GWS-led community Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Education and Desludging Initiative - National Federation of Group Water Schemes
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GWS-led community
Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems
Education and Desludging Initiative
May 2018
Thanks
The National Federation of Group Water Schemes would like to thank the EPA for providing the funding for this
project. A special thanks to Margaret Keegan and Darragh Page for their guidance and support throughout. Also
thanks to the steering committee members for their input. And finally thanks to the individual group water
schemes for their involvement in promoting protection of their community drinking water sources.
_________________ _________________
Joe Gallagher Jean Rosney
GWS Source Catchment Co-ordinator GWS Source Catchment Co-ordinator
Dated:____________________
GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative Page 2
Project Report
Page 5 Executive summary
contents
Page 7 Section 1: Summary of deliverables
Page 11 Section 2: Project methodology and delivery
Page 19 Section 3: Summary of programme implementation schedule
Page 19 Dysart Toonagh
Page 21 Erne Valley
Page 24 Graigue Pouldine, Rahealty, Tonagha Laharden & Ashill
Page 27 Glaslough/Tyholland
Page 29 Glinsk Creggs
Page 31 Cullahill
Page 32 Ballacolla
Page 33 Barrowhouse
Page 34 Ballybricken, Carnane & Caherline/Newtown
Page 36 Additional deliverables
Page 37 Observations & Recommendations
Page 41 Appendices
Page 41 Sample household introductory letters, sign-up letter and
sign-up form
Page 43 Infographic leaflets
Page 45 GWS tailored leaflets
Page 59 Questionnaire Survey
Page 63 School visit checklist
Page 65 Delivery model for GWS implementation
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GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
The importance of intercepting grease before it reaches the septic tank was highlighted during a septic tank
inspection as part of a tour of Glinsk Creggs GWS by children from Glinsk National School on 7 November 2017.
Demonstrating his own system, scheme chairperson, Bert Curley showed how grease is intercepted in a chamber
(inset) that he empties every 3 months. He explained that this reduces the risk of blockages in the septic tank.
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Project Report
A report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that of 210 domestic waste water
Executive Summary
treatment systems (DWWTS) inspected during 2016, almost half failed to meet the required standard. The
bulk of failures related to the operation and maintenance of systems (27%) and failure to desludge (27%).
Both these categories showed a significant deterioration compared to the 2015 results when they
accounted for 23% and 14% of failures respectively. Unlicensed discharges from DWWTS, surface
ponding, leakage and rainwater water entering the system accounted for 43% of failures in total.
Because of emerging evidence that poor management (arising largely from lack of awareness) rather than
structural issues is the predominant cause of DWWTS failure, the EPA has been working with the National
Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) in recent years to address this ‘awareness/management
deficit’ within areas supplied by group water schemes. A pilot project conducted on two group water
schemes in County Louth in 2015 demonstrated a potential for group water schemes to actively raise
awareness and promote proper management of DWWTS within their own localities.
On 28 June 2016, following a detailed submission from the National Federation of Group Water Schemes
(NFGWS), the EPA approved funding of €50,000 towards a more ambitious group water scheme (GWS)-
led community domestic waste water treatment systems education and desludging initiative. The main
stated objectives were as follows;
• Further development and improvement of the delivery model, based on the conclusions and
recommendations of the pilot project review report.
• Raising awareness in the community of the value of water and the interactions and potential
impacts of both water and wastewater services on public health and the environment.
• Providing education and information to the communities in the form of household and school
visits and the development and provision of relevant educational and information publications.
• Encouraging behavioural change – and regular DWWTS maintenance in particular – on the basis
of benefit to the community and its water source, rather than just to comply with regulations.
• Protection of the drinking water source as an essential resource for the community and in line
with Water Framework Directive (WFD) obligations.
• Achieving compliance with the general objectives of the National Inspection Plan for DWWTS.
A further €50,000 was subsequently allocated towards an extension of the project into 2017. This was to
support project completion on the 6 group water schemes initially selected and on an additional 8 partic-
ipating schemes selected in 2017. The additional funding was also designed to allow completion of a
range of ‘awareness-raising’ materials and development of a delivery model that would facilitate and
inform a more general roll-out of this initiative.
In developing and improving the delivery model, the two NFGWS project co-ordinators found that
objective conditions on particular group water schemes are a key consideration. In particular, buy-in by
the GWS board and management is of critical importance and this was not always forthcoming, even
where schemes had agreed to participate. Where they did become actively engaged with school visits
and door-to-door survey work, GWS board members and managers/staff who were initially apprehen-
sive were surprised at the generally positive community response, with up to 60% of respondents pre-
pared to give positive consideration to having their systems desludged as part of the project, in addi-
tion to farmers already desludging their own systems. There were very few negative reactions across
any of the selected schemes, suggesting that with financial and other incentives, a GWS-led community
approach is a viable solution to this issue.
