bay is located on the South East Coast of County Wexford and is a relatively large estuarine site and is designated under Natura 2000 Sites of

Nature Conservation for the following:

Special Protected Area Bannow Bay is a designated Special Protected Area (SPA) – Site Code IE

0004033, designation status as an SPA under the E.U. Birds Directive

(79/409/EEC) was granted due the important numbers of wintering wildfowl it supports, due to the presence of excellent feeding grounds in the form of inter-tidal mud and sand flats and the existing of ideal roosting grounds in the form of salt Marshes, sand dunes and surrounding habitats.

The site supports a number of Annex 1 of the Bird Directives species,

For inspection purposes only. namely, the Golden Plover,Consent of Bar-Tailed copyright owner required Godwit, for any other Blackuse. -Tailed Godwit and

Redshank. Additionally, there are two important breeding species within the site which are listed in Annex 1, namely the Little Tern and Kingfisher. The site is also of international importance for Brent Geese.

The National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) SPA site Synopsis issued in February 2004 states that “Bannow Bay SPA provides an excellent example of an enclosed estuarine system with habitats of general good quality” and, additionally, “There is no serious imminent threats to the wintering birds”. It also outlines that the only perceived threats come from

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:32 Wexford County Council Bannow Bay Appropriate Assessment shore activities generally associated with the shellfish farming conducted within the Bay area.

Special Area of Conservation Bannow Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (Site Code

IE0000697) under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), due to the existence of 11 coastal habitats which are listed under Annex 1 of the

Habitats Directive. The primary Annex 1 habitats are Salt Marshes (which are of exceptional species diversity and rarity); most are primary Atlantic

Salt Marshes, however, there are some occurrences of the Mediterranean type.

Halophilious Scrub (which occurs in 4 of the large salt marshes).

Dunes: The site contains Embryonic shifting sand dunes and White Sand

Dunes, in addition to the priority Habitat Grey Dunes which are also present.

Additionally, the legally protected Red Data Book Plant species Perennial

Glasswort also occurs within site. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

National Heritage Area Bannow Bay is designated as an NHA (Site Code 0000697); unfortunately, as yet, no detailed site synopsis from the NPWS is available. However, NHA status is the primary protection for wildlife within the Republic of Ireland.

European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations Bannow Bay is designated under S.I. No 268 of 2006 European Communities

(Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006, (Schedule 3)

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Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment

Introduction

Following the screening process conducted in Stage 1 of this report only 2 sites were considered to require appropriate assessment, namely, Fethard and Environs, and Wellingtonbridge and Environs.

As previously discussed and outlined in Stage 1 Screening the only possible impacts for either of these sites is solely to the aquatic environment.

Fethard and Environs – Appropriate Assessment

Qualifying Interests

Based on data from the NPWS Site Synopsises for the Bay Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Sites (SAC/SPA, as yet NHA Synopsises is not For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. available) the site is designated for the following qualifying habitats and species:

Qualifying Interests (Habitats/Species)

Habitats: According to SAC site synopsis from the NPWS, the Estuary (inclusive of salt-marshes) composes some 83% of the site, with up to 75% of estuary substrate exposed at low tide.

There are 11 coastal habitats listed under Annex I (EU Habitats Directive) habitats within the Bannow Bay designated area.

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The qualifying habitats (i.e. those habitats present which lead to designation) are as follows:

Inter-tidal Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes (predominately Atlantic Salt

Meadow, Mediterranean type is also present), Halophilious scrub, Dunes

(Embryonic shifting dunes, White dunes and Some Fixed Grey dunes), Fresh water habitats of, Marsh, Reed and Willow.

