existing environment & impact of the activity … · drinking water) regulation, 1989. “*s./....
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Attachment 1.2
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT & IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITY Assessment of impacts of surface water discharges on the receiving waters
Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd. Revised IPPCL Application
Project Ref: OESl005-09
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 2005
Attachment No. 1.2 Assessment of Impacts on Surface Waters
1.2.1 Receiving Waters
Discharges of treated wastewater from the Kerry Ingredients plant are made via SW-l to the River Feale at a point approximately 15kms downstream of the installation.
The River Feale is classified as a salmonici water under the lSt Schedule of the European Communities (Quality of Salmonid Waters) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. 293 of 1988)
EPA monitoring locations are set along the River Feale at a number of locations and routine monitoring is carried out and recorded on the EPA website.
Table 1.2.1 below shows the Q-rating of the River Feale recorded by the EPA at their monitoring stations in 1998 at Listowel Bridge and also 2km down stream of Listowel.
The Q-rating is used to determine the water quality of the river based on the macroinvertebrate inhabiting the river.
This measurement gives a good indication of the status of the river based on its biological quality, as certain macroinvertebrate will only inhabit good quality waters. If the water has been subjected to pollution it will take longer for the biological quality of the water to recover than for the chemical composition of the water to return to normal.
Table 1.2.1 Q-rating Results EPA 1998
Location River Code
Station No. Q-rating Description
Listowel Bridge 23FOl 0600 4 Unpolluted
2 km downstream 23FOl 0700 3 Moderately Listowel (RHS) Polluted
Table 1.2.2 below contains results of chemical analysis carried out on the River Feale at Listowel Bridge by the EPA from 1998 to 2000.
No chemical data was available for station 0700, which is 2 km downstream from Listowel.
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment I.2
April 2005
Table 1.2.2 Chemical analysis carried out on the River Feale at Listowel Bridge by the EPA from 1998 to 2000
Parameter I Min I Median 1 Max 1 Limit
BOD (mg/l) 4.1 1.4 8.1 5*
Colour (Hazen) 40 113 400 20**
Conductivity ($/cm) I 77 I 119 I 143 ( lOOO**
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) I 9.2 I 10.7 1 12.9 1 >9*
Ortho-Phosphate (mg/l-P) 0.00 0.02 0.07 0.03***
PH 6.9 7.1 7.7 6-9”
Temperature (“C)
Total ammonia (mg/l-N)
3.8 10.1 18.9 21.5*
co.02 0.04 0.17 I*
Un-ionised ammonia (mg/l- <o oOo NW
0.000 0.000 0.02*
5.1. 293 of 1988- European Communities (Quality of Salmonic! Waters) Regulations, 1988 “S.I. 249 of 1989 - European Communities (Quality of Surface Water Intended for the Abstraction of Drinking Water) Regulation, 1989. “*S./. No. 258 of 1998 - Local Government (water PoNution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 7998.
As is evident from these results the water quality of the River Feale at Listowel Bridge is regarded as good with a Q-rating of 4 (unpolluted) and also the chemical parameters are all within the relevant guide values with the exception of colour and ortho-phosphate on occasions.
The water quality at the EPA monitoring location 2km downstream of the town was found to be moderately polluted (Q3), chemical parameters were not recorded for this monitoring location. Deterioration in water quality recorded at this location may be attributed to the impact of discharges into the River from the town of Listowel including surface water runoff and discharges from the Agricultural Mart, both of which occur upstream of the Kerry Ingredients discharge location.
Both EPA monitoring stations are located upstream of the Kerry Ingredients effluent discharge point (SW-l).
Since the grant of the IPC licence water quality monitoring has been carried out annually on the River Feale on behalf of Kerry Ingredients at locations upstream and downstream of the discharge point. The Aquatic Services Unit (ASU) from UCC carries out this monitoring in September of each year.
Results of water quality monitoring show little variation in water quality both upstream and downstream of the SW1 (discharge point).
In all cases the annual water quality monitoring reports have shown the rivers continued suitability as a salmonid river. .