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GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative While the pilot project report had recommended a short timeframe (several weeks) from the start of a project to its completion, this proved impractical given that the information resources had not yet been fully developed and the work of identifying mapped premises within a source catchment proved time-consuming and problematic, especially within larger surface water catchments. The project demonstrated that prior digital mapping and iden- tification of all DWWTS premises within source catchments is essential in ensuring a much shorter timeframe, especially now that the supporting information leaflets have been produced. The project proved highly successful in raising community awareness. The production of information materials that focused on their particular locality had a positive impact as householders, farmers and other businesses imme- diately understood that they live within a drinking water source catchment and that their activities may impact neg- atively on that drinking water source. Door-to-door visits and working with local schools provided an opportunity to explain to those living within a catchment the rationale for the project and to further emphasise the importance of managing DWWTS as contributing to public health. Where school visits were completed in advance of door- to-door household surveys using tailored educational resources and a focused field trip, these proved very benefi- cial as they generated discussion of the issue within family circles. Discussions with farmers (who generally desludge and landspread waste from their own septic tank systems after mixing it with animal slurries) provided a unique opportunity to stress the importance of taking particular care when doing so. Distribution of a tailored leaflet produced by NIECE complemented this approach and was appreciated by the farmers themselves as they had little knowledge previously of what they are permitted to do or of what they should be doing with this waste. Face-to-face engagement and distribution of relevant, focused materials has resulted in behavioural change with- in the selected schemes, as illustrated by the response of respondents to the survey and the increased levels of desludging (that might otherwise never have occurred). Survey respondents understood the potential negative impact of poorly performing DWWTS on a local drinking water supply source and were informed that desludging should only be done by a contractor who is properly disposing of the waste and is providing documentary evidence to verify this. The challenge will be in maintaining and supporting behavioural change, turning an action into a process whereby systems are desludged as often as is necessary. Such a process will inevitably support the objec- tives of the Water Framework Directive, particularly in ‘at risk’ water bodies, and help achieve compliance with the general objectives of the National Inspection Plan. Survey responses suggest that householders are already aware of their legal responsibilities, but there was less awareness about where householders can source informa- tion about their DWWTS. The recommendations from this report include: • Controlling improper disposal of sludge: Low-cost emptying of DWWTS by agricultural contractors/farmers should be monitored by the relevant statutory agencies to ensure that sludge is being properly disposed of. • Disposing of sludge on lands: Farming communities need to be better informed with regard to proper disposing of sludge on lands. • Financial incentives: The report demonstrates that significant discounts (up to 50%) can be secured from com- petent contractors for the desludging of multiple tanks within a catchment as part of a community-led approach. • National School education: Consideration should be given to providing resources and/or funding for this impor- tant education initiative. Page 6
Project Report
The project commenced on 1 August 2016. A steering committee, chaired by Margaret Keegan, EPA
(later Darragh Page, EPA) and comprised of NFGWS, EPA, Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the
Section 1: Summary of deliverables
Locl Authority Waters & Communities Office (LAWCO) personnel was established to oversee its
implementation. This committee met on 23 August 2016, 11 October 2016, 22 November 2016, 18
January 2017, 11 April 2017 and 22 June 2017. There was also a site selection meeting held on the 17
February 2017 to identify and agree the nine additional group water schemes for 2017 as well as sub-
stitutes (should any of the selected schemes be unwilling to participate).
At the outset a total of 13 deliverables were identified, each of which is reported on below.
Deliverable Progress
Completed. The NFGWS appointed two staff members –
Jean Rosney and Joe Gallagher – as GWS Source Catchment
Appointment of project Co-ordinators, with responsibility for driving this project. To
co-ordinator ensure that they would have sufficient time to co-ordinate the
project, an additional NFGWS development officer was
employed.
Completed. Additional equipment was purchased for the
Procurement of relevant
project, including laptops and tablets for the project co-
equipment
ordinators.
Provision of office Completed. Additional office accommodation was sourced in
accommodation Tullamore, County Offaly.
Identification of suitable Completed. The process of selection took longer than orig-
GWSs for initial programme inally intended but the additional work helped refine the
roll-out, based on agreed selection criteria and establish a very robust system of selec-
selection criteria tion for future use.
Completed. It was initially intended to select two surface
Selection of four group
water-sourced and two groundwater-sourced GWSs. In the
water schemes for the initial
end, two surface water sourced GWSs and a cluster of four
roll-out of the programme
groundwater sourced GWSs were selected.
Further development of the Completed. See Appendix 6 for a step-by-step guide to assist
programme delivery model the implementation of this initiative within other communities.
Completed. Relevant training workshops were developed
Sourcing and development
and held in the Water Services Training Group centre in
of relevant training
Roscrea on 17 October 2016 and on 11 July 2017.
Visiting schools within the Completed. See Section 2 for information on the schools’
areas programme and Appendix 5 for the school visit checklist.
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GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
Completed through liaison with LAWCO, Local Authorities
Identifying and sourcing and others. The NFGWS also proposed a dedicated funding
additional possible sources stream towards this and other source protection measures in
of funding. our submission on the Draft River Basin Management Plan.
Completed. Catchment-specific templates & household letters
& forms were developed, as were questionnaire surveys.
Identifying and assisting Animated videos are also developed as a means of building
with the development of awareness.
additional publications and The need for specific information material for farmers in rela-
information leaflets tion to spreading of sludge was identified.
See Appendices 1 & 2 for samples of all of the above.
Development of a national
mapping strategy that will
use existing mapping and
other data sources to link Completed. All available catchment/ZOC shapefiles have
GWS source ZOC/catchment been provided to the EPA & GSI.
maps with EPA mapping of
areas at risk from DWWTS
contamination and actual
locations of DWWTS.
Identification of further Completed. 8 group water schemes participated in the second
GWSs phase of the project in 2017.
Regular reporting on Completed through steering committee and in several news
progress articles and outreach events [see page 36].