Species – Flora/Fauna As previously discussed and outlined in stage 1 of this report, the only possible source of potential impact rising from the discharge (SW1) from

Fethard WWTP to the Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites is to the aquatic environment. As such, species associated with habitats which are terrestrial in nature (Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic shifting dunes,

White dunes and Some Fixed Grey dunes)) and thus not in any manner impacted by Aquatic environment are excluded.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Flora Common Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia maritima), Creeping Brent (Agrosistis stolonifera), Sea Arrow-grass (Triglochin maritime), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) are to be found in the Atlantic Salt meadow habitat. Additionally, in the area of Fethard there is an abundance of Sea Purslane (Halimione maritmus)

Sea Rush (Jancus maritimus) a species more associated Mediterranean salt meadows is also present in larger areas of the salt marsh.

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In the fresh water habitats to the north of site, Common Rush, with young

Willow, with Hemlock water droplet, are abundant in the ground layer.

In other wetland areas Pharagmites Reed, Meadow Sweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Marsh Marigold and Greater Tussock-sedge (Carex paniculata) are present.

None of the above species are listed under Annex 11 of the Habitats/Birds

Directive and European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997.

Additionally, the Perennial Glasswort (Arthrocnemun perenne) is to be found in an area of site, this is a protected plant i.e., subject of a Flora

(protection) Order 1999, however, as this is a terrestrial plant species , it can not be impacted by the discharge (SW1).

Fauna Bannow bay is designated as a Special Area of Protection, predominantly due to its importance for wintering For inspectionwildfowl purposes found only. within its habitats. It is of Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. international importance for light bellied Brent Geese and of national importance for an additional 12 species, which include Golden Plover and Bar- tailed Godwit, and breeding populations of Little Tern and Kingfisher all 4 of which are listed in Annex 1 of the birds’ directive.

Additional numbers of Common Seal and Otter occur within the site; both species are list under Annex 11.

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Site Conservation Objects

Unfortunately NPWS, as yet, have not completed and issued a Conservation

Management Plan for Bannow Bay. However, there are general conservation objectives for various marine habitat types from NPWS Marine Web Page; of relative interest are the conservation objectives for Mudflats and

Sandflats, which compose some 83% of the Bannow Bay designated area, which are summarised as follows:

1. Maintain the range of mudflats/sandflats within Ireland

2. Maintain the distribution of same, across the national range, and

prevent in distribution pattern

3. Prevent loss of surface area of habitats with no more than 1% annually

with no more than 10% in total

4. Prevent any reduction in floral and faunal species arising from human

activity For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 5. Ensure no reduction in area or distribution of inter-tidal sea grass or

biogenic communities

6. Ensure that individual operations or activities, in combination with

other operations or activities, do not cause a change in typical species

composition in more than 25% of the area occupied by each of the

principle community types

7. Ensure that the water quality in tidal mudflats and sandflats is of

sufficient quality to maintain the integrity of the principle community

type and ensure sufficiently large habitats of suitable quality are

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available to support the long term survival of the species associated

with the habitat.

Specifically for this project i.e. discharge of effluent from the Fethard

WWTP, the potential for conflict with the conservation objects is limited

(as there is no “physical” intrusion into protected areas) to impacts which may reduce the ability of the protected habitats to maintain their range and diversity and or that of their dependant species due to significant reduction in water quality of the site (designated areas).

As previously outlined, the only potential impact arising from this project, is the discharge of Primary treated effluent from The Fethard WWTP to the aquatic environment. This effluent could potentially have a 2 fold effect on the aquatic environment, namely, nutrient enrichment and/or release of

“dangerous substances”.

Monitoring conducted as part of licence application for Fethard WWTP, on the effluent and at 2 coastal monitoring points in proximity of the outfall is For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. attached in Annex 2.

With regard to nutrient enrichment, none was detected at either coastal water monitoring points, additionally, with regard to “dangerous substances”; no abnormal levels were detected in either the effluent or the coastal water monitoring points.

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Direct Impact Prediction

Direct Impacts Protected habitats

Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic shifting dunes, White dunes and Some

Fixed Grey dunes)

These are terrestrial habitats and as such are not affected by the discharge to the coastal waters of the designated area.

Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes Atlantic Salt Meadow, Mediterranean salt meadow

These habitats could potentially be impacted on/impaired by substantially increased nutrient levels. Monitoring detected no measurable increase in water nutrient level, let alone substantial increase in levels, in the area of the discharge. Thus, there is a very low probability of impact to protected habitats or their dependant species is predicted.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Flora

As no impact is predicted on supporting habitats due to substantially increased levels of nutrients, there is a very low probability of impact predicted.

Fauna

Wildfowl

Golden Plover Godwit, Little Tern and Kingfisher Etc.

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The only source of potential impact on these species and the general wildfowl population would be reduction in nesting/feeding habitats due to elevated levels of nutrients. Given monitoring results, prediction of impact is low.

Common Seal

The potential impact on this species would be a significant reduction in prey species, as evidenced by the operation of a shellfishery within the site, there is no evidence of significant reductions in Common Seal Prey species.

Based on the above, there is no discernable direct impacts on the designated areas, which are in conflict with the general conservation of the sites.

Cumulative Impacts

The SERBD “Bannow Bay Sub Basin For inspection Plan” purposes states only. that there are no Section 4 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. or IPCC discharge licences within the water body of Bannow Bay, additionally, the water body is assigned an overall risk score of “2b not at risk” from point source discharges.

The site synopsis from the NPWS, states that the potential treats to the site, arises from human activities in particular activities related to aqua culture (shell fisheries) and farming (grazing), in addition to leisure activities of horse rising, bird watching, water sports, etc.

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The general water quality of major tributaries namely the Corock River, EPA

“River Water Quality in County Wexford” 2008 that water quality is normally satisfactory except for moderately elevated Nitrate levels, additionally, that the river is intermittently subjected to agricultural pollution (i.e. BOD , orthophosphate and ammonia are occasionally elevated).

With regard to this project i.e. Fethard WWTP effluent discharges to coastal water, there are no discharges from either Section 4 or IPC licensed sites in the region of the coast in the proximity of Fethard.

Therefore, it would be fair to state that there are no cumulative effects arising from the Fethard Discharge and that the discharge is compliant with the site conservation objectives in relation to cumulative effects.

For inspection purposes only. Mitigation Measures Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

The proposed migrations measures are as follows:

(a) Insure no further increase in discharge volume

The initial mitigation measure is to limit the Fethard agglomeration and thus its discharge by insuring no additional connections to the collection system are granted.

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This measure has been put in place by Wexford County Council Water

Services/Planning Section, until such time as alternative treatment is provided.

While this will not reduce nutrient loading discharged, it will insure no additional discharge of nutrients loading, insuring no possibility of potential additional impacts.

(b) Provision of alternative treatment and relocation of discharge.

It is the intention of Wexford County Council, subject to funding, to provide a new waste water treatment plant for the Fethard agglomeration, to provide appropriate treatment, to insure no impacts on receiving water quality.

A statement of current position is attached, giving the extent of the intended works, funding details and current envisaged timescales.

It was envisaged that the new infrastructure would be in place by 2012.

However, given the publication of DEHLG Circular L6/09 this is no longer the For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. case and timescales and any further information cannot be estimated until publication of the WSIP 2010-2012.

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Predicted Impacts of Mitigation Measures

Direct Impacts Protected habitats

Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic shifting dunes, White dunes and Some

Fixed Grey dunes)

These are terrestrial habitats and as such are not affected by the discharge to coastal waters of the designated area; as such no mitigation measures are required.

Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes Atlantic Salt Meadow, Mediterranean salt meadow

There is a very low probability of impact to protected habitats or their dependant species predicted, thus no mitigation measures other than those outlined above are required.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Flora

There is a very low probability of any impact predicted, thus no mitigation measures other than those outlined above are required.

Wildfowl,

Golden Plover Godwit, Little Tern and Kingfisher Etc.

Prediction of impact is low; no mitigation measures are required apart from those outlined above.

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Common Seal

The potential impact on this species is very low and as such additional mitigation measures are required.