The results of annual biological water quality monitoring undertaken by the ASU indicate that there are no significant differences in macroinvertebrate
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April 2005
Attachment 1.2
community distribution and abundance between sampling sites up stream of the Kerry ingredients discharge and downstream, both outside the mixing zone, and further downstream (Copy of 2004 ASU Report included as Appendix I .2.1.).
Results of survey calculated to form biotic indices (Q-values) show the downstream locations to be moderately polluted bordering on unpolluted (Q3- 4, 4). Upstream, the Q index shows water quality to be unpolluted tending toward moderately polluted (Q4, 3-4).
Results of water chemistry analysis have similarly shown that over the past number of years, the impact of the Kerry Ingredients discharges to be negligible when upstream and downstream physic0 chemical results are compared.
Table 1.2.3 Results of physico-chemical analysis (ASU, 2004)
Parameter Fl Monitoring Location
1 Effluent 1 F2 F3 rm 1 Sample Downstream Downstream
I 23.4 14.5 14.5 I- Do I IiiYb I 7.52 7.09 7.10
(% sat) 1 100.0 100.2 98.5 Conductivity ) 168.5 ) 4900 1 142.3 1 192.4 (microS/cmj Colour (Hazer-t) 1 97 15 94 95 Chloride (mg/l) 23.51 1466 23.41 36.39 Sulphate (mg/l) 6.08 48.90 6.14 6.53 SS (mg/l) 1.3 4.2 1.8 1.6 BOD (mg/l) 1.3 2.2 1.5 1.0
0.027 0.021 0.019 11.721 1.315 1.391 0.445 0.023 0.026
- Total Pm(mg/l) 0.052 ( 0.909 0.052 0.057
It is noted that in a number of cases, the measured downstream values measured by the ASU are in line with the upstream median values recorded over long term monitoring by the EPA, suggesting the resultant increases in concentrations of the parameters discharges decrease rapidly on moving away from the discharge point and revert to existing background levels within 2000 to 3000m downstream.
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 2005
Impact Assessmenf The primary changes to emissions to waters requested as part of the IPC Licence review relate to the following parameters:
o Increased Flow o Increased Sulphate concentration o Increased Chloride concentration o Increased Ortho Phosphorus concentration o Increased temperature
Changes to Daily Volumetric Flows
The Licence review requests an increase in daily flow from 10,000m3 to 1 2,000m3, with corresponding increase in hourly flow rates.
The current flow limit is 10,000m3 per day (416m3/hr) and there have been a number of occasions where this limit value was close to being reached.
The daily average flow in 2004, not withstanding increases in the frequency of high flows, was 7,166m3/d. The accumulated total annual effluent flow (2,529,764m3) amounted to 69% of the total permitted flow.
Although average daily and combined annual volumes are significantly less than permitted, the underlying reason for the requested increase relates to increased pressure at the limit value due to certain production activities. This, together with rainfall contributions means that the plant is operating close to or at ELV at particular times of the year.
Accordingly, an increase in daily flow of 2,000m3 is requested to facilitate plant processing activities during peak periods.
The impact of increased flows on the river, in terms of increased discharged of licensed parameters is tabulated below. With the exception of Chloride and Sulphate, for which revised emission limit values are requested, the proposed volume increase results in incremental increases in river concentrations during low flow periods (I.e. 95%-ile flow) (Chloride and Sulphate requested increases are dealt with in the following sections). Proposed changes in Ortho-P and temperature EL& have only incremental changes in predicted resultant in-river concentrations and can be regarded as not significant.
There are no changes requested to the ELV’s of any of the other parameters.
Table 1.2.4 shows a summary of the impact of the proposed flow increase on mass emission of other licensed parameters at ELV and under peak discharge conditions. The resultant increase in the in river concentration for each parameter is calculated for the 95%-ile flow condition in the Feale at a point adjacent to the Kerry Ingredients facility.
It is noted that the 95%-ile flow condition at in the river - l.38m3/sec - is significantly lower that the average flow as determined on the basis of long term records - 21 .Im3/sec. In the case of average or near average flows, the changes in concentration as tabulated below will be reduced further, and by up to an order of magnitude.
