local authority news vol.33 no.1

LANLOCAL

AUTHORITYNEWS

• IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 75TH ANNIVERSARY

• SROWLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT

• ISO 24512 DRINKING WATER MANAGEMENT

Vol 33 No 1 2013

FRONT COVER LAN Nov.2 No 1.2013 18/11/2013 13:49

FRONT COVER LAN Nov.2 No 1.2013 18/11/2013 13:49

FEATURES

Designed & produced byDonnelly Design & Print Ltd.

ISSN NO. 1393-0394

IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 75THANNIVERSARY 2

SMART STREET LIGHTING" INCROSSMOLINA, CO. MAYO 5

PROTECTING OUR WATER,PREVENTING ENVIRONMENTALDAMAGE

9

IRISH WATER TEAMS UP WITH ANTAISCE GREEN-SCHOOLS 11

AQS ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONSINTRODUCES INFONET TO THE IRISHMARKET 13

MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OFDRINKING WATER UTILITIES ANDDRINKING WATER SERVICES 16

OPENING OF BALLYMORE EUSTACEWASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 19

ESS SAFEFORCE OPENS FIRSTDEPOT IN IRELAND 27

DEPARTMENT BREIFS 20

PRODUCT INFORMATION 24

CLASSIFIEDS 28

REGULARS

LANLOCAL

AUTHORITYNEWS

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LAN is available FREE OFCHARGE to all Local andCentral Government Bodies

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C O N T E N T SVOL. 33. No.1 2013

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Draft LAN Nov. Vol . 2013 New_Layout 1 18/11/2013 17:35 Page 1

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AUTHORITYNEWS

There are few companies in Ireland that can matchthe longevity and sustained contribution to

Irelandʼs national growth and development of IrishCement Ltd.

Irish Cement has made a significant contribution to

the growth and transformation of Ireland over thepast seventy five years from what was then a ruralagricultural country on the periphery of Europe into

what is now a largely urban-based 21st centurymodern economy.

Today, modern production plants at Platin andLimerick incorporate the most up to date and efficientproduction technologies and serve home and export

markets with a portfolio of eco-efficient productswhich will make a lasting contribution to the builtenvironment.

Historical BeginningsFollowing the Cement Act of 1933 whichprovided the legal framework for thedevelopment of a cement industry in Ireland,ʻCement Ltdʼ was registered as a LimitedLiability Company in May 1936. SéamusLynch, Managing Director of Irish CementLtd, explains: “When the company wasestablished in the mid 1930ʼs, it was decidedto build a new 150,000 tonne cement factoryat Drogheda and a second 75,000 tonnefacility at Castlemungret just outsideLimerick. The two plants both came intooperation in the spring of 1938 and it wasactually Seán Lemass, the then Minister forIndustry and Commerce, who officiallyopened both plants simultaneously at12.15pm on May 23rd 1938.”

Irish Cement 75th Anniversary

Drogheda Works 1930ʼs

Irish Cement Head Office


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The Early YearsDue to increasing demand, it was soon decided todouble capacity at the Drogheda plant with a secondproduction line which commenced operations in1940.

Lynch points outthat despite theimpact of theSecond WorldWar, many largec o n s t r u c t i o nprojects weregoing ahead inIreland duringthe 1940s: “Thenew State wasstarting to takeshape with bigprojects such asBusáras inDublin and theLiffey Hydro-Electric Schemecoming through.

The new aprons and runway at Dublin Airport createdsignificant demand for large volumes of concretewhich led to the first deliveries of cement in bulk in1946. Readymixed concrete was produced in Dublinfor the first time in 1949, and we saw steady growthin demand for bulk cement from then on”.

In late 1951 plans were developed to extend bothWorks. In 1954 a third unit of 150,000 tonnes atDrogheda and a second unit of 100,000 tonnes atLimerick came into production.

Expansionary YearsIn the 1960s, production capacity wasfurther increased to meet growingdemand levels by commissioningthree new kilns at Limerick in 1961,1964 and 1965 which brought totalproduction levels to over 1 milliontonnes. Meanwhile in Drogheda,Lynch says it was the beginning of anew chapter “In 1968 Cement Ltddecided to build a new factory at agreen field site at Platin outsideDrogheda to meet the demands of theexpanding economy and Platin Kiln 1,the first dry process plant in Ireland,was commissioned in 1972.”

Platin Kiln 1 increased annual production capacity byover 400,000 tonnes and soon after, a second kilnproject followed which was at the time the largestsingle construction project ever undertaken byCement Ltd. Commissioned in 1977, Kiln 2 added animpressive 1 million tonnes of extra capacity.

By now Cement Ltd and Roadstone Ltd had mergedto form Cement Roadstone Holdings Ltd.,subsequently renamed CRH plc, which has grown tobecome one of the worldʼs largest building materialcompanies. In addition, as Lynch explains, the nameof the company was changed to Irish Cement Ltd: “InDecember 1978 we became IRISH CEMENT LTD toreflect the long history of indigenous cementmanufacture at Drogheda and Limerick and to moreappropriately brand the Company and its productsas being 100% Irish”.

Following the highly successful introduction of thenew dry process kilns at Platin during the 1970s theCompany then turned its attention to a majormodernisation project at Limerick Works, which sawthe commissioning of a new Kiln 6 dry process line in1983.