Conclusion

Given the appropriate assessment above and the mitigation measures in place/proposed, it is not predicted that there will be any residual, adverse effects on the designated areas, its habitats nor dependant species and the site conservation objectives.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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Wellingtonbridge and Environs – Appropriate Assessment

Qualifying Interests

Based on data from the NPWS Site Synopsises for the Bay Bannow Bay

Nature Conservation Sites (SAC/SPA, as yet, NHA Synopsises is not available) the site is designated for the following qualifying habitats and species

Qualifying Interests (Habitats/Species)

Habitats: According to SAC site synopsis from the NPWS, the Estuary (inclusive of salt-marshes) composes some 83% of site, with up to 75% of the estuary substrate exposed at low tide.

There are there are 11 coastal For habitats inspection purposes listed only. under Annex I (EU Habitats Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Directive) habitats within the Bannow Bay designated area.

The qualifying habitats (i.e. those habitats present which lead to designation) are as follows:

Inter-tidal Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes (predominately Atlantic Salt

Meadow, Mediterranean type is also present), Halophilious scrub, Dunes

(Embryonic shifting dunes, White dunes and Some Fixed Grey dunes), Fresh water habitats of, Marsh, Reed and Willow.

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Species – Flora/Fauna

As previously discussed and outlined in stage 1 of this report, the only possible source of potential impact rising from the discharge (SW1) from

Wellingtonbridge WWTP to the Bannow Bay Nature Conservation Sites is to the aquatic environment. As such, species associated with habitats which are terrestrial in nature (Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic shifting dunes,

White dunes and Some Fixed Grey dunes)) and thus not in any manner impacted by Aquatic environment are excluded.

Flora Common Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia martima), Creeping Brent (Agrosistis stolonifera), Sea Arrow-grass (Triglochin maritime), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) are to be found in the Atlantic Salt meadow habitat. Additionally, in the area of Wellingtonbridge there is an abundance of Sea Purslane

(Halimione maritmus).

For inspection purposes only. Also Sea Rush ((JancusConsent maritimus) of copyright owner required a speciesfor any other use. more associated with

Mediterranean salt meadows is also present in larger areas of salt marsh.

In the fresh water habitats to the north of site, Common Rush, with young

Willow, with Hemlock water droplet are abundant in the ground layer.

In other wetland areas Pharagmites Reed, Meadow Sweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Marsh Marigold and Greater Tussock-sedge (Carex paniculata) are present.

None of the above species are listed under Annex 11 of the Habitats/Birds

Directive and European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997.

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Additionally, the Perennial Glasswort (Arthrocnemun perenne) is to be found in the area of the site, this is a protected plant i.e., subject of a Flora

(protection) Order 1999, however, as this is a terrestrial plant species , it can not be impacted by the discharge (SW1).

Fauna Bannow bay is designated as a Special Area of Protection predominantly due to its importance for wintering wildfowl found within its habitats. It is of international importance for light bellied Brent Geese and of national importance for an additional 12 species, which include Golden Plover and Bar- tailed Godwit and breeding populations of Little Tern and Kingfisher, all 4 of which are listed in Annex 1 of the birds’ directive. Additionally, numbers of

Common Seal and Otter occur within the site, both species are list under

Annex 11.

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Site Conservation Objects

Unfortunately NPWS as yet have not completed and issued a Conservation

Management Plan for Bannow Bay,

However, there are general conservation objects for various marine habitat types from NPWS Marine Web Page; of relative interest are the conservation objectives for Mudflats and Sandflats, which composes some

83% of Bannow Bay designated area, which are summarised as follows:

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8. Maintain the range of mudflats/sandflats within Ireland

9. Maintain the distribution of same, across the national range, and

prevent in distribution pattern

10. Prevent loss of surface area of habitats with no more than 1% annually

with no more than 10% in total

11. Prevent any reduction in floral and faunal species arising from human

activity

12. Ensure no reduction in area or distribution of inter-tidal sea grass or

biogenic communities

13. Ensure that individual operations or activities, in combination with

other operations or activities, do not cause a change in typical species

composition in more than 25% of the area occupied by each of the

principle community types

14. Ensure that the water quality in tidal mudflats and sandflats is of

sufficient quality to maintain the integrity of the principle community For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. type and ensure sufficiently large habitat of suitable quality available

to support the long term survival of species associated with the

habitat.