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Project Report
Project deliverables and planned completion dates
2016 2017
Action Assigned to A S O N D J F MAM J J A S O N D J F MAM
Appointment of project co-ordinators NFGWS
Procurement of relevant equipment NFGWS
Provision of office accommodation NFGWS
Identification of suitable group water Steering Group
schemes (phase 1)
Meetings with managers/boards of NFGWS
phase 1 schemes
Household questionnaire surveys NFGWS
research and development
National schools’ presentation NFGWS
review and new image designs
Identification of suitable group Steering Group
water schemes (phase 2)
Meetings with managers/boards NFGWS
of phase 2 schemes
Publication of maps for phase EPA
1 schemes
Design of tailored leaflets Steering Group
Publication of maps for phase EPA
2 schemes
Print tailored leaflets for all NFGWS
participating schemes
Compiliation of catchment database NFGWS
Development of an information NIECE
leaflet for farmers
Secure quotations from competent NFGWS
desludging contractors
National schools’ visits NFGWS
Initial door-to-door survey of NFGWS
premises
Desludging of tanks NFGWS
Follow-up (post desludging) NFGWS
questionnaire survey
Development of delivery model NFGWS
Draft report for EPA NFGWS
Final report NFGWS
Table 1. Outline of main project deliverables and progress to date
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GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative A graphic image commissioned for inclusion in the NFGWS schools’ presentation to help raise awareness about the potential threat posed by malfunctioning or poorly managed DWWTS to both groundwater and surface water bodies. Page 10
Project Report
1. The collation and mapping of all GWS source Zone of Contribution/Catchment areas
As a first step, it was decided that a Geographical Information System (GIS) map should be prepared
Section 2: Project methodology and delivery
to include all group water schemes with completed source ZOC/catchment delineation reports. The
NFGWS collated the shape files for approximately 200 such schemes. As groundwater-sourced
scheme delineation reports were developed under its supervision, the Geological Survey of Ireland
(GSI) was in a position to provide completed shape files in respect of such schemes. For surface water-
sourced schemes, individual consultants and/or group water schemes were asked to provide this infor-
mation. Once received, shape files were forwarded to the EPA for inclusion in a map that illustrates,
for the first time, the regional location and spread of GWS catchments, other than the minority of
mainly smaller schemes that had yet to complete source ZOC/catchment delineation. This was the first
step in identifying what GWSs had this information available, where they were located and if they
were located within an ‘at risk’ water body. This also allowed the EPA to cross-reference these locations
with its own database, which was layered over the GWS source ZOCs/catchments. For participating
schemes, the position of individual premises could be overlaid on these maps.
2. Selection criteria – identification of schemes for participation in the project
Following on from completion of the GIS map, the project steering committee agreed the criteria upon
which schemes would be invited to participate. Three criteria proposed by the NFGWS project co-
ordinators were adopted, viz.:
1. that participating schemes have completed source ZOC/catchment delineation reports.
2. that participating schemes have well-structured management in place.
3. that participating schemes have at least one primary school within its supply area or within
the shared management area of clustered schemes.
Several criteria proposed by the EPA were adopted, as follows;
1. that the source ZOC/catchment of participating schemes be ‘at risk’ or lie within a waterbody
designated as ‘at risk’.
2. that nitrogen & phosphorous loading be considered.
3. that a percentage of the GWS source ZOC/catchment lie within a susceptible area.
As housing density can be very low within the source ZOCs of small groundwater supplied schemes,
in particular, the steering committee agreed that to justify inclusion of small schemes with low ZOC
housing density where these could be grouped together or where there was a shared manager in place.
Based on these criteria, the following shortlist was agreed on 11 October 2016, the NFGWS project co-
ordinators having previously contacted the scheme managers and confirmed their interest in participating.
GWS County Mapped DWWTS Source name Type of source
within source
ZOC/catchment
Dysart/Toonagh Clare 82 Ballycullinan Lough Surface water
Erne Valley Cavan 172 Garty Lough Surface water
Ashill Tipperary 9 Borehole Ground water
Graigue/Pouldine Tipperary 6 2 Boreholes Ground water
Rahealty Tipperary 3 Borehole Ground water
Tonagha/Laharden Tipperary 17 Borehole Ground water
Table 2. Schemes selected for initial phase of project
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11GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
The next step was to get the individual GWS committees on board. A powerpoint presentation addressing, amongst
other things, the environmental and health risks posed by poorly operating septic tanks was jointly prepared by the
NFGWS project co-ordinators and the EPA. Representatives of the NFGWS delivered this presentation and
responded to questions at committee meetings. In the case of the larger, surface water supplies, individual committee
meetings were addressed, whereas committees from the smaller groundwater schemes met together to consider the
presentation and their proposed participation in the project. A similar approach was adopted following the selection
of a further 9 schemes for participation in a second phase of the project in 2017. These included:
GWS County Mapped DWWTS Source name Type of source
within source
ZOC/catchment
Glaslough/Tyholland Monaghan 437 Emy Lough Surface water
Glinsk/Creggs Galway 207 Lough Loung Surface water
Callow Lake* Mayo 72 Callow Lough Surface water
Cullahill Laois 18 Spring Ground water
Ballacolla Laois 15 Boreholes Ground water
Barrowhouse Laois 31 Borehole Ground water
Ballybricken Limerick 27 3 Boreholes Ground water
Carnane Limerick 23 2 Boreholes Ground water
Caherline/Newtown Limerick 8 Borehole Ground water
Table 3. Schemes selected for the second phase of the project
* Callow Lake GWS subsequently proved unable to participate due to personnel changes and to other commitments.
Unfortunately, it was by then too late to identify a substitute.
Desludging of a DWWTS on Dysart/Toonagh GWS in County Clare.
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Following final agreement by the GWS committees to participate, the project proceeded to:
a) verify that DWWTS locations identified by the EPA within source ZOCs/catchments were at inhabited
premises and had individual waste water treatment systems.*
b) collate relevant information/data and photographs of each GWS for inclusion in ‘local’ leaflets to be distrib-
uted to all householders.
c) refine the NFGWS primary schools programme to include, inter alia, reference to waste water treatment
systems.
d) identify (in consultation with the relevant local authorities) licensed and competent wastewater contractors
in each region and get reduced prices from these for multiple desludging.
e) co-ordinate the posting of letters and information leaflets to all householders within the GWS source
ZOCs/catchments.
f) carry out the questionnaire survey work.
g) co-ordinate desludging work for those who expressed an interest in availing of this.
h) carry out follow-up surveys amongst those who had completed desludging as part of the project.