Overseas InitiativesAs a response to the 1980ʼs recession, Irish Cementestablished Irish Cement Consultancy Services tomarket internationally the considerable engineeringskills built up over many decades with a view tomaintaining these skills within the Company. Lynchsays it was an innovative move: “It helped preservecorporate knowledge within the company in a periodof prolonged downturn. Throughout the 1980s ourengineers managed many significant projects acrossfive continents, particularly Africa. New exportopportunities in the UK were also identified and newmarkets were developed here promoting the use ofconcrete, particularly in agriculture.”

Limerick Works

Platin Works – Kiln 3 preheater tower


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AUTHORITYNEWS

Recent Capacity DevelopmentsThe recession of the 1980s gave way to renewedgrowth during the 1990s and early 2000s. TheCompany responded to the increased demand byimplementing a number of major projects to enhancecapacity at Limerick and Platin. In late 2008 a newstate-of-the-art energy efficient Kiln line (Kiln 3) withmodern milling technology and a production capacityof 1.4 million tonnes was successfully completed atPlatin, and is now one of the most energy efficientfacilities in Europe.

Eco Credentials & SustainabilityA major product development programme waslaunched in the early 2000s to establish the mostsustainable eco-efficient low carbon product portfoliofor the future. Lynch explains it was another industryfirst for Irish Cement and an important part of thecompanyʼs sustainability strategy “We identified CEMII Portland – Limestone cement, which is producedby grinding unburnt naturally occurring limestone withclinker, as the sustainable flagship product for thefuture and we first introduced it to the market in 2007.It quickly became the main cement used throughoutIreland.”

In recent years, IrishCement Ltd hastaken further stridesin its commitment tosustainable cementproduction – thesubstitution of fossilfuels with alternativewaste-derived fuelsin Platin Works.Lynch explains “aswell as enhancingthe Companyʼsstrategy of producingsustainable low carbon cements, it makes asignificant contribution to national wastemanagement by diverting waste from landfill”.

Throughout the history of Irish Cement Ltd, therehave been periods of growth and recession. Lynchexplains “Throughout these periods, Irish Cement Ltdhas made a notable contribution to the localcommunities in which it operates, giving muchneeded employment in the North East and Mid West. Throughout Ireland, the sustainable development ofthe built environment – houses, schools, hospitals,farms, roads, commercial and industrial buildings andinfrastructure of all kinds - has been made possiblethrough concrete made with the Companyʼs productsover this period”.

The FutureNotwithstanding the current construction climate,Lynch is optimistic about the future. “Irish CementLtd, as the major producer of cement in Ireland, withmodern energy efficient plants, its new eco-efficientproduct portfolio and itsrenowned technical excellenceboth in cement plant processtechnology and cement andconcrete technology in use, isextremely well positioned tocontinue making a majorcontribution to the sustainabledevelopment of Ireland wellinto the future.”

Séamus Lynch, MD Irish Cement Limited

Jim Mintern, Regional Director – Eurpoe West CRHexplains;

“The decision to establish Cement Ltd in Droghedaand Limerick in 1938 was early recognition by theState of the strategic national importance ofindigenous cement production using locally availableand sustainable Irish raw materials. While perhapstaken for granted today, this remains as important aprinciple as 75 years ago.

Today Irish Cement is an industry leader with one ofthe most modern efficient cement production facilitiesin Europe allowing it to compete internationally andsustain jobs and investment here in Ireland.Technological investments such as Kiln 3, andinnovations like low carbon CEM II cement and lowcarbon alternative fuels have significantly reducedemissions and are an important part of Irish Cementʼscommitment to long term sustainable operations.

Irish Cement has also played an important role in thedevelopment of the CRH Group worldwide, and hasproven to be a world-class training ground for manyof CRHʼs global managementteam. Many of CRHʼs seniorexecutives and engineers inEurope and Asia have comethrough Irish Cement.

This expertise constantly flowsback into Irish Cement, buildingon our reserves of operationalexcellence and helping usimmeasurably in planning forthe companyʼs next 75 years inIreland.”

Jim Mintern – RegionalDirector – Europe West, CRH


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AUTHORITYNEWS

Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, has this eveningofficially switched on Crossmolinaʼs “Smart Street

Lighting”, in what is a first-of-its-kind venture inIreland. With the backing of Crossmolina CommunityDevelopment and Mayo County Council,Crossmolina was chosen as a pilot to test a newpublic lighting initiative that aims to result in long termsavings to the town and council, as well asencouraging the delivery of other energy efficiencyprojects across the country.

According to Minister Rabbitte, “This is the first townin Mayo, and moreover, the first town in Ireland toreceive ʻSmart Street Lightingʼ. There are currentlyaround 420,000 public lights in the Republic ofIreland, the bulk of which are operated under LocalAuthorities. The energy consumption of public lightingis estimated to represent between 15% and 35% ofthe total energy consumption in Local Authorities.Therefore, the potential for energy saving in streetlighting is very significant.”

Crossmolina already has a mix of low and highwattage street lighting, resulting in its identification byMayo County Council as a suitable test project. Thepilot initiative aims to test the Energy PerformanceContracting (EPC) of new ʻdimming and trimmingʼenergy saving technology, through which light outputcan be controlled for each individual light or group oflights. Through the delivery of this new technology itis expected that Mayo County Council shouldcontinue to achieve cost savings over the lifetime ofthe project.