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 2005
Table 1.2.4 Summary of Changes due to Increased Daily Volume
95% ile Flow = 0.139mVs
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 200.5
The above table shows the predicted increase in river concentration for licensed parameters arising from an increase of 2,000m3 per day in discharge volume.
The predicted increase is based on emissions at ELV and at maximum flow. The flow condition in the river is the 95%-ile, although actual and average flows tent to be significantly higher (an order of magnitude).
Typical treated wastewater discharge volumes and parameter concentrations are however generally lower.
Although peak flows were experienced in 2004, which were almost at ELV on an increasing number of occasions (166 days), the average daily flow was 7,166m3 (The accumulated total annual effluent flow (2,529,764m3) amounted to 69% of the total permitted flow in 2004).
Similarly, the mass concentrations for all parameters (excepting Chloride and Sulphate) were generally within ELV.
In the case of temperature, the expected losses due to pumping from the final wastewater sump over a distance of approximately 1,500m to the final discharge point (SW-l) are of the order of 1°C. Predicted in river increases arising from the proposed change (i.e. l°C after in pipe losses) are likely to be negligible and would correspond to c 03°C in the worst-case condition.
In the case of Ortho - P, monitoring results obtained by Kerry Ingredients and EPA over the licence issue have indicated that the actual ration of Total to Ottho P is of the order of 0.7 i.e. Total P of 2 equates to an Ottho P of 1.4, and not 1.Omg.l as in the current IPC Licence. Accordingly, it is requested teht the relation ship is changes in the Licence to allow discharges at 1.4 mg Ortho-P/I
Accordingly, the use of the maximum (ELV) concentrations under the peak flow condition and 95%-ile river flow represents a worst-case scenario.
In the context of the incremental change in this worst case scenario, together with the observed similarities between upstream and downstream physico- chemical concentrations in the River, the potential for adverse impact on the river arising from the proposed daily volumetric flow increase is negligible and can be regarded as not significant.
It is noted that the performance of Kerry Ingredients in meeting licence conditions in 2004 was high, with only four non-compliances recorded for parameters other than sulphate and chloride (2 exceedances on ammonia and suspended solids respectively).
The Kerry Ingredients wastewater treatment plant operates at- a peak to trough ratio of approximately 27:1, based on the range of measured daily flow volumes.
Accordingly, although the actual performance of the plant, when evaluated on an annual basis, is high, it is evident that the plant is operating under some pressure during peak processing periods. Accordingly, although the proposed addition of 2,000m3 of effluent will not result in a continual increase
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 2005
in mass emissions from the plant, there are periods associated with peak milk and whey processing activity, where the additional discharge capacity is required.
The results of monitoring indicate that, although coming under pressure from additional wastewater volumes associated with increased processing activity, together with the move toward more water intensive, added value products, the wastewater treatment plant is capable of operating to meet existing emission limit values under the increased flow condition.
In addition, the results of monitoring over the peak processing period show that, although the plant operates the emission limit value on occasions, the average mass emissions are well within the permitted levels
Impact of Increased Sulphate and Chloride
Operational issues at the waste water treatment plant in the area of phosphorus removal, together with relatively high sulphate levels in incoming river water have resulted in on-going exceedances in chloride and sulphate concentrations at Kerry Ingredients.
These issues have been well documented and reported to the Agency on an ongoing basis through reports on monitoring and in annual environmental reports.
Arising from the request to specifically increase the emission limit values of both these parameters, Kerry Ingredients commissioned the Aquatic Services Unit (ASU) of NUI-Cork to carry out two independent studies.
These studies were designed to determine the impact of increased concentrations of both sulphate and chloride. These studies where reviewed in April 2005 to take account of the requested increase in volumetric discharge of 2,000m3 of effluent per day.
Chloride
The chloride study was undertaken to study the potential impact on aquatic biota in the River Feale arising from an increase in the chloride ELV to 2,000 mg/l.
This study involved a literature review of chloride toxicity, relevant standards along with a prediction of increased chloride values in the Feale associated with the elevated discharge of chloride.