* Identifying premises within a GWS catchment was not an issue for smaller schemes, but this proved difficult on
larger supplies. A system linking the group water scheme’s GPS locations (on individual meters) with the catch-
ment map was developed to help resolve this issue. The use of Eircodes for GWS members may also be helpful in
this regard for future projects.
3. Training to improve understanding of domestic on-site waste water treatment systems
A one-day workshop on waste water systems was developed with the assistance of the EPA, LASNTG & Robbie
Meehan. Although tailored for the desludging project, this workshop provided an excellent grounding in the
operation of septic tanks for anyone interested in the protection of water bodies from this potential source of
pollution. 30 participants completed the course; 11 from LAWCO, 6 from the GSI, 8 from the NFGWS, 4 GWS
managers & 1 from the EPA.
A second similar workshop was held on 11 July 2017 for representatives of the second phase of participating group
water schemes and for other NFGWS development staff. The content of this information workshop is available
as part of wider source protection/quality assurance training for group water scheme organisers/managers and
for others wishing to pursue a GWS-led community DWWTS desludging project.
4. Identifying and assisting with the development of additional publications and information leaflets, including
questionnaire survey forms
An introductory letter distributed to all properties with septic tanks within the selected GWS source
ZOCs/catchments ensured that the occupants of premises had some advance knowledge of the project and were
anticipating a visit. A follow-up letter and sign-up form were also developed for those wishing to avail of GWS
co-ordinated desludging [see Appendix 1].
A septic tank infographic leaflet was developed through the NIECE Engagement working group, as was a leaflet
advising farmers on the risks associated with landspreading septic tank sludge. The Department of Agriculture &
Food, Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Irish Dairy Industry Association (IDIA), Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers
Association (ICMSA), Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Irish Dairy Board (ORNUA) were consulted during the drafting
of the farmers’ leaflet. Both digital and print versions were produced [see Appendix 2].
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13GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative Two surveys were produced by the NFGWS for completion by householders taking part in the project. An initial sur- vey collates information on people’s knowledge of their own system and about when it was last desludged, if ever. The second survey, completed after desludging (by those who signed up), aims to assess the impact of the initiative on awareness and behavioural change and also invites feedback on the service provided by the desludging contractor [see Appendix 4]. Maps locating premises within source ZOCs/catchments (using the geodirectory & excluding areas supplied by sew- erage schemes) form the basis of scheme-specific leaflets prepared as part of the project. However, close examination by the project co-ordinators revealed that some locations initially identified were not on DWWTS (for a variety of rea- sons), while other properties with DWWTS had been excluded. The revised numbers were generally higher. Apart from the high impact visual representation of the catchment, with properties and townlands included, the tailored leaflets contain information on each scheme and its source, providing residents with an understanding of how their activities may impact on raw water quality in the local drinking water source [see Appendix 3]. Premises within a GWS source ZOC/catchment not members of the GWS – having their own private water supply – were identified and provided with information on protecting their own well from pollution, while also being encouraged to participate in the project. An information pack was developed for all homeowners, using the EPA infographics, LAWCO infographics and other material developed in conjunction with the NIECE Engagement working group oultined above. An infor- graphic leaflet for well owners was also included, where relevant [see Appendix 2]. 5. Generating water awareness through the local schools within selected areas The NFGWS primary school initiative was updated to include more information on septic tanks/wastewater systems and to emphasise the link between waste water and drinking water and the potential contamination of drinking water if a DWWTS is not properly installed, managed or maintained. As part of an NFGWS-led tour of their GWS source catchment, pupils now visit a septic tank system to learn about the potential risk these pose to groundwater & surface water bodies and to the wider environment. Back in their classroom, additional images and graphics of wastewater systems have been included in the powerpoint presentation, while relevant experiments have also been also been developed with the co-operation of the Centre for Freshwater Studies in Dundalk Institute of Technology. Due to H&S considerations and the availability of adults to provide supervision, the preferred num- ber of pupils on catchment visits is
Project Report
The workings of domestic waste water treatment systems being explained to pupils of Toonagh NS which is supplied by Dysart/Toonagh GWS.
As part of a catchment tour, the pupils of this and other primary schools got a close up look at septic tanks so that they could appreciate the
importance of their proper management.
Group Water Scheme County No. of National Schools
Ashill Tipperary 0
Ballacolla Laois 3
Ballybricken Limerick 1
Barrowhouse Laois 1
Caherline/Newtown Limerick 1
Carnane Limerick 1
Cullahill Laois 1
Dysart/Toonagh Clare 1
Erne Valley Cavan 5
Glaslough/Tyholland Monaghan 1
Glinsk/Creggs Galway 2
Graigue/Pouldine Tipperary 1
Rahealty Tipperary 1
Tonagha/Laharden Tipperary 0
Total 19
Table 4. National schools within source ZOC/catchments or served by the local GWS that were visited as part of the project.
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15GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
6. Selection of contractors
Learning from the experiences of the Louth pilot project — where the identification of competent licensed desludg-
ing contractors proved problematic — it was decided to deal directly with the relevant Local Authorities and to use
their recommendations for permitted contractors. Through DWWTS inspectors, local authorities are best placed to
advise on competent contractors in the regions. The project co-ordinators found that Tipperary County Council has
developed a detailed and accurate list of permitted contractors and that Cavan is planning to follow suit, currently
supplying an interim short list. Clare County Council also assisted in the selection of a short list of contractors and
the project co-ordinators communicated on this issue with the other local authorities that had schemes involved in
the project.
An expression of interest was requested from each contractor at the outset. Where they responded positively, con-
tractors were then requested to issue a quotation for the desludging of a minimum number of systems. Contractors
contacted (to gauge interest) were impressed with the concept of co-ordinated community desludging and
explained that their principal concern would be that each system be easily identified and be accessible. To address
this concern, site information gathered during the initial household visits was passed on to the selected contractor. As
it costs a minimum of €25 - €30 per tonne to dispose of the contents of any system and as there is normally 3 - 4
tonnes per system, this provides the baseline for any price received.