Minister Rabbitte noted that this initiative inCrossmolina has already encouraged Mayo CountyCouncil and other local authorities to examine the

potential of funding large scale Public Lightingrenovations as ʻexemplarʼ projects under the EnergyEfficiency Fund that he launched in February. “In thisregard I was delighted to unveil the first tranche of 22exemplar energy efficiency projects last June underthe Action Plan for Jobs. These organisationsspanning the Health, Education, Manufacturing,Services, Food and Public sectors have taken a boldstep and are blazing a trail for others to follow. TheseExemplar projects are demonstration projects thatare designed to help us meet our National EnergyEfficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) targets, and inparticular the challenging 33% energy savings targetthat we have set for the public sector.

“Exemplar projects are exciting and Innovative and willcollectively see investment of up to €55 million inenergy saving measures. This in turn is anticipated togenerate annual savings of €7 million. Furthermore,they should help support over 500 jobs across thecountry which is very welcome news given the currenteconomic challenges Ireland faces.

“I am convinced that the lessons learned here willbring benefits to other Local Authorities who are keento reduce their energy costs associated with publiclighting.”

Notes• Exchequer funding of 35 % of the costs was

allocated by the Government under the BetterEnergy Workplaces (BEW) Scheme to theCrossmolina Smart Street Lighting initiative,while the ESB IE provided 15% of the funding.

• The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland(SEAI) provided expertise and support that hascontributed to the successful delivery of the pilot.

• It is anticipated that the project will be repaidunder a 15 year contract through the energysavings and the maintenance and capitalexpenditure savings generated over the period ofthe contract, reducing energy consumption by35.2% and produce energy savings of 50,190kWH.

• Details of the Energy Efficiency Fund areavailable here athttp://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2013/NEEAP.htm

• Details of the Exemplar projects announcementare available here athttp://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2013/Minister+Pat+Rabbitte+announces+exemplar+energy+projects.htm

Minister Rabbitte officially switches on "Smart Street Lighting" in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo

Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, turns on the street lighting scheme inCrossmolina with Siobhan Gough, chairperson, Crossmolina Community

Development Committee; Paul Jordan, Selc Ireland; and Michelle Mulhern, TD


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AUTHORITYNEWS

BAM & Veolia Providing clean water

Partners in building & operating Srowland Water Treatment Plant

Delivering 40 million litres of water per day

www.veoliawater.ie - www.bamcontractors.ie


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AUTHORITYNEWS

The Srowland Water Treatment Plant, with acapacity of 40 million litres of potable waterper day was delivered in June 2013, on timeand within budget by Veolia BAM JV. TheSrowland Treatment Plant is a keycomponent of the Water Strategy for Kildareand the Greater Dublin area, which has beenhighlighted as a key facilitator for nationaleconomic development.

The purpose of the plant is to reduce future demandpressures on the Greater Dublin Area and to ensureconsumers in South West Kildare will have a secure andwholesome supply of quality water for many years tocome.

At concept stage Kildare County Council, appointedNicholas Oʼ Dwyer Consulting Engineers Ltd., in con-junction with P J Tobin Consulting Engineers Ltd., toprepare a Water Strategy for County Kildare which wouldenable County Kildare to meet its water demands up to2020. The River Barrow was identified as the mostenvironmentally and economically viable abstractionsolution. The overarching goal of the project was to reduceKildareʼs dependence upon the River Liffey, develop theBarrow as a source for up to 40 million litres per day, andrelease water to the Greater Dublin Area.

As part of the planning process, extensive stakeholder andpublic consultations were undertaken, followed by acomprehensive Environmental Impact Statement and ahydrogeological study. This rigorous approach ensuredthat the design team could identify innovative mitigationmeasures necessary to ensure that the River Barrow wasnot compromised from an environmental, amenity, ornavigational perspective. As a result of these studies, theproject was designed to include the construction of two60,000m3 bank side storage reservoirs to regulateabstraction from the River Barrow during low flow ordrought conditions.

The Srowland Water Treatment Plant was procured andconstructed under a Design-Build-Operate contract.Following an open tender procedure, Veolia Water Irelandand BAM Civil in JV were awarded the project in April2011, on the basis of the total 20 year design-build-operatecost and the technical merits of the JV proposal. Theconstruction component of the contract was valued atcirca. €25 million. The operation portion of the contract isfor a period of 20 years, during which Veolia Water Irelandwill be fully responsible for the operation of the works onbehalf of Kildare County Council.

The project brought together the talents of the LocalAuthority, Consulting Engineers, BAM and Veolia to delivera world class infrastructure project. The concepts ofService, Value and Responsibility were integral to thephilosophy applied to all aspects of the project.

ServiceThe scope of the project includes a best-in-class highlyinnovative low footprint Water Treatment Plant capable ofdelivering some 40 million litres of water per day in a 20hour period, using best available technology. The works ishighly automated and includes many innovative andunconventional process elements such as the Actifloc®High Rate Ballasted Clarification and Filtration process,automatic coagulation control, as well as the first Irishmunicipal application of bank side storage and CO2stripping.