This calculation used long-term flow data for the River Feale was collected by the OPW over the period 1976-2001.
The report concluded that “Based on the average and maximum chloride values predicted using recent historical flow data for the River Feale at Listowel and a projected effluent concentration of 2000 mgll and an effluent flow of 12,000m3, little adverse impact on the aquatic flora and fauna of the river Feale would be expected to arise.” .
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Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd Revised IPCL Application Attachment 1.2
April 2005
It is noted that the River Feale is tidal from Finuge Bridge, some 2000m downstream of the Kerry Ingredients discharge and therefore will be subject to marine influence and increasing variable salt (chlorides), suspended solids, turbidity and colour, temperature and conductivity ranges to reflect the movement of freshwater riverine discharges into the highly variable estuarine environment.
Sulphate
A sulphate study was undertaken to assess the effects of elevated sulphate levels on freshwater aquatic life in the river Feale due to an increase in the effluent sulphate ELV to 750 mg/l.
This study also involved the review of scientific literature to assess the toxic effects of elevated sulphate concentrations on freshwater life, and relevant standards, along with a prediction of increased sulphate values in the Feale associated with the elevated discharge of sulphate.
Flow data used for the prediction of resultant sulphate increases was obtained from OPW flow data over the period 1976-2001 and used a maximum effluent sulphate concentration of 750 mg/l.
The ASU report concluded that “an effluent sulphate concentration not exceeding 750 mg/l combined with an effluent discharge volume of 12,000m3 is considered acceptable, on the condition that average annual in-stream concentrations do not exceed lOOmg/l and no 4-day average concentration exceed 250mg/l SO,.”
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River Feale Biological & Water Quality Monitoring (September 2004)
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Impact Assessment on River Feale Incfeased Effluent Chloride
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Appendix.,l;r.~
Impact Assessment on River Feale Increased Effluent Sulehate
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Appendix 1.2.1 River Feale Biological & Water Quality Monitoring
(September 2004)
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RIVER FEALE BIOLOGICAL & WATER QUALITY MONITORING
FOR KERRY INGREDIENT’S IPC LICENSE
(September 2004)
Commissioned by: Kerry Ingredients, Listowel. Carried out by: Aquatic Services Unit, UCC. (November 2004)
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Introduction & Brief
The Aquatic Services Unit UCC were requested by Mr. Sean Pender of Kerry Ingredients plc. (Listowel) to carry out a biological and chemical survey of the River Feale upstream and downstream of the discharge from the final treated effluent discharge from the Kerry In
SF during September 2s’ and 2gt edients treatment plant. The survey was carried out 2003. The survey is part of the Kerry Ingredients IPC
licence conditions and is carried out on au annual basis.
J.n the past the River Feale suffered from severe 24hour fluctuations in dissolved oxygen as a result of excessive filamentous algal growth brought about by elevated nutrient levels in the river stretch between Listowel Town and Finuge Bridge. With this in mind it was considered prudent to examine the oxygen levels in the river at several times during the day, including the early morning to detect any significant drop in oxygen levels which would be in evidence at that time of day. In addition, general water quality parameters were measured both in the river and in the treated effluent as it emerged Ii-om the end of the outfall pipe. Finally, macroinvertebrates were collected in order to evaluate the medium-term condition of the water quality in the river as macroinvertebrate integrate water quality effects over several months or more. It was clear from the outset of this sampling occasion that the high water levels in the river at the time were going to strongly dilute any effluent being discharged and also counteract the eutrophication effect sometimes seen in the channel because of strong re-aeration caused by in-channel turbulence.
Conditions at the time of the survey were generally cool, dull to bright with water levels well above those encountered on previous smveys.
Three sampling sites were chosen for monitoring: Site 1 at 70m upstream of the effluent discharge, Site 2 about 4OO-600m downstream of the discharge after it is substantially mixed and Site 3 at Scartlea Weir a further 2k1n further downstream, where in the past the worst oxygen depletion had been noted, A further site (Site 3a) was chosen a few hundred metres downstream of Scartlea Weir for a kick-sample as the substrate is not suitable for macroinvertebrate sampling in the immediate vicinity of the weir. At each sampling site, water samples and macroinvertebrate samples were taken although at Site 3 only water samples and at Site 3a only macroinvertebrate samples were taken for the reasons already outlined. See map in Figure 1 for sampling site locations. See also Plates in Appendix 1.