7. Identifying and sourcing additional possible sources of funding and support to assist with the ongoing
implementation of the programme.
LAWCO was contacted and an application for funding was submitted to develop an animated video explaining the
importance of maintaining wastewater systems and the link between such systems and groundwater and surface
water bodies. Funding will be provided by LAWCO towards the development of several such animated videos –
one explaining the concept of water body catchments, another addressing issues pertaining to the proper installa-
tion and management of waste water treatment systems and a further video aimed at the farming community.
One of the larger catchments selected as part of the community desludging project, Glaslough/Tyholland GWS in
Co. Monaghan was also involved in the “Our Community, Our Water” project, a water awareness initiative under
the Rural Water Programme (RWP) led by the Centre for Freshwater Studies at Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Both projects complemented each other in meeting the awareness objectives.
At the suggestion of project co-ordinator Jean Rosney, RWP funding secured by Cavan County Council towards rais-
ing water awareness in primary schools was allocated towards the provision of weather stations in two schools locat-
ed within Erne Valley GWS, a participant in the community-led desludging project.
8. Timing of both the household visits and the desludging of wastewater treatment systems.
As the project and supporting leaflets etc. were being developed in the Autumn and early Winter of 2016, concerns
were raised by the committees of two of the selected group water schemes in relation to proposed household vis-
its in the run-up to Christmas, as follows:
• The timing of visits before Christmas would act as a disincentive for householders, as they would be less likely
to commit to any additional financial outlay on desludging. [Schemes pointed out that they have changed their
billing regimes to take account of the financial burden on householders in the run-up to Christmas.]
• The pre-Christmas period is a busy time of the year for GWS management and staff. One of the schemes
revealed that it would be in the middle of its bi-annual scouring programme in the weeks before Christmas,
while the other was trying to complete capital works before the end of the year. Thus, their management/staff
wouldn’t have time to work on the project.
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16Project Report
• Committee members suggested that desludging in winter conditions is not ideal, especially if large trucks have
to go into people’s gardens/properties when the potential to cause damage is greater, etc.
• There would be a negative impact on the project if there was a long time period between the household visit
and the desludging of the tanks/systems.
Apart from the concerns of these schemes, the project co-ordinators were finding that identification of houses with-
in each catchment was proving quite tricky and time consuming. As accuracy was needed prior to the survey work
getting underway and taking into account the views of the schemes, it was suggested that early Spring 2017 would
be the ideal time to complete the household visits, with a view to desludging wastewater systems shortly after-
wards. As this would require a significant extension of the timeframe for this phase of the project, the proposed
delay of households visits until Spring 2017 was discussed by the project steering committee on 22 November
2016 and was unanimously adopted.
Even so, similar delays in preparatory works arose during 2017 and most household visits were, of necessity,
completed towards the end of the year. While the response was good in several catchments, the delay in complet-
ing desludging due to very poor weather conditions definitely had an impact and numbers of househlders that
had signed up during the door-to-door survey had either lost interest or had had their systems desludged by alter-
native means.
Project co-ordinator, Jean Rosney and Hugh Finnegan of Erne Valley GWS, engaging with the late
Patrick Mulligan during door-to-door surveying work as part of the project.
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17GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative Jean Gibson and Joe Gallagher (NFGWS) Project Co-ordinators, pictured with Margaret Keegan (EPA) and Taly Hunter Williams (GSI) at a meeting to establish a Steering Group for the collaborative project to managing waste water treatment systems in GWS source ZOC/catchment areas. Training in the QGIS mapping system was provided by Shane Carey (GSI) to project co-ordinators, Joe Gallagher and Jean Rosney, as well as to NFGWS development officer, Róisín Dowd Smith. This training faciliated mapping work as part of the DWWTS project. Page 18
Project Report
2016 schemes
Section 3: Summary of programme implementation schedule
Dysart/Toonagh GWS
Dysart/Toonagh GWS is in County Clare. The drinking water source is Ballycullinan Lough with a catch-
ment area of 10.5km2. There is a full time manager on the scheme.
Timeline Works completed/planned
October 2016 • Dysart/Toonagh GWS was selected as one of the schemes for 2016 as
agreed at the steering group meeting on the 11 October in line with the
selection criteria outlined in Chapter 2.
• Contact was made with Dysart/Toonagh GWS manager who agreed in
principle to take part in the project. A meeting with the Board was
arranged.
• Dysart/Toonagh GWS manager attended the DWWTS information
workshop held in Roscrea on 17 October 2016.
• Draft of household leaflet design was completed by Castle Printing.
January 2017 • Project co-ordinator, Joe Gallagher, met with the Board officers and the
GWS manager on 20 January to discuss project details.
February 2017 • A4 & A1 lake source catcment map received from the EPA
• Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Ruan NS on 6
February. 28 pupils from 4th-6th classes took part.
• A meeting was held with the GWS manager on 20 February to identify
properties in the source catchment. 82 houses were identified of which
11 (14%) were excluded for various reasons (uninhabited or derelict,
under construction, no septic tank, holiday homes & an Inland Fisheries
office). That left 71 visits to be completed.
March 2017 • Scheme specific leaflets were finalised and printed.
• Letters and tailored leaflets were posted to all premises in the catchment.
April 2017 • Door-to-door canvassing and surveying work was carried on 4 and 12
April. 12 (17%) of the 71 inhabited households were not members of the
GWS, but these were included in the visits and survey work
May 2017 • Door-to-door canvassing and surveying work was completed on 17 May
on all but 2 households where the occupants declined to participate.