ValueValue for money was a priority both from a capital andoperating cost perspective. The construction footprint ofthe treatment plant is less than 25% than that of acomparable conventional plant thereby reducing capitalcosts and minimizing environmental impact. Especiallyimportant, given the abstraction sensitivity of the RiverBarrow, the works were delivered with an exceptionallylow water footprint, being greater than 97% hydraulicallyefficient.

ResponsibilityThe works were delivered in a responsible manner,minimising any impact on the environment, the RiverBarrow catchment and its stakeholders whilst deliveringthe project on time and within budget. Veoliaʼs long-termcommitment approach is key to this project, as we areresponsible for ensuring that the plant is operated andmaintained appropriately to produce high-quality water forthe next 20 years.

SROWLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT


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AUTHORITYNEWS

• Easy and economicalto install

• Low maintenance

and running costs

• Made from durable

high strength concrete

• Meets EU and local council standards

• The best value product on the market

Commercial bioTankwaste watertreatment tank

Tel: 074 95 48253Fax: 074 95 48861Mob: 086 7913535Email: [email protected]

bioTank.ieCrolly, LetterkennyCo. Donegal

Removal service is the best and quickest way to havechewing gum removed from any area requiring chewinggum removal. By using a constant supply of vaporized

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For more information on MeathJetting Serviceʼs call

Ph: 01 8354739 or 087 8253440E-mail: [email protected]


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LANLOCAL

AUTHORITYNEWS

Protecting the environmental resources wealready have, including our water resources,will be a priority for the EPA in the coming

years, according to Director General of the EPA,Laura Burke. She was speaking at the ninth annualEnvironment Ireland conference, organised inassociation with the EPA and the Department ofEnvironment, Community and Local Government,which took place in Croke Park.

“With the likelihood of a global water shortfall of 40%by 2030, Irelandʼs valuable and abundant waterresources are predicted to become of increasingstrategic importance to the Irish economy. Cleanwater and a well-managed environment underpin keyeconomic sectors, such as tourism and the agri-foodindustry, both of which thrive on the clean greenimage of Ireland."

Preventing future environmental damage from theclosure of activities and driving the remediation ofexisting contaminated sites will also be a major focusfor the EPA, Ms Burke said.

“There have been a number of high-profile cases inIreland where the State has had to intervene tomanage abandoned facilities such as mines, withsignificant environmental liabilities, and costing tensof millions of euro.” Ms Burke said. “There are othercases where licensed facilities have ceased or goneinto liquidation or receivership. The current economicclimate has increased the risk of such occurrences.The EPA has recently published guidance onassessing and costing such environmental liabilities.Proper environmental liability management makesboth good environmental and good business sense,minimising environmental impacts and representingforward financial planning for businesses.”

Changing our behaviours to become more resourceefficient will be the key to sustainable growth in thefuture, Ms Burke continued.

“The current economic recession – while it hasbrought profound hardship and difficulty for so manypeople – does provide us with an opportunity to breakthe unsustainable cycle of production andconsumption we were on. Resource efficiency hasbecome one of the top environmental priorities andis one of the seven flagship initiatives within theEurope 2020 Strategy. Our use of finite resourcesacross Europe increased by 300% between 1998and 2011. That was and is unsustainable. We need toproduce products that are reusable and recyclableand we all need to engage in more sustainablebehaviours.”

In its most recent Strategy Statement, the EPA hasexpanded considerably its advocacy role, workingwith others to be an agent for change bringing aboutpositive outcomes for the environment.

“We continue to carry out all of our core functions -environmental regulation, enforcement, monitoring,assessment, research and reporting,” Ms Burke said.“But we are now focusing particular energy andresources on working with others – local authorities,other agencies, businesses, and people in theirhomes – to engage in sustainable behaviours. Ouraim is to build awareness and the behaviouralchanges needed in our homes, communities,businesses, and at a policy level to enable Ireland tobecome a low-carbon, resource efficient economyand society,” she concluded.

Protecting our water, preventingenvironmental damage, and changingbehaviours are key to a sustainable recovery


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Irish Water has teamed up with An Taisce to supportschools undertaking the Water theme of the Green-Schools programme throughout Ireland. The Water

theme aims to increase awareness among primaryand secondary school students about waterconservation.

The Green-Schools Water Programme encouragesparticipating schools to improve their water efficiencyand to conserve water by adopting simple measuresthrough a seven-step framework. Operated by AnTaisce, Green-Schools promotes and acknowledgeslong-term whole school action for the environmentacross seven themes including water, energy, wasteand sustainable transport.

Commenting on the partnership, Elizabeth Arnettfrom Irish Water said, “Learning about the value ofwater and how to be water efficient from an early ageis really important and by educating and working withyoung people throughout Ireland we can help tochange and improve our water behaviour patternsand attitudes to water management over time.

“Irish Water is committed to supporting the educationand engagement of school students in waterefficiency and conservation and is delighted topartner with An Taisce to help increase schoolparticipation in its Green-Schools programme,” shecontinued.

Patricia Oliver, Director of An Taisceʼs EnvironmentalEducation Unit added, “An Taisce Green-Schools isdelighted to announce our new partnership with IrishWater which will enable us to continue supportingschools who are tackling the Water theme of ourprogramme. Last year schools in Ireland saved300,000,000 litres of water; we are confident that with

the assistance and support of Irish Water we canincrease this figure while raising awareness of theneed for water conservation among school children,their families and the wider community. “

In addition, Irish Water and An Taisce have todaylaunched a competition for schools applying for theAn Taisce Green Flag for Water in 2013/2014academic year. The Irish Water Green-School of theYear award will recognise innovation and creativityamong primary and secondary schools who haveachieved success in reducing their waterconsumption, spreading awareness about waterissues and involving their community in their Green-Schools Water Programme. Primary and Secondaryschools applying for the An Taisce Green Flag forWater in the 2013/2014 academic year will be in witha chance to win.