Methods
Water Analysis
Dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured on site. One litre samples were collected on site and stored in insulated box on ice during transport to the ASU lab, where analysis began the following morning after over-night storage at 4OC.
Analysis was carried out using standard methods or modifications of same as outlined in Table 1.
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Table 1 River Feale water quality monitoring parameter list & test methods
?arameters Laboratory tionical Nitrogen ASU
SGD ASU
cuspended Solids
%solved Oxygen 3hloride
Yolour
3lectrical Conductivity
>H
lemperature
Ortho Phosphate
Sulphate
Total Phosphorus
Total Oxidised Nitrogen
ASU
ASU ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
ASU
Test Methods Automated La&at Quik-Chem 8000 series Method WI’W OXI 320 DO Meter with BOD bottle adapters. Samples incubated at 20 OC for 5 days. Dilution if required as per Standard Method {APHA 19 89( Method 5 2 1 O-B) Gravimetrlc using Whatman GFK filters and drying at 103-105 “C as per Standard Methods {API-IA 1989) Method 2540-B WTW OX1 320 DO Meter (on site analysis) Automated fewicyanide method (TecatorFIA Method AN 63/83) (see Standard Metlmds (APHA 1989) Method 4500~Cl-E for reagents Spectrophotometric using Platinum-Cobalt colour standard solutions for standards WTW LF330 Conductivity/Salinity Meter calibrated with standardised KC1 after Standard Methods (APHA 1989) Method 2510-B WTW pH meter 320 following 2-point calibration on fresh pH 4 & ‘7 buffer solutions WTW Thermistor (as on WTW OXI 320 DO Meter) on site analysis Automated Lachat Quik-Chem 8000 series Method based on Murphy & Reily Method (Molybdate - Ascorbic Acid) Automated Lachat Quik-Chem 8000 series IC As for orthophosphate following digestion of the unfiltered sample with persulphate and sulphuric acid (autoclave) Automated FIA with copper-amalgamated cadmium column for reduction to nitrite followed by calorimetric detection using pink-a20 dye (sulpbauilimide/NED- dichloride method) see Standard Methods (APHA 1989) Method 4500-NOZ-B
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Macroinvertebrrrte Sampling & Analysis
Replicate Surber sampIe collections were made in areas of moderate to swift turbulent flow in coarse substrate, Samples were preserved on site in a mixture of fortnalin and alcohol and returned to the lab for full sorting, enumeration and identification using the appropriate keys from the Freshwater Biological Association of the UK.
The macroinvertebrate data arising was assessed using a the same biotic index system used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their on-going monitoring of biological quality in Irish rivers. The index assigns a score to the macroinvertebrate collection at a given site depending on the relative proportion of pollution sensitive and pollution tolerant organisms present. The greater the number and diversity of pollution sensitive types present (particularly, certain mayflies, stoneflies and cased caddis flies} the higher the score or quality class assigned to a given site. The highest score category is QS which indicates pristine water quality conditions and is recognised by having a high proportion of pollution sensitive species and very few or any pollution tolerant forms, whereas Ql at the other end of the scale indicates gross pollution. The table below indicates the Q-value scores, which can be assigned and the corresponding degree of pollution associated with them.
Q-Value Degree of Pollution Q%Q4-5,Q4 Unpolluted 43-4 Slightly Polluted Q3,Q2-3 Moderately Polluted
_, QZ Q l-2, Ql Serious to Gross Pollution
A system used in the UJS called the Biological Monitoring Working Party score (BMWP) was also calculated for the samples taken in the Peale. This is calculated by attributing a numerical score (l-10) to each family of macroinvertebrate present in the kick-sample depending on their degree of pollution tolerance. Families, which are pollution sensitive such as flat mayfly nymphs of the family Heptageniidae, are assigned a score of 10, while Tubificid worms receive a score of 1. The scores of each family present in the collection are then summed to give the total score for the site. A variant of this index called the Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) is calculated by dividing the BMWP Score by the number of families used to calculate. This is considered a more robust method than the former because the number of families present doesn’t affect it. These latter two indices were calculated as supporting evidence for the main index (EPA Q-value) and because they are less influenced by inter-operator variation.