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19GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
June 2017 • Contractor selected to complete desludging work at an agreed unit cost
of €170, including VAT, regardless of age, size or system type. 35 prem-
ises owners signed up [see below].
• Desludging was completed on 35 systems.
November 2017 • Follow-up survey forms were distributed, as were farmer leaflets.
December 2017 • Follow-up survey forms elicited a positive response to the desludging
service, revealing increased awareness of householder legal responsibilities.
Summary of data and selected survey statistics from Dysart/Toonagh GWS
Data and survey statistics Result
DWWTS identified 82
Number excluded for various reasons (derelict etc.) 11
Number of surveys completed 60 (of 71)
Survey respondents not interested or did not complete this section of survey 7
Desludged by farmer (own or other) 15
Recently desludged by contractor (i.e. prior to project commencement) 15
Would positively consider desludging as part of project/desludged 32
% who know where to source information 13%
% who knew they had a legal obligation to properly maintain their DWWTS 25%
Desludging on Dysart/Toonagh GWS
Responses to the survey revealed that:
• at least 15 householders (21%) had desludged their systems within the last 3 years. Several of these expressed
an interest in taking part next time around, while others were modern systems with annual servicing contracts
and, therefore, are routinely desludged as part of this service. One house owner who works for an agriculture
contractor claimed to desludge his own tank and that of his mother.
• 15 (21%) householders in this catchment are farmers who desludge their own systems and some of whom said
that they desludge the tanks of close family members also. For example, one farmer desludged his own tank as
well as tanks belonging to 2 of his sons and a daughter.
• 32 out of 71 households (45%) signed up for desludging. 3 householders outside the catchment, but who were
scheme members, applied to have their systems desludged as part of the project, bringing the total to 35.
Excluding at least 15 systems owned by farmers, or close relatives of farmers and excluding the 15 systems tied
into service contracts or who had recently desludged their systems, the take-up was 78% of available systems with-
in the catchment. Awareness of the legal obligation to maintain DWWTS was very low compared to other schemes
surveyed. This anomaly would appear to have arisen from how the question was put. Whereas in other catchments
the direct question about legal obligation appears to have elicited a positive response, the manner in which the
question was framed in Dysart/Toonagh and in the Limerick schemes was less direct and may more accurately
reflect the level of public awareness about their legal responsibilities to maintain DWWTS.
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20Project Report
Erne Valley GWS
Erne Valley GWS is in County Cavan. The drinking water source is Garty Lough with a catchment area of
19.4km2. There is a full time manager on the scheme.
Timeline Works completed/planned
October 2016 • Erne Valley GWS was selected as one of the schemes for 2016 as agreed
at the steering group meeting on the 11 October in line with the selection
criteria outlined in Chapter 2.
• Contact was made with Erne Valley GWS manager who agreed in prin-
ciple to take part in the project. A meeting with the Board was arranged.
• Erne Valley GWS manager attended the DWWTS information workshop
held in Roscrea on 17 October 2016.
• Draft of household leaflet design was completed by Castle Printing.
November 2016 • Project co-ordinator, Jean Rosney, met with the Board officers and the
GWS manager on 16 November to discuss project details.
• Project co-ordinator met with the manager and caretaker on 17
November to discuss the project further and, in particular, to begin the
process of identifying properties located in the catchment. It was decid-
ed that the best way to proceed was to extract from the GWS database all
GWS properties in the townlands identified on the map. This informa-
tion was mapped and then overlaid with the catchment shape file to see
what properties were within the catchment. Luckily, this scheme had
GPS co-ordinates for all connections. Land connections were removed
and the remaining properties – presumed to be on private wells – were
pinpointed. There was a lot of work involved in this for the project co-
ordinator due to the size of the catchment.
• Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Coronea NS
on 18 November. 15 pupils from 3rd-6th classes took part.
December 2016 • During late November early October, quotations were sought from com-
petent desludging contractors. McBreen Environmental provided best
value at €120 per unit (including VAT).
• Continued identification of properties in the catchment using Google
Earth.
January 2017 • Draft list of identified properties was completed, aided by a map of
the sewered area of Arvagh, obtained frm the EPA.
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21GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
February 2017 • A4 & A1 lake source catchment map received from the EPA
• On-site assessments carried out for a number of properties identified on
the map to confirm status (under construction, derelict, for sale etc.)
Final list of properties compiled in the catchment.
• Meeting with the manager and caretaker to finalise details. Of 172 hous-
es identified within the catchment, 29 were excluded for various reasons
(uninhabited, derelict, under construction, connected to the public sewer,
no septic tank or sharing septic tank with another house). The remaining
143 (127 GWS members, 16 on private wells) were included in the sur-
vey work.
• A printed and laminated A1 map of the catchment was procured through
a local printing shop.
March 2017 • Scheme-specific leaflets were finalised and printed.
• Project Co-ordinator attended Erne Valley GWS AGM on 29 March
2017 and gave a presentation on the project. There was good interest and
members present completed the survey forms.
April 2017 • Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Corliss NS on
4 April. 13 pupils from 3rd-6th classes took part.
• Letters and tailored leaflets were posted to the premises of GWS mem-
bers in the catchment. These were hand delivered to the properties of non
members whose names were not known.
• Door-to-door canvassing and surveying work commenced by the Project
Co-ordinator and assistant caretaker.
May 2017 • Door-to-door canvassing and surveying work continued across 4 zones,
over 3 days – 2 May, 22 May and 23 May using pre-populated survey
forms. Where the occupant was not at home, forms were left for them
with a stamp addressed return envelope.
June 2017 • Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Arvagh NS on
12 June. 34 pupils from 5th-6th classes took part.
• Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Mullahoran
NS on 13 June. 36 pupils from 5th-6th classes took part.
August 2017 • Desludging sign-up forms (most of which were received in July) were
communicated to McBreen Environmental.