The Irish Water Green-School of the Year competitionis divided into two categories - The Irish WaterPrimary School of the Year and the Irish WaterSecondary School of the Year.

The winning schools in each category will eachreceive a prize fund of €2,000. Prizes will also beawarded to schools in second, third and fourth place.

For further information on the competition,schools should visit:

www.greenschoolsireland.org.

Irish Water Teams Up with AnTaisce Green-Schools


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How ready are we ifdisaster were to strike?

An extraordinary union of events over the lastfew years have combined to create aheightened awareness of the potential risks ofdisasters, emergencies and epidemics. Theyhave shown us, Ireland is far from beingimmune. Indeed, the threat of a nationalemergency is very real!

It is against this backdrop that leadingconference organisers, iQuest, will be hostingThe National Emergency Planning Summit inCroke Park on Thursday, December 5 andattempting to answer the question 'How readyare we if disaster were to strike?'

SpeakersThe exciting speaker line up includes,amongst others:

• Conor Galvin, Chartered Engineer,Office of Public Works

• Paul Cobbing, Chief Executive,National Flood Forum, UK

• Mark Doyle, Consultant in EmergencyMedicine, Waterford RegionalHospital

• Margaret Desmond, Climate ChangeUnit, EPA

• Anthony Lawlor, National Director ofUnits, Irish Red Cross

• Edgar Morgenroth, AssociateResearch Professor, ESRI

• Tom Hegarty, National Incident &Leakage Manager, Bord GaisNetworks

For further information or to review thefull programme, visit:

www.emergencysummit.ie or call Jackieon 087-0557913 or email:[email protected].


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AQS Environmental solutions, one of Irelandsleading drainage infrastructure cleaning andsurveying companies, have recently secured

and commenced utilisation of one of Europeʼs leadingdata management software tools.

InfoNet is a purpose-built Infrastructure ManagementSystem (IMS) for water distribution, wastewatercollection and storm water networks ensuringinformed, swift and cost-effective decision makingboth for day-to-day operational management and forlong-term network planning. Designed for operationsmanagers, engineers and planners in the waterindustry, InfoNet enables users to manage, integrate,validate, analyse, and report on their network data toprovide accurate, auditable, up-to-date informationand report on network infrastructure andperformance, presented in easy to use format.

AQS are utilising Infonet as a platform to managedata generated in the following field services :

• CCTV surveying of drainage systems• Manhole Inspections• Smoke tests / dye tests• GPS surveys• Impermeable area surveys• Flow and load surveys

Commenting on the system, AQS have said : “Infonet enables us to provide our customers with anetwork model incorporating all of the data generatedas a result of the various activities on site. Byproviding our customers with information in a networkmodel format, with a click of a mouse, the customercan view any specific data segments required suchas individual line segment CCTV surveys, manholesurveys, impermeable area survey data etc.Customers can generate colour coded plan viewshighlighting information e.g. pipe sizes or whichsections have maintenance scheduled in the nextyear.

AQS also added : “ Infonet has enabled us to provideour customers with an easy to use network modellingsystem and has significantly reduced the amount oftime required by our customers to interpretinformation and process same – we see datamanagement as a significant area of developmentwithin our industry in the future and we are trying tooffer our customers a cost effective, efficient solutionto data management “.

New water recycler added to fleet: Along with Infonet, and in order to help improveefficiencies on site while generating information atdrain survey stage, AQS have recently purchased acombined suction and jetting unit with water recyclingand this unit is now utilised on a full time basis ondrain cleaning and surveying projects nationwide.

According to AQS : “ Efficient cleaning of sewer pipesrequires significant amounts of water. For the regularsewer cleaning vehicle, a high level of waterconsumption entails much driving back and forth tothe work site in connection with water filling. A waterrecycler generally requires only one water filling aday, as opposed tomultiple fills in thecase of conventionalnon recycling jettingunits - You thereforeachieve significantwater savings andtherefore considerablyless strain exerted onthe environment andwater supply “.

AQS added –“Our objective has always been toprovide our customers with the best technology andmethods available on the market, such as Infonet andwater recyclers. With our fleet of high tech modernequipment and our trained personnel, consisting ofcivil engineers, software engineers, and professionaltrained field staff, we are capable of providing aprofessional cost effective service to all our clients“.

AQS Environmental solutions introducesINFONET to the Irish market

AQS Environmental Solutions, Archerstown Industrial Estate,

Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Tel. 0504 57800 fax. 0504 57801.