The UK BMWP and ASPT scores are as follows:
It is important to point out that the UK scores are not automatically transferabk to the Irish context, however they employ most of the same organisms and tend to give reasonably similar results in general.
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Wuter Chemistry - 24hour Dissolwd Oxygen Yuriutton
Table 2 presents the results of the 24-hour dissolved survey. Ideally, to get a fir11 impression of the 24hour variation one should sample every few hours throughout the day or use an automatic DO, pH, temperature probe. Several previous such surveys undertaken by the author at the same river sites has indicated that the lowest dissolved oxygen, pH and temperatures are usually measured between MOO and 07:OO in the morning, whereas the highest tend to be recorded at between f6:30 and l&30 in the afternoon. Thus a 2-point measurement at these times of the day will normally give a very good indication of the daily range on any given day.
The results in Table 2 indicate that the maximum 24-hr range was again at Scartlea weir (Site 3) where the difference between the at&noon value at 15:44 and the morning level at 0650 (Sept 29”‘) was a mere 5.6% saturation, compared to a figure of 83.6% in 2003. Each of the other sites were again below 5% total daily DQ% saturation range compared to between -. 4Q- 50 % saturation. The lowest value dissolved oxygen recorded during the survey (95.2 % saturation at Scartlea Weir, i.e. 9.68 mgfl, 0-J is still close to full saturation. It is clear that the high water levels and associated increased re-aeration rates combined to stabilise the oxygen regime at around 100% saturation at all sampling sites.
During the 2004 sampling run, the pH was also much closer to neutral with the full range throughout all sites over the full day (28s’-29’h) ranging from 7.03-7.11. This compares with one value in excess of 9.0 (at Scartlea weir) during the September 2003 sampling run. Again these differences can be attributed to the combined affects of increased flows and re-aeration in 2004 and reduced algal biomass due to the antecedent flood conditions on lbe river.
Table 2
Date
r-
Dissolved oxygen, pH and temgorature at three River Feale sampling sites at three times over 24hrs (281h/29 September 2004)
Site Time Temp pH Dissolved Dissolved I”C) *Yw mwn
(mgd,O2) (% sat.) (Sl) u/s 15:44 14.6 7.10 10.28 100.4
100.5 @2)d/s 16:50 14.7 7.05 LO.25 IS3) 15.57 10.9 (?) 7.10 10.23 100.8 Scartlea weir I (Sl) u/s 07~36 14.2 7.03 9.93 47.1 (S2) d/s 07:lO 14.3 7.03 9.78 35.7 @3) 06:50 14.4 7.04 9.63 95.2 Scartlea weir ($1) u/s 1221 14.6 7.11 to.15 100.0 (S2)d/s 11:18 14.5 7.09 10.19 100.2 @3) l&55 : 14,s 7.10 : 10.0 98.5 Scartlea weir
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Water Chemistry - Gepteral Water Quality Parameiers
Dissolved oxygen was effectively at saturation at each of the three sampling sites and BOD and nutrient levels showed very little differences between sites upstream or downstream of the effluent. This was to be expected as the high flows at the time provided a very large dilution for the Kerry Ingredient effluent. Furthermore, washout from the catchment had elevated the upstream concentration of several parameters including orrho?, total-P, ammonia, TON and colour compared to the corresponding values in September 2003, when water levels were much lower during sampling and plant biomass was high.