September 2017 • Follow-up contact with McBreen Environmental to assess progress.
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22Project Report
October & November • Further follow-up contact with McBreen Environmental to assess progress
2017 in completing desludging (28 households signed up with the contractor).
• Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Bruskey NS
on 10 November. 20 pupils from 5th-6th classes took part.
• Of 28 households signed up for desludging, 15 have been desludged to
date. Follow-up survey work was completed with these, while farmer
January to April information leaflets (and pesticide leaflets) were distributed to every
2018 household/business in the catchment.
• Weather stations were provided to Arva NS and Coronea NS on 22 March.
Summary of data and selected survey statistics from Erne Valley GWS
Data and survey statistics Result
DWWTS identified 172
Number excluded for various reasons (derelict etc.) 32
Number of surveys completed 77 (of 143)
Survey respondents not interested or did not complete this section of survey 9
Desludged by farmer (own or other) 3
Recently desludged by contractor (i.e. prior to project commencement) 2
Would positively consider desludging as part of project/desludged 60
% who know where to source information 42%
% who knew they had a legal obligation to properly maintain their DWWTS 90%
Desludging on Erne Valley GWS
77 (54%) of survey forms were completed, of which 42 (55%) were completed during the door-to-door visits
where the occupier was at home and a further 35 (45%) were returned via the stamp addressed envelope that was
provided. Responses to the survey revealed that:
• there was relatively high awareness about septic tank management, a significant proportion of householders
having had their systems desludged in the recent past and, therefore, had no reason to sign up. Several farmers
who already desludge their systems also expressed positive interest in particpating in GWS organised desludg-
ing in the future (but this may have been out of courtesy rather than their having any real intention to do so).
• Of 28 householders that signed up, 20 had completed the survey, while 8 had not.
• The 28 that signed up included 26 GWS members and 2 householders on private wells. A deadline sign-up date
of 14 July 2017 was used to encourage a quick response, but forms were received long after this date from
householders wishing to avail of the reduced price, the most recent arriving in December 2017.
• As of April 2018, 15 of signed-up householders have had their systems desludged. Dates suggested for the remain-
ing premises have not suited the householders and the contractor is awaiting the go-ahead.
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23GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
Graigue Pouldine GWS, Rahealty GWS and Tonagha/Laharden GWS (shared management) and
Ashill GWS
Graigue Pouldine GWS, Rahealty GWS & Tonagha/Laharden GWSs are located in the Thurles area of
County Tipperary. The three schemes share a manager. The borehole catchment area in Graigue Pouldine
is 0.44km2 and includes 10 properties with DWWTS. The borehole catchment area in Rahealty is 0.8km2
and has 3 properties with DWWTS. The borehole catchment area in Tonagha/Laharden is 0.74km2 and con-
tains 17 properties with DWWTS.
The borehole catchment area in Ashill is 0.3km2 and there are 9 properties identified with DWWTS. Ashill
is in close proximity to Graigue Pouldine GWS. While it didn’t meet the criteria outlined in Chpater 2, its
inclusion (at the request of the local committee) had the advantage of increasing the number of septic tanks
available for desludging by the selected contractor, thereby potentially reducing the unit cost.
Timeline Works completed/planned
October 2016 • The three schemes with management were selected at the steering group
meeting on the 11 October in line with the selection criteria outlined in
Chapter 2, while Ashill GWS was also included on that date.
• Draft of household leaflet design was completed by Castle Printing.
November 2016 • Contact was made with the manager of the 3 managed schemes. He
agreed in principle to take part in the project, subject to approval.
• Project co-ordinator, Joe Gallagher, met with the full Boards of all 4
schemes on 28 November to discuss project details.
February 2017 • A4 & A1 lake source catchment map received from the EPA
• Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Moycarkey
NS on 7 February. 30 pupils from 4th-6th classes took part.
March 2017 • Scheme specific leaflets were finalised and printed.
May 2017 • Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Littleton NS
on 18 May. 30 pupils from 4th-6th classes took part.
June 2017 • Catchment tour and classroom presentation completed for Rahealty NS
on 19 June. 30 pupils from 4th-6th classes took part.
November 2017 • Letters and tailored leaflets were posted to all households in the catchment
on 8 November.
• Door-to-door canvassing and surveying work was carried on 13 and 14
November on the 39 premises identified across the four source ZOCs.
December 2017 • Further canvass completed on 7 December.
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24Project Report
• 8 (of 39) householders signed up, but only 1 tank has been desludged to
January to April date. The long period between expression of interest and the commence-
2018 ment of desludging had a negative effect, as some householders said that
they had already emptied their tanks. Given the low uptake, follow-up
survey work was unnecessary.
Summary of data and selected survey statistics from Graigue Pouldine GWS, Rahealty
GWS, Tonagha/Laharden GWS and Ashill GWS
Data and survey statistics Result
DWWTS identified 39
Number excluded for various reasons (derelict etc.) 2
Number of surveys completed 14
Survey respondents not interested or did not complete this section of survey 3
Desludged by farmer (own or other) 1
Recently desludged by contractor (i.e. prior to project commencement) 2
Would positively consider desludging as part of project/desludged 8
% who know where to source information 53%
% who knew they had a legal obligation to properly maintain their DWWTS 93%
Desludging on Graigue Pouldine GWS, Rahealty GWS, Tonagha/Laharden GWS and Ashill GWS
While a manager is employed by 3 of the schemes, he would not be well known in two of the areas that had
the largest number of households within their ZOCS. Canvassing survey work was conducted over 2 days
in November, the first day accompanied by the manager of three of the schemes and a committee member
of Ashill. On the second day, an NFGWS representative conducted the canvass on his own on
Tonagha/Laharden and some households on Graigue/Pouldine also. As daylight was short, canvassing time
was limited and there was no opportunity for late canvassing of people who were at work during daylight
hours. The second day’s canvassing illustrated the need for local involvement, as there was suspicion and
some hesitancy when the NFGWS representative visited premises unaccompanied at dusk. In one instance,
he was confronted by a man with a shotgun demanding to know his business. This incident reflects concern
about rural crime. For safety reasons alone, two canvassers are advisable and one of these must be from the
local scheme. Ashill accounted for more than half of the sign-ups due to the presence on the canvass of a
committee member.