[email protected] www.aqssolutions.ie


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SPECIALITIES INCLUDE:

• Leak Detection & Repairs

• Large Trunk Mains and smaller BranchMains chlorination /de-chlorination

• Directional Drilling (including underbuildings)

• Pipe Bursting

• Moling

• Electrofusion & Butt Welding

• Live Connection of Utility Services

• Sewer Renovations

• Site Inspections

• Stone & Blockwork Reinstatement

• Landscaping

• Steel Fixing & Form Work

SHARERIDGE LTD. · THOMAS STREET CASTLEBAR · CO MAYO · IRELAND

TEL: +00353 (0)94 90 24663 TEL: +00353 (0)94 90 60554 FAX: +00353 (0)94 90 38452

E-mail: [email protected]

ShareRidge Ltd. are established experts in Pvarious methods of trenchless technologyCompany Objectives:

• ShareRidge Ltd. offers a wealth of expertise andprofessionalism within its field. This, combined with aproven track record of large scale projects and attentionto detail, means that ShareRidge Ltd. is proud to offerclients a unique blend of attention to detail, highstandards of work, a face-to-face approach and allprojects completed within budget and timeframes.

• It is the company objective to strive towards excellencein all aspects of its work and service delivery.ShareRidge Ltd aims to push the boundaries within allaspects of work by introducing pioneering techniquesthat will not only make the work more efficient but alsoimprove outputs and drive down costs and timescale forclients.

PIPE REPLACEME

ShareRidge Ltd has further progressed withChlorination/Dechlorination of water mainsmarket a chlorination/Dechlorination trailer

THE CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION mobile plant offering an excellent operating envirodemanding and temporary disinfection applicationsystem, from large Diameter Trunk Mains (LDTMchlorination/dechlorination

THE CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION straightforward apparatus in an appropriately furniprotects the equipment, chemicals, and the operatode-chlorination of new or repaired trunk mains cansupplementation of established treatment processe


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AUTHORITYNEWS

CHLORINATION/DECHLORINATION UNIT KEY FEATURES

�� Fully Flow Proportional Chlorination / Dechlorination e.g. From0.10PPM (Mg/L) to 20PPM and 50PPM

�� Large Trunk Mains and smaller Branch Mains chlorination

�� All components in an easily manoeuvred, weather-proof trailer

�� Chemical dosing range up to 20 Ltrs per hour

�� OxO Hydrant x Valve x Hydrant Bypass Dosing up to 1000Ltrs/min of Water Mains Flow

�� Multiple dosing pump options

�� Individual bunds for chemical containers, separate fromoperator.

�� Hydrant couplings for water main bypass connections.

�� Flow proportional injection (direct injection optional).

�� 110 volt supply connection and 24 volt battery pack (48 hourrunning time).

�� Water flow meter and chemical dose controller, monitor,recorder.

�� Validation kit for instant water quality check

in Pipe Replacement Technology, including logy resulting in no surface disturbance.

MENT SPECIALISTS

d withmains and offers the Irishtrailer unit

TION TRALOR UNIT is a superior,environment for the morecations in the water distribution

LDTM’s) to smaller branch mains

TION UNIT incorporates robust andy furnished trailer which fully

operator efficient chlorination and/orins can be assured as well asocesses where necessary


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AUTHORITYNEWS

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)is now offering a voluntary certification scheme to

the drinking water utility sector.

Utilities who have implemented the requirements ofISO 24512 can now have their management systemsindependently audited by NSAI.

This new certification scheme is intended to advanceand encourage the adoption of a systematicapproach throughout the sector.

Assessment of compliance with ISO 24512 will beconducted by NSAI personnel with extensiveexperience in the water utilities sector.

Following a successful assessment schemeparticipants are listed on the NSAI web site(www.nsai.ie) - Directory of Registered Companies,and issued with an NSAI certificateof registration.

Certified organisations are entitled to use the uniqueNSAI Drinking Water Mark and are subject to annualinspections in order to verify on-going conformancewith the requirements of this international standard.

Registration provides:• Independent verification of effective system

implementation and operation• Benchmarking with best practices• A stimulus for continual improvement• An appraisal of legal compliance• Confirmation of environmental sustainability• The establishment of stakeholder confidence• Recognition of compliance through use of the

NSAI Drinking Water Mark

Drinking Water ManagementWater is a basic fundamental for life. The basicneeds of humans, from food production to personal

hygiene and sanitation, are intimately dependent onan adequate supply of water of an appropriate quality.

The ever increasing demand for potable waterprompted by the rapidly expanding population hasplaced a heavy burden on existing water treatmentinfrastructure. The consequence of this burden hasmanifested itself in a high degree of non-complianceagainst water quality requirements.

Such short-comings have resulted in numerouspublic health concerns which have heightened publicawareness and given rise to a general lack ofconfidence in water supplies. Based upon recentregulatory findings these concerns have beensubstantiated in some incidences.

In a recent publication the EPA reported thefollowing:

40% of water treatment plants are operatinginadequately and are at increased risk ofCryptosporidium contamination20% of water supplies are contaminated with faecalindicators such as E. coli

There continues to be insufficient monitoring of watersafety in more than 120 public group water schemes

To promote increased consumer confidence in thewater management sector, the InternationalOrganisation for Standardization (ISO) have collectedand distilled relevant internationally recognised bestpractice and published it as ISO 24512:2007:Activities relating to drinking water and wastewaterservices – Guidelines for the management of drinkingwater utilities and for the assessment of drinkingwater services.

MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATERUTILITIES AND DRINKING WATER SERVICES. THE "ISO 24512 APPROACH"


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Management & assessment of drinking water utilitiesand drinking water servicesThe ISO 24512 Approach

ISO 24512, one of a series of standards addressingwater services, provides guidelines for themanagement of drinking water utilities and for theassessment of drinking water services.