Specifically for this project i.e. discharge of effluent from

Wellingtonbridge WWTP, the potential for conflict with the conservation objectives is limited to (as there is no “physical” intrusion into protected areas) impacts which may reduce the ability of the protected habitats to maintain their range and diversity and or that of their dependant species due to significant reduction in water quality of site (designated areas).

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As previously outlined, the only potential impact arising from this project is the discharge of Primary treated effluent from The Wellingtonbridge

WWTP to the aquatic environment. This effluent could potentially have an effect on the aquatic environment, namely nutrient enrichment.

As the discharge occurs in the estuarine section of the designated site and no water quality sampling was possible, a “mass balance transfer” of nutrients from Wellingtonbridge WWTP to the receiving waters and the predicted increase in parameter values is outlined below.

These calculations are based on the measured concentration of discharge effluent and available hydrometric data for the main tributaries of the estuary, note: a peaking factor of 2 has been used in calculation of parameter increases.

Receiving water flow rates, using nearest available upstream hydrometric data for main tributaries

For inspection purposesDWF only. Station Number Waterbody Consent Location of copyright owner(m³/s required for any 95 percentileother use. (m³/s)

13002 COROCK FOULK'S MILL 0.0500 0.0800 13001 MULMONTRY GOFF'S BR. 0.0400 0.0800 13003 OWENDUFF MULLINDERRY 0.1200 0.1800 Total 0.2100 0.3400

Mass balance transfer using measured effluent concentrations and estimated DWF discharge volume (32 P.E. @167l/day/P.E.) is outlined below:

Chemical Total Oxygen Suspended Total Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl Loading Demand Solids Phosphorous BOD Nitrogen(TON) Phosphate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen O2 P O2 N03-N P N NH3-N N Conc- (mg/l) 166.8 48.79 3.87 76.26 3.6 3.12 26.64 17.8 7.29 Kg/day 0.9007 0.2635 0.0209 0.4118 0.0194 0.0168 0.1439 0.0961 0.0394

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Predicted increase in parameter levels for both dry weather flow rate and for 95 percentile flow rates for receiving water is outlined below. As can be seen from the table, the predicted increase in parameter values is very low.

Flow Rate receiving Chemical Total water Oxygen Suspended Total Total Oxidised Ortho Total Kejdahl (m³/s) Demand Solids Phosphorous BOD Nitrogen(TON) Phosphate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l

DWF (0.21m³/s) 18144 m³ /day 0.099286 0.0290417 0.0023036 0.045393 0.0021429 0.001857 0.015857 0.0105952 0.0043393

95 percentile (0.34m³/s) 29376 m³/day 0.061324 0.0179375 0.0014228 0.028037 0.0013235 0.001147 0.009794 0.0065441 0.0026801

Direct Impact prediction

Direct Impacts

Protected habitats

Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic For inspection shiftingpurposes only. dunes, White dunes and Some Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Fixed Grey dunes)

These are terrestrial habitats and as such are not affected by the discharge to coastal waters of designated area.

Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes Atlantic Salt Meadow, Mediterranean salt meadow

These habitats could potentially be impacted on/impaired by a substantial increase in nutrient levels.

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As there is very limited predicted increase in water nutrient levels, let alone substantial increase in levels, in area of discharge, there is a very low probability of impact to protected habitats or their dependant species predicted.

Flora

As very low impact is predicted on supporting habitats due to substantial increased levels of nutrients, there is a very low probability of impact predicted.

Fauna

Wildfowl

The only source of potential impact on these species and the general wildfowl population would be a reduction in nesting/feeding habitats due to elevated levels of nutrients. Given the predicted increase in nutrient levels predicted, the probability of impact is low. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

Common Seal

The potential impact on this species would a significant reduction in prey species, as evidenced by the operation of shellfishery within site, there is no evidence of significant reductions in Common Seal Prey species.