Table 3 Water quality physic0 / chemical analysis results at three River Feale sampling sites and of effluent from end of Kerry Ingredients outfall pipe (29/09/04)
Sample
Time
Units FI
12:2I Effluent 12:oo
F2 F3
II:18 lo:55 TelIlp 1 WC 1 14.6 pH 7.11 DO. fwfl, 02) : 10.15 D.O. % sat. 10cLo Conductivity (uS/cm@25’C) 168.5
23.4 7.52 8,53 100.0
1 Colour
100.2 I 98.5 I 1 4900 142.3
I cuo.7Pls-l I a7 Il.5 on ( \L”U”. ,
Chloride 1 m!dL Cl) & i&6 I - r 95 23.41 36.39
“n.lmhc,te 1 (mgn, SO4) 6.08 48.90 6.14 6.53
(mg/l) 1.3 4.2 1.8 1.6 I frn”i7 A, 12 CIC) ‘Ic 1n
_ I-_--_- w
i;E;,ii: iii “..,__ , “,“l, Y.V”S Y.Y.,
TON 1.332 11.721 1.315 1.391 - Ortho-P (mgn, p> 0.023 0.445 0.023 0.026
Total P Ow4 PI 0.052 0.909 0.052 0.057
Macroirtvertebrates
Appendix 1 presents a detailed description of the habitat and substrate types both in-stream and along the banks at the three macroinvertebrate sampling sites. Table 4 presents the different types of macroinvertebrate collected in kick-samples and Table 5 lists the values of three biotic indices derived from the data.
The data show that all three sampling sites had a varied and relatively diverse macroinvertebrate community with a mixture of pollution sensitive and pollution tolerant forms and that there was very little to choose between the sites in terms of water quality. Sites 2 and 3 were both classified as slightly polluted (i.e. 43-4) using the EPA Biotic Index although they might also be classified as bordering on unpolluted (Q4), while Site 1 was classified as unpolluted, bordering on slightly polluted. A comparison of the ASTP (Average Score per Taxon) results between last year and this year’s survey (Figure 2) suggests that the quality had deteriorated since 2003 at all sites. This is attributed to the lateness of the season compared to previous samplings which tended to be in the earlier half of the month, and to the heavy floods in the preceding few days, which will have washed a great number of macroinvertebrates from the substrate, including the less numerous sensitive forms.
A more systematic search for Fonti’nalis, which is considered in Canada to be sensitive to elevated chloride concentrations, was not possible in September 2004 given the significantly
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higher flows and strongly coloured water present at the time. ’ However, this moss was well represented in places at all sites and there is no reason to believe that it is being adversely impacted by the factory discharge.
Overall Conclusion
The overriding feature of the 2004 sampling run was the fact that the river had risen quite considerably by the time samples were taken and this had a very profound influence on the water chemistry and may also have influenced the macroinvertebrate sampling results. Furthermore, the conditions prevailing at the time of the survey would confirm the river’s continuing suitability as a channel for salmonid fish feeding and holding as well as for inward and outward migration of salmonid fish.
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Table 4 Macroinvertebrate results from 2 replicate (a & b) Surber sampEes at 3 sampling sites on the River Feale upstream and downstream from Kerry Ingredients outfall (29/09/2004)
1 Taxa 1 EPA 1 BMWP 1 Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 tent d/s MixinQ D/B Scartlea Quality Score u/s Efik
Class Zone Weir A )B A B
I I I
1
, 50 23 12 I * * * *
I 1 ' I 1 13 4 24
22 2
S (Crustacea) -I I- I-I -I I I
1 38 ) 30 ) 14 1 SO 1 + )
r II- wed peregru D 13 1 1 12 1 12 - ,.
_.-.- --.__-. __... t t eriidae D 3 8 1 b
irudinea) 0 * * 1 * * *
I I I I I I
GIossunhoniu complanata 1 D I I
13 II 11 II 13 13 I Helobddlu stu
Troche1 ~~~
WORiL cA L
OIigochaetae ,c FLATWORMS (Tricladia) 1 lndct. Triclad I 12
MITES (Acarina) I:
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Table 5 Macroinvertebrate biotic indices results from the combined replicate samples Corn the three sampling sites on the River Feale @9/09/2004>
Biotic indices
EPA Q Value Total BMWP Score
i ASPT
Site 1 u/s Effluent
W (43-4) 99 5.5
Site 2 Site 3a d/s Mfxing dh Scartlea Zone Weir Q3-4 (44) Q3-4 (Q4) 79 85 5.3 5.0
..-- ..- .- .____-. -... ..-
ASPT Comparison 2001-2004
1A IB 2A
..- .-.. PB 3A
.__- . .