All 37 houses received the survey form, with those where nobody was home (23) receiving a stamped-
addressed return envelope and information pack. 12 were completed during the door-to-door visits, while 2
were returned subsequently by post. This low return on posted surveys may have been because (at the
request of the GWS manager) the NFGWS office in Tullamore was the given as return address rather than
a local address being provided. Given the large agricultural area involved, it is certain that some of the non
respondents are farmers who may be desludging their own systems.
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25GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative A price of €170 was secured for participating households, but only 1 tank was actually desudged, the death of one of the householders who signed up (from Ashill) further delaying desludging in that area. Of respondents, more than half (53%) were aware that Tipperary County Council provides information in relation to DWWTS, while almost all of them knew that they had a legal obligation to properly maintain their systems. On many smaller groundwater sourced schemes, in particular, the borehole is located close to houses,so that the need for proper management of neighbouring domestic wastewater treatment systems is especially important. In the case of Graigue Pouldine (pictured),Tom Higgins is pictured next to the borehole sump which is located in the driveway to a private dwelling. NFGWS development officer, Adrian Smyth, completing the DWWTS questionnaire survey with Mary Ryan of Tonagha/Laharden GWS. Page 26
Project Report
2017 schemes
Glaslough/Tyholland GWS
Glaslough-Tyholland GWS is located in County Monaghan. The drinking water source is Emy Lough with
a catchment area of 41.3km2, the bulk of which is outside the GWS supply area. Besides
Glaslough/Tyholland, households, farms and businesses in this catchment receive their drinking water from
either Tydavnet GWS or Truagh GWS, or from individual bored wells. Data protection dictates that com-
munciation with GWS occupants across the catchment can only be issued by their water suppliers.
Glaslough/Tyholland GWS has a part-time manager and an administrator.
Timeline Works completed/planned
• Glaslough/Tyholland GWS was selected as one of the schemes for 2017
as agreed at the steering group meeting on the 17 February 2017 in line
with the selection criteria outlined in Chapter 2.
February 2017
• Contact was made with GWS manager who agreed in principle to take
part in the project, subject to Board approval.
April 2017 • Board agreed to take part in the project.
May 2017 • Catchment tour completed by the ‘Green Schools Committee’ of
Edenmore NS on 24 May. 10 pupils took part. Following this, there was
a classroom presentation for 5th and 6th class pupils.
• Draft of household leaflet design was completed by Castle Printing.
June 2017 • Received A4 & A1 maps from the EPA. Fragmented nature of drinking
water suppy across the catchment presented a particular challenge.
• A printed and laminated A1 map of the catchment was procured.
• In conjunction with LAWCO, staffed a display stand on the project at
the European tidy towns competition, Entente Florale, held in Glaslough
village
• 439 properties with septic tanks were identified in this catchment
July 2017
(excluding the sewered village of Emyvale).
• Due to the density of households in several areas of the catchment, the
visual impact of the map is less than in more thinly populated and smaller
catchments. Identifying the occupants of properties proved challenging.
On 19 July, project co-ordinator, Jean Rosney met with the Secretary and
caretaker of Tydavnet GWS to establish that scheme’s supply boundary
area within the Glaslough/Tyholland source catchment. Google Earth
was used to record houses on the boundary.
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27GWS-led Community DWWTS Education and Desludging Initiative
• A similar meeting was held with the secretary of Glaslough/Tyholland GWS
July 2017 on 25 July. The scheme’s households/farms are located in the immediate vicin-
ity of Emy Lough.
• Continuation of property identification/mapping work through Google Earth
to identify properties in the catchment.
September 2017
• Household leaflets finalised and printed
• On 25 October, project co-ordinator, Jean Rosney met with the Secretary and
October 2017 caretaker of Truagh GWS to establish that scheme’s supply boundary area
within the Glaslough/Tyholland source catchment.
• Quotations were sought from desludging contractors in the area.
November 2017 • Continuation of property identification/mapping work to identify properties in
the catchment.
December 2017 • 35 mapped premises in the immediate vicinity of Emy Lough were canvassed
on 7 December and 21 survey forms were completed.
January to April • Scheme specific leaflets and letters sent to households across catchment not
2018 included in door-to-door survey inviting participation. Landspreading/pesticides
leaflets also circulated.
Summary of data and selected survey statistics from Glaslough/Tyholland GWS
Data and survey statistics Result
DWWTS identified (in vicinity of lake source only) 37
Number excluded for various reasons (derelict etc.) 5
Number of surveys completed 18
Survey respondents not interested or did not complete this section of survey 2
Desludged by farmer (own or other) 2
Recently desludged by contractor (i.e. prior to project commencement) 3
Would positively consider desludging as part of project/desludged 11
% who know where to source information 28%
% who knew they had a legal obligation to properly maintain their DWWTS 83%
Desludging on Glaslough/Tyholland GWS
Due to the large catchment and the complexity of the properties, the door-to door household survey work was con-
fined to properties in the immediate vicinity of the lake. Of 36 mapped properties, 32 were occupied. Of 18 survey
forms completed on the day or returned by post to date, 16 have either desludged their DWWTS or are interested in
desludging as part of the project. In April 2018, a letter of offer for inclusion in the project was sent to households
in the wider catchment. Information on landspreading and on pesticide usage was also circulated to households.
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