Based on the above there are no discernable direct impacts on the designated areas, which are in conflict with the general conservation objectives of the sites.

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Cumulative Impacts The SERBD “Bannow Bay Sub Basin Plan” states that there are no Section 4

IPCC discharge licences with in the water body of Bannow Bay , additional the water body is assigned an over risk score of “2b Not at risk” from point source discharges

The site synopsis from the NPWS, states that the potential threats to the site, arises from human activities, in particular activities related to aqua culture (shell fisheries) and farming (grazing), in addition to the leisure activities of horse rising, bird watching, water sports, etc.

The general water quality of major tributaries, namely the Corock River, as stated in the EPA “River Water Quality in County Wexford” Report 2008, is that water quality is normally satisfactory except for moderately elevated

Nitrate levels, additionally, that the river is intermittently subjected to agricultural pollution (i.e. BOD, For orthophosphate inspection purposes only. and ammonia are occasionally Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. elevated).

The project i.e. Wellingtonbridge WWTP effluent discharge is a pre existing long-term discharge, its potential cumulative are addressed above.

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Mitigation Measures

The proposed migrations measures are as follows

(a) Insure no further increase in discharge volume

The initial mitigation measure is to limit the Wellingtonbridge agglomeration and thus its discharge by insuring no additional connections to the collection system are granted.

This measure has been put in place by Wexford County Council Water

Services/Planning Section, until such time as alternative treatment is provided. While this will not reduce nutrient loading discharged, it will insure no additional discharge of nutrients loading, insuring no possibility of additional impacts.

(b) Provision of alternative treatment .

It is the intention of Wexford County Council, subject to funding to provide For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. a new Waste Water treatment plant for the Wellingtonbridge agglomeration, to provide appropriate treatment, to insure no impacts on receiving water quality.

The current position with regard to the provision of infrastructure for the

Wellingtonbridge Agglomerations is outlined as follows:

It was envisaged that the new infrastructure would be in place by

2013/2014. However, given the publication of DEHLG Circular L6/09 this is no longer the case and timescales and any further information cannot be estimated until publication of the WSIP 2010-2012.

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WWTP capacity/discharge parameters and network upgrade/extension: are currently being reviewed as part of the PR review.

Given the appropriate assessment above and the mitigation measures in place/proposed, it is not predicted that there will be any residual adverse effects on the designated areas, its habitats nor dependant species and the site conservation objectives.

Predicted impacts on qualifying interests resulting from mitigation measures:

Protected habitats

Halophilious scrub, Dunes (Embryonic shifting dunes, White dunes and Some

Fixed Grey dunes) For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. These are terrestrial habitats and as such no mitigation measures are required.

Mud and Sand flats, Salt Marshes Atlantic Salt Meadow, Mediterranean salt meadow

As a very low probability of impact to protected habitats or their dependant species is predicted, no additional mitigation measures are required above those outlined above.

Flora

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There is a very low probability of impact predicted, additionally, mitigation measures are required above those outlined above.

Wildfowl

The predicted possibility of impact is low and as such no additional mitigation measures are required.

Common Seal

The predicted possibility of impact is low and as such no additional mitigation measures are required.

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Appendix

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Bannow Bay Catchment Maps ...... ii

SAC Designated Area ...... ii SPA Designated Area ...... iv NHA Designated Area ...... v National Parks and Wildlife Service ...... vi

Site Synopsis Bannow Bay SAC ...... vi Bannow Bay Site Synopsis SPA ...... xi Department of Marine Regulation 6 action plan ...... xiii

SERBD Bannow Bay Sub Basin Plan ...... xx

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Bannow Bay Catchment Maps

SAC Designated Area

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NHA Designated Area

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Site Synopsis Bannow Bay SAC

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:35 Department of Marine Regulation 6 action plan

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EPA Export 26-07-2013:16:11:35 SERBD Bannow Bay Sub Basin Plan

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