The standard recommends that the management andoperators of publicly and privately owned drinkingwater utilities establish operations that fundamentallyembrace all legal requirements and giveconsideration to recognised best practices.

Fundamental to the ISO 24512 approach is a clearunderstanding of the extent of the water utilityoperations to be managed. These may includeabstraction, treatment, and distribution activities andthe treatment, reuse or disposal of its residues.

For effective management of such utilities, it isrecommended that an integrated managementsystems approach, encompassing all components ofthe water utility, be established based upon a “plan-do-check-act” model. An essential element to thisapproach is the establishment of core objectives thatembrace:

• Protection of public health

• Meeting usersʼ needs and expectations

• Service provision under normal and emergencysituations

• Sustainability of the water utility

• Promotion of sustainable communitydevelopment

• Protection of the environment

• Attainment of these objectives is achievedthrough establishing clear management andoperational procedures and mechanisms for thereview of performance.

Such an approach is applicable to drinking watersystems in their entirety and is appropriate tosystems at any level of development e.g. on-sitesystems, treatment facilities and distributionnetworks.

Adoption of ISO 24512 by drinking water utilitiespromotes awareness of the significance of publichealth protection and the establishment of reliablemanagement practices. Such an approachcontributes to safeguarding the provision of potablewater to dependent communities and providingconfidence in this most basic of human needs

The major components and keyelements of ISO 24512 are;

1 Swift Square, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9, Ireland

T: +353 1 807 3800 F: +353 1 807 3838 E: [email protected]


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• HydroBeam® Sealing System Seals very Effectively

• Robust Construction

• Stainless Steel for Durable Tension

• Free Selection of Module Dimensions

• Easy and Quick to Install

• Can be Combined with Existing Systems/Structures

Oakstown . Trim . Co. MeathTel: 046 943 1389 Fax: 046 943 7054



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The Ballymore Eustace Sewerage Scheme hasbeen delivered under two separate construction

contracts. The first contract for the pumping stationand risingmain at atotal cost ofover €1m.was awardedto Ward andBurke Ltd.

The second contract for the provision of a newWastewater Treatment

Plant (WWTP) at a cost of almost €800k wasawarded to Response Engineering Ltd.

The contracts provided for the following keyelements

• A new Pumping Station and Storm Tank on thesite of the old wastewater treatment works site

adjacent to the Liffey bridge crossing inBallymore.

• A rising main to transfer flows from the pumpingstation site to the new wastewater treatmentworks

• A new wastewater treatment works in BallymoreEustace capable of treating a load of 2,000pe(population equivalent).

• An outfall to the River Liffey.

• Demolition of the old wastewater treatmentworks and landscaping of the general area toreflect its prominent position in the village.

The old WWTP now replaced had a capacity of500pe and was overloaded to the extent that lack oftreatment capacity was hindering new developmentopportunities in Ballymore. The construction of newwastewater treatment facilities, with fourfold increasein treatment capacity, will support the potential futuredevelopment initiatives in Ballymore Eustace.

Opening of Ballymore EustaceWaste Water Treatment Plant

Figure 1 – Aerial view of scheme

Cork Plastics is a wholly irish owned company manufacturingand suppling plastic products for local authorities and civil

contractors nationwide

CORK PLASTICS I LITTLE I ISLAND I CORK I IRELAND

Tel: (353) 21 4510600

Sales Office Tel: (353) 21 4510610

www.corkplastics.com


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H

Minister for the Environment, Community andLocal Government, Phil Hogan, T.D.announced the setting up of a working group

on citizen engagement to make recommendationson more extensive and diverse input by citizens intothe decision-making process and to allow forfacilitation of input by citizens into decision makingat the local government level. The group are holdingtheir first meeting today.Minister Hogan stated:

“Putting People First – the Action Programme forEffective Local Governmentʼ identifies the need forLocal Government to build strong relationships withand gain the interest of local people and to providefor better engagement with citizens. Thecommitments set out in Putting People First oncitizen engagement, and the overall scope of thereforms, are deep and wide.

They encompass ideas such as participatorybudgeting, petition-related rights, plebiscites, and

regular town/area meetings. Given this, it would beimportant that citizen engagement is addressed notjust as an ʻadd-onʼ to a new community-focussedrole for local government, but also addresses coreareas such as promoting higher voter turnout atelections, issues around local services, budgeting,local charges and should operate in a way thatincreases understanding on the part of the publicgenerally of local government, how it operates andwhat it does.”

“It is imperative that we put citizens at the heart ofeverything we do at local government level. Thisworking group will explore all the options on how wemight enhance citizen engagement. I would like towish the group well in their endeavours” ended theMinister.

The working group, which will be chaired by Fr. SeanHealy of Social Justice Ireland, will report to theMinister within the next six to eight weeks.

ogan announces working group on citizenengagement with local government

Innovation And Reform To Mark Housing In 2014

Minister for Housing and Planning, JanOʼSullivan, TD, announced significantinvestment measures in Budget 2014 that will

increase the supply of homes for families who need

housing assistance and also focus on the most marginalunfinished estates.According to Minister OʼSullivan, “Budget 2014 containsinnovative housing measures. With the support of


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twenty one

Minister Howlin, an additional €30m will be invested inlocal authority housing. Approximately half of thisinvestment will enable the construction of new infilldevelopments in areas with the highest demand forsocial housing. Another €15m will be invested inbringing long-term vacant units back into social use. Iexpect the €30m investment to produce up to 500 newhomes for families.

