STRIVE Report Series No.63 Industrial Applications of Membrane Technology in Ireland: A Review STRIVE Environmental Protection Agency Programme 2007-2013 NewStrive Backdc-blue:SEA ERTDI No18 Reprint 22/06/2009 08:57 Page 1 Environmental Protection Agency An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is REGULATING IRELAND’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Is í an Gníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú RIALÚ ASTUITHE GÁIS CEAPTHA TEASA NA HÉIREANN a statutory body responsible for protecting Quantifying Ireland’s emissions of greenhouse gases Comhshaoil (EPA) comhlachta reachtúil a Cainníochtú astuithe gáis ceaptha teasa na the environment in Ireland. We regulate and in the context of our Kyoto commitments. chosnaíonn an comhshaol do mhuintir na tíre hÉireann i gcomhthéacs ár dtiomantas Kyoto. police activities that might otherwise cause Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive, go léir. Rialaímid agus déanaimid maoirsiú ar Cur i bhfeidhm na Treorach um Thrádáil Astuithe, a pollution. We ensure there is solid involving over 100 companies who are major ghníomhaíochtaí a d'fhéadfadh truailliú a bhfuil baint aige le hos cionn 100 cuideachta atá generators of carbon dioxide in Ireland. chruthú murach sin. Cinntímid go bhfuil eolas ina mór-ghineadóirí dé-ocsaíd charbóin in Éirinn. information on environmental trends so that cruinn ann ar threochtaí comhshaoil ionas necessary actions are taken. Our priorities are go nglactar aon chéim is gá. Is iad na TAIGHDE AGUS FORBAIRT COMHSHAOIL protecting the Irish environment and ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT príomh-nithe a bhfuilimid gníomhach leo Taighde ar shaincheisteanna comhshaoil a chomhordú Co-ordinating research on environmental issues ensuring that development is sustainable. ná comhshaol na hÉireann a chosaint agus (cosúil le caighdéan aeir agus uisce, athrú aeráide, (including air and water quality, climate change, cinntiú go bhfuil forbairt inbhuanaithe. bithéagsúlacht, teicneolaíochtaí comhshaoil). The EPA is an independent public body biodiversity, environmental technologies). established in July 1993 under the Is comhlacht poiblí neamhspleách í an Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil MEASÚNÚ STRAITÉISEACH COMHSHAOIL STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EPA) a bunaíodh i mí Iúil 1993 faoin Its sponsor in Government is the Department Ag déanamh measúnú ar thionchar phleananna agus Assessing the impact of plans and programmes on Acht fán nGníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú chláracha ar chomhshaol na hÉireann (cosúil le of the Environment, Heritage and Local the Irish environment (such as waste management Comhshaoil 1992. Ó thaobh an Rialtais, is í pleananna bainistíochta dramhaíola agus forbartha). Government. and development plans). an Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil a dhéanann urraíocht uirthi. PLEANÁIL, OIDEACHAS AGUS TREOIR CHOMHSHAOIL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE Treoir a thabhairt don phobal agus do thionscal ar OUR RESPONSIBILITIES cheisteanna comhshaoil éagsúla (m.sh., iarratais ar Providing guidance to the public and to industry on ÁR bhFREAGRACHTAÍ cheadúnais, seachaint dramhaíola agus rialacháin LICENSING various environmental topics (including licence CEADÚNÚ chomhshaoil). We license the following to ensure that their emissions applications, waste prevention and environmental regulations). Bíonn ceadúnais á n-eisiúint againn i gcomhair na nithe Eolas níos fearr ar an gcomhshaol a scaipeadh (trí do not endanger human health or harm the environment: seo a leanas chun a chinntiú nach mbíonn astuithe uathu cláracha teilifíse comhshaoil agus pacáistí Generating greater environmental awareness ag cur sláinte an phobail ná an comhshaol i mbaol: acmhainne do bhunscoileanna agus do waste facilities (e.g., landfills, (through environmental television programmes and mheánscoileanna). incinerators, waste transfer stations); primary and secondary schools’ resource packs). áiseanna dramhaíola (m.sh., líonadh talún, large scale industrial activities loisceoirí, stáisiúin aistrithe dramhaíola); (e.g., pharmaceutical manufacturing, gníomhaíochtaí tionsclaíocha ar scála mór (m.sh., BAINISTÍOCHT DRAMHAÍOLA FHORGHNÍOMHACH PROACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT cement manufacturing, power plants); déantúsaíocht cógaisíochta, déantúsaíocht Cur chun cinn seachaint agus laghdú dramhaíola trí Promoting waste prevention and minimisation stroighne, stáisiúin chumhachta); intensive agriculture; chomhordú An Chláir Náisiúnta um Chosc projects through the co-ordination of the National the contained use and controlled release diantalmhaíocht; Dramhaíola, lena n-áirítear cur i bhfeidhm na Waste Prevention Programme, including input into of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); úsáid faoi shrian agus scaoileadh smachtaithe dTionscnamh Freagrachta Táirgeoirí. the implementation of Producer Responsibility Orgánach Géinathraithe (GMO); large petrol storage facilities. Initiatives. Cur i bhfeidhm Rialachán ar nós na treoracha maidir mór-áiseanna stórais peitreail. le Trealamh Leictreach agus Leictreonach Caite agus Waste water discharges Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and le Srianadh Substaintí Guaiseacha agus substaintí a Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Scardadh dramhuisce dhéanann ídiú ar an gcrios ózóin. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and substances that deplete the ozone layer. FEIDHMIÚ COMHSHAOIL NÁISIÚNTA Plean Náisiúnta Bainistíochta um Dramhaíl Conducting over 2,000 audits and inspections of Ghuaiseach a fhorbairt chun dramhaíl ghuaiseach a Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management EPA licensed facilities every year. Stiúradh os cionn 2,000 iniúchadh agus cigireacht sheachaint agus a bhainistiú. Plan to prevent and manage hazardous waste. Overseeing local authorities’ environmental de áiseanna a fuair ceadúnas ón nGníomhaireacht protection responsibilities in the areas of - air, gach bliain. STRUCHTÚR NA GNÍOMHAIREACHTA noise, waste, waste-water and water quality. MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE EPA Maoirsiú freagrachtaí cosanta comhshaoil údarás áitiúla thar sé earnáil - aer, fuaim, dramhaíl, Bunaíodh an Ghníomhaireacht i 1993 chun comhshaol Working with local authorities and the Gardaí to The organisation is managed by a full time Board, dramhuisce agus caighdeán uisce. na hÉireann a chosaint. Tá an eagraíocht á bhainistiú stamp out illegal waste activity by co-ordinating a consisting of a Director General and four Directors. national enforcement network, targeting offenders, Obair le húdaráis áitiúla agus leis na Gardaí chun ag Bord lánaimseartha, ar a bhfuil Príomhstiúrthóir conducting investigations and overseeing stop a chur le gníomhaíocht mhídhleathach agus ceithre Stiúrthóir. The work of the EPA is carried out across four offices: remediation. dramhaíola trí comhordú a dhéanamh ar líonra Tá obair na Gníomhaireachta ar siúl trí ceithre Oifig: Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and forfheidhmithe náisiúnta, díriú isteach ar chiontóirí, An Oifig Aeráide, Ceadúnaithe agus Úsáide damage the environment as a result of their actions. Office of Environmental Enforcement stiúradh fiosrúcháin agus maoirsiú leigheas na Acmhainní bhfadhbanna. Office of Environmental Assessment An Oifig um Fhorfheidhmiúchán Comhshaoil An dlí a chur orthu siúd a bhriseann dlí comhshaoil MONITORING, ANALYSING AND REPORTING ON THE Office of Communications and Corporate Services An Oifig um Measúnacht Comhshaoil ENVIRONMENT agus a dhéanann dochar don chomhshaol mar thoradh ar a ngníomhaíochtaí. An Oifig Cumarsáide agus Seirbhísí Corparáide Monitoring air quality and the quality of rivers, The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve members who meet several times a year to discuss lakes, tidal waters and ground waters; measuring MONATÓIREACHT, ANAILÍS AGUS TUAIRISCIÚ AR Tá Coiste Comhairleach ag an nGníomhaireacht le issues of concern and offer advice to the Board. water levels and river flows. AN GCOMHSHAOL cabhrú léi. Tá dáréag ball air agus tagann siad le chéile Independent reporting to inform decision making by Monatóireacht ar chaighdeán aeir agus caighdeáin cúpla uair in aghaidh na bliana le plé a dhéanamh ar national and local government. aibhneacha, locha, uiscí taoide agus uiscí talaimh; cheisteanna ar ábhar imní iad agus le comhairle a leibhéil agus sruth aibhneacha a thomhas. thabhairt don Bhord. Tuairisciú neamhspleách chun cabhrú le rialtais náisiúnta agus áitiúla cinntí a dhéanamh. EPA STRIVE Programme 2007–2013 Industrial Applications of Membrane Technology in Ireland: A Review (2005-ET-MS-32-M3) STRIVE Report Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency by Irish National Centre for Membrane Technology, Cork Institute of Technology Authors: Michael O’Dea and Noel Duffy ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle, Co.Wexford, Ireland Telephone: +353 53 916 0600 Fax: +353 53 916 0699 Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie © Environmental Protection Agency 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is published as part of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2007–2013. The programme is financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007–2013. It is administered on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by the Environmental Protection Agency which has the statutory function of co-ordinating