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For the Attention of: Mrs. Phoebe Dillane

Bord na Móna

Drehid Waste Management Facility,

Killinagh Upper

Carbury,

Co. Kildare

Prepared by: Mr. Stephen Stapleton

Environmental Scientist

Reviewed by: Mr. Shaun Russell

Environmental Scientist

Report No: ECS5259 _Biological

Monitoring Date: 4th September 2016

Report Date: 14th October 2016

This report shall not be reproduced except in full, without the approval of BNM Environmental. All queries concerning the report or its contents should be

forwarded to the Monitoring Team Leader.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ANNUAL BIOLOGICAL COMPLIANCE

MONITORING AT THE BORD NA MÓNA

DREHID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY,

CO. KILDARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH IED

LICENCE REGISTER NO. W0201-03

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Drehid Waste Management Facility (W0201-03) ECS5259_Biological

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Bord na Móna Waste Management are required to conduct biological monitoring on an annual basis at

the Drehid facility in accordance with Waste Licence Register No.W0201-03. BNM Environmental was

commissioned to perform the sampling and analysis. The site was subsequently visited by a BNM

Environmental Scientist on the 4th of September 2016 to undertake the assessment.

Sampling was undertaken on the Cushaling River, downstream of the Drehid facility. The biological

quality of the stream was deemed a Q3-4 indicating ‘slightly polluted waters’.

As the Cushaling River rises on-site, no upstream location is available from which to obtain a sample

and assign a Q-value.

No deterioration in biological quality was noted since the previous monitoring in September 2015.

This report is certified as accurate and representative of the sampling and associated analysis carried

out.

Respectively Submitted,

__________________________ __________________________

Mr. Stephen Stapleton Mr. Shaun Russell

Environmental Scientist Environmental Scientist

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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4

2. SAMPLING LOCATION ................................................................................................................. 5

3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 6

3.1 Biological Sampling ................................................................................................................. 6

3.2 Biological Quality Rating (Q-Rating) ........................................................................................ 6

4. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS .................................................................................................... 9

4.1 Biological Q-rating Results ...................................................................................................... 9

5. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS ................................................................................................ 9

5.1 Interpretation of the biological quality of the receiving watercourse ........................................ 9

6. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................. 9

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1. INTRODUCTION

Bord na Móna Waste Management are required to conduct biological monitoring on an annual basis

at the Drehid facility in accordance with Waste Licence Register No.W0201-03. BNM Environmental

was commissioned to perform the sampling and analysis.

An Environmental Scientist from BNM Environmental visited the site on the 4th of September 2016 to

undertake a macroinvertebrate survey to determine the Q Index of the stream.

This report details the methodologies involved in the study and an interpretation of these findings.

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2. SAMPLING LOCATION

The most ideal point to obtain a biological sample was deemed to be located 3km west of the

Drehid Facility on the Cushaling River. As the river rises on the Drehid site there is no sampling

point upstream of the facility for analysis. The river is not part of the EPA’s National Biological

Monitoring Programme.

Figure 1 below shows the sampling point (SW1) and the Landfill Infrastructure.

Figure 1:- Location of Biological sampling point

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3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING

The macroinvertebrate sample was taken in accordance with I.S. EN ISO 5667-3:2004: Water

Quality – Sampling – Part 3: Guidance on the Preservation and Handling of Water Samples and

ISO 7828: Water Quality – Methods of biological sampling – Guidance on Handnet sampling of

aquatic benthic macro-invertebrates. A two minute kick sample was taken with stone washing and

the sample was preserved in 70% ethanol. The sample was subsequently analysed following the

EPA’s Q-Value methodology (Toner et al., 2005).

All samples are held in the laboratory for 6 months after the issue of the report.

Habitat, as structured by in-stream and surrounding topographical features, is a major determinant

of aquatic community quality. Both the quality and quantity of available habitat affect the structure

and composition of resident biological communities. As such, on site habitat characteristics were

recorded and referenced to results obtained from the sample.

3.2 BIOLOGICAL QUALITY RATING (Q-RATING)

This is a Pollution Rating Index, which has been developed to measure the response of certain

key macroinvertebrate species or groups to pollution. The Q-Rating system has been

implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland as the standard means to

assess the quality of any part of a stream based principally on the composition of

macroinvertebrate communities/faunal groups present and their general sensitivity to organic

pollution. The Biological Quality Rating forms part of S.I No. 258 of 1998, an amendment to

the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977. The rating system recognises five

macroinvertebrate groups ranging from A to E (i.e. most sensitive to most tolerant) and relates

their relative abundance, from a standard 2 minute sample, to a quality rating known as a Q

Index. The part of the stream or river surveyed may subsequently be assigned a Q rating from

5 to 1 (i.e. pristine, unpolluted to grossly polluted). Table 3.1 presents Part I of the First

Schedule of S.I No. 258 of 1998 which groups the macroinvertebrate indicator groups. Table

3.2 presents Part II of the First Schedule of S.I No. 258 of 1998, which relates the Biological Q

Rating and the five faunal groups. Table 3.3 quantifies the various abundance categories.