$1 ra2om’
n 2002
RI2003
02004 --
. . . .
Figure 2 Average Score Per Taxon (ASTP) values for each sites sample replicate for the 2001 to 2004 surveys.
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l Appendix 1
Macroinvertebrate Sampling Site Descriptims & Site Plates
There was significant difficulty accessing and observing alI of the sampling sites on this occasion due to the very strong current and the highly caloured water, Note that the floods seemed to have washed all claaophora and other filamentous green algae away.
Site 1 Feale u/s Discharge
The river at this point is 70m up&earn of the company’s main &fluent discharge where the river is more than 10m wide (Plate 1). The water close to macroinvertebrate sampling points was about 20-3Ocm deep. The riverbed substrate comprised boulders with flat, smooth, angular cobbles and small stones in very swift turbulent flows (in falling flood). It was difficult to observe the channel bed due to the power of the flow and the deeply coloured waters. However Fontinalis moss and Ranunculus (Water crowfoot) were abundant marginally on the LHS side of the chatmel. Both banks were dominated by Willow (Salix) and Phiuris (Reed Canary Grass) and with scattered malayan Balsam (Impatiens ghndzcZiferu). The RHS ‘bank’ is effectively a vegetated section of the channel and is quite low and flat and subject to regular inundation. The LHS bank is steeper and backed by low concrete sheds.
Two Surber samples {A & B) were both taken toward the toward the RHS side of the channel. The macroinvertebrate sampling sites were plant free with substrate of large smooth cobbles, small stones. The flow was turbulent and very swift.
Site 2 Feale d/s Mixing Zone
The river at this point (Plate 2) is at it’s widest (>l Om). Substrate, consisting of light green- grey sandstone, in general comprised boulders and cobbles of a flatish, smooth nature in a swift turbulent flow across most of the channel. Toward, the left-hand side (LHS) of the channel {northern side) the flow is less turbulent and slower. Myriuphyllum (Water Milfoil) was Fontinalis were locally common marginally (RHS) and Elodea (Canadii Pondweed) and Ranunculus were fresuent in the same areas. The right hand side (RHS) bank vegetation comprises scattered stands of Reed Canary Grass (Plhalaris arwufinacea), backed by occasional Willow saplings (&Z&X sp.) but mainly stepped and grassed, occasional stands of Branched Burr-reed (Sparganium erectam) were also present. The LHS bank is steeper with Alder {AZnus), Elder (Sambucus), Willow (Salix) Gorse (L&x), Phalaris, Himalayan Balsam, Nettle and other weeds.
Two Surber samples were taken {A & 6) toward right side of the channel in swift flows over smooth cobble substrate (625cm deep), which were plant free,
Site 3a Feale dls Scartlea Weir
At this point in the river a rock-filled gabion weir, which forms a blunt upstream facing chevron, was constructed across the channel with a gap toward the centre. The substrate comprised angular cobbles, small boulders and gravel. Upstream of the weir chunps of Water Milfoil were common, while Elodea, Fontfnnlis and Ranunculus were eequent. Both Surber samples were taken in a gap in the weir. The LHS bank was vegetated with Alder and, Willow with an understorey of Phaluris and Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulijhw)). The RHS bank is more disturbed and grassy with a mix of PhaLris, brambles, grass and hedgebank flora. (plate 4)
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Plate 1 View of Rivex Fe& at Site 1, upstream from Kerry Ingredients outfall (looking upstream, September 2@’ 2004).
Plate 2 River Feale at Site 2 i.e, downstream of the Kerry lngredients outfall. View upstream (September 28” 2004).
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Plate 3 River Fealc at Site 3 - Scartea Weir (September 2@’ 2004)
Plate 4 View upstream at Site 3a. Note low gabion weir where macroinvertebrate kick-samples were taken is drowned out. (September 2gtb 2004).
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