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Table 3.1 Biological Quality Rating System for Rivers (Part I)

Indicator Groups: Key Taxa (Macroinvertebrate Communities/Faunal Groups and their General Sensitivity to Organic

Pollution)

Group A Sensitive

Group B Less Sensitive

Group C Tolerant

Group D Very Tolerant

Group E Most Tolerant

Perlidae Leuctridae Tricladida Hirudinea Tubificidae

Chloroperlidae Capniidae

Nemouridae Taeniopterygidae Baetidae Leptophlebiidae

Ancylidae Neritidae Unionidae Astacidae

Mollusca (excl. Ancylidae, Margaritiferidae, Neritidae & Unionidae)

Chironomus

Ephemerellidae

Perlodidae Ephemeridae Gammarus Asellus

Potamanthidae Caenidae Chironomidae

Heptageniidae Siphlonuridae Margaritiferidae

Cased Trichoptera (excl. Limnephilidae Hydroptilidae & Glossosomatidae)

Limnephilidae Hydroptilidae Glossosmatidae UncasedTricoptera

(excl. Chironomus & Rheotanytarsus)

Odonata (excl. Coenagriidae)

Coleoptera Coenagriidae

Salidae

Tipulidae

Aphelocheirus Simulidae

Rheotanytarsus Hemiptera (excl.Aphelocheirus)

Hydracarina

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Table 3.2: Relationship between Biological Quality Rating/Index (Q)

and the Five Faunal Groups (Part II)

Substrata Q Index Faunal Group

Eroding Substrata (i.e. the shallower, fast-flowing

areas)

Q5 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1

A

#

++

-

-

-

B

#

#

+/-*

-

-

C

++

<

#

+/-

-

D

+/-

++

<

#

+/-

E

+/-

+/-

++

<

#

(excl. B rhodani which may be

dominant)

Depositing Substrata

(i.e. the deeper, slower-flowing areas)

Q5 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1

++ +/- - - -

# < - - -

< #

++ - -

++ ++ < < -

++ ++ < < #

# = numerous or dominant < = Common ++ = Present in small numbers + = Scarce +/- = Scarce or absent - = absent

Table 3.3 - Quantification of Macroinvertebrates Abundance Categories

Abundance Approximate Frequency of Occurrence

Category Number* Percentage

One 1 -

Scarce/few 2 - 5 <1%

Present in small numbers 6 - 10 <5%

Present in fair numbers 11 - 20 5 - 10%

Common 21 - 50 10 - 20%

Numerous 51 - 100 25 - 50%

Abundant/Dominant 100 - 200 50 - 75%

Superabundant/Excessive 200+ >75%

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4. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS

4..1 BIOLOGICAL Q-RATING RESULTS

Table 4.2 Biological Q-Rating

Location SW1 Downstream of landfill

Q-Rating Q-3-4

Q-Rating

5, 4-5, 4 = unpolluted 3-4 = Slightly Polluted

3, 2-3 = Moderately Polluted 2,1-2, 1: Seriously Polluted

5. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

5.1 INTERPRETATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF THE RECEIVING WATERCOURSE

The biological diversity of the kick sample taken at SW1 is used to assign a Biological Quality Index,

which is rated from 1 (seriously polluted) to 5 (clean conditions). The result of the Biological rating for

the receiving watercourse is presented in Table 4.1. See Appendix I for sample numbers and

composition. Sampling took place in the area deemed to have the most suitable conditions. As there

were no riffle areas the sample was obtained at a point where the water was shallowest and had the

greatest flow. SW1 is described as having a “depositing substrata”. The bed of the stream at the

sampling location did not have the most suitable substrate and mainly consisted of organic matter

such as dead leaves and twigs lying over a silty bottom with isolated patches of cobble and stone.

The watercourse was tunnelled and heavily shaded. Sampling took place in 35 – 45cm depth of

water. The width of the watercourse was 3.3m at the sampling point and there was very little in-

stream vegetation.

SW-1

In total, 7 species were identified at SW1 which constitutes low diversity, The Q-value was deemed to

be Q3-4 which indicates “slightly polluted” conditions. See Appendix I for sample numbers and

composition.

6. CONCLUSIONS

At SW1 there was a predominance of tolerant species and a lack of sensitive species, with low

species diversity and a depositing substratum. These factors resulted in SW1 being denoted with

value of Q3-4. No deterioration in biological quality was noted since the previous monitoring in

September of 2015.

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APPENDIX I

Field Sheets

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Download - ANNUAL BIOLOGICAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING … · An Environmental Scientist from BNM thEnvironmental visited the site on the 4 of September 2016 to ... 2-3 = Moderately Polluted 2,1-2,

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