“In recent years the capital budget for construction hasfocused on people with a special housing need. Indeed2014 will see the completion of a three year €100minvestment that will provide 800 units for our elderly,people with a disability or people without a home. Thisadditional investment marks a return, albeit it in amodest way at first, to the direct construction ofmainstream public housing by local authorities.

Budget 2014 also introduces a new €10m fund aimedat resolving unfinished estates where no developmentbond to carry out essential public works exists.

The Minister said, “Good progress has been made inthe past three years in tackling unfinished estates, withmore than 40% of them being resolved. As we look atthe next phase those estates without a developer bondto cover public infrastructure are the most problematic.A new fund of €10m will be established that will investin public works, such as footpaths, drainage and roads.This is an investment. Projects that benefit from thefund will demonstrate social benefits such as:

• A marked enhancement in the quality of life forfamilies.

• The potential to leverage the investment to kickstartcompletion works through private funding.

• A community gain in terms of housing units oramenity provision.

I see this fund as a catalyst for transforming the mostdifficult unfinished estates. That is the benchmark bywhich progress will be assessed over the coming 12months.”

In relation to other aspects of the Budget MinisterOʼSullivan estimates that in excess of 4,500 units willbe provided for social housing in 2014 through leasingand existing capital programmes. This includes:

• completion of mortgage-to-rent arrangements, • the continued transfer of NAMA units, • completion of existing building and acquisition

programmes and • transfers under the Rental Accommodation

Scheme.

Minister OʼSullivan also drew attention to the significantHousing Assistance Payment (HAP) reform that will beintroduced in 2014. “The HAP reform will assist ingetting people back to work, improve standards in therental sector and provide a more coherent approach tohousing support. Minister Burton and I have advancedreform and 2014 will see the legislative basis for HAPbeing introduced and a test phase beginning in sevenlocal authorities.”

In 2014 €79m is being invested in the nationalregeneration programme. Among the priorities for theprogramme in 2014 are:

• New focus on construction and refurbishment inLimerick Regeneration

• Final phase of housing construction/refurbishmentin Tralee and Ballymun

• Refurbishment, demolition and construction atformer Dublin PPP projects, notably DolphinHouse and St. Teresaʼs Gardens.

In order to ensure continued progress towards theachievement of the 2016 target of ending long-termhomelessness, the homeless budget is beingmaintained at €45 million. A new social impactinvestment initiative will also see more than 130homeless families move out of private emergencyaccommodation and into sustainable long-termtenancies. Details of this scheme will be published inthe coming days.

2014 will also see €25 million provided which willimprove the energy efficiency of 12,500 local authorityhouses which will result in warmer homes and lowerenergy bills for thousands of families.

Minister O’Sullivan publishes Easy to Read HousingStrategy

The Minister for Housing and Planning, JanOʼSullivan, T.D., as published an easy to readversion of the Governmentʼs National Housing

Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016. The

document, was produced with the assistance ofInclusion Ireland and the National Federation ofVoluntary Bodies Providing Services to People withIntellectual Disabilities and is designed to support


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people with intellectual disabilities in accessingappropriate housing solutions.

The Minister said, ʻMy Department, in conjunctionwith the local authorities, is committed to ensuringequal opportunities for people with disabilities. Thiseasy to read document, which was developed inconsultation with people with disabilities, is animportant element in ensuring accessibility ofservices, including access to informationʼ.

The commitment to publish an easy to read version ofthe Housing Strategy for People with a Disability is akey action under the Governmentʼs new NationalDisability Strategy Implementation Plan. It supportsthe objective of ensuring that people with disabilitiesenjoy access to information, thereby promotingequality, choice and maximum independence. Easy to Read version of National Housing Strategyfor People with a Disability 2011 - 2016 (pdf,1,815kb)

Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for theEnvironment, Community and LocalGovernment, announced the publication of

the Local Government Bill 2013 to fundamentallyreform the local government system in Ireland.“This is the first time in over 100 years that we haveattempted such a radical reform but it is necessary tobring our local government system up to date and toprovide the kind of service our citizens deserve” theMinister said.

The Local Government Bill 2013 will give effect to thereforms that were approved by Government inOctober 2012, following the publication of thelandmark Action Programme for Effective LocalGovernment – Putting People First.

The Bill provides for the necessary changes to localauthority functions, structures, funding, performanceand governance to achieve the overall vision of alocal government system that is the main vehicle forpublic service delivery at local level, leads economic,social and community development and representscitizens and communities effectively and accountably. Speaking at the launch of the Bill, the Minister said:“The whole point of local government reform is toensure that local Councils deliver better services totheir citizens.”

The Bill provides that in future no separate structureswill be established outside of local government for the

delivery of public services, unless clearlynecessitated.

“For too long local government has been by-passedby quangos. I want Councils to do more for citizensand local communities. But I accept that first localgovernment must regain public trust,” the Ministersaid,

“this will take time but the reforms will facilitate byhelping to renew the relationship between the citizenand their local Council. This is critical and will beachieved in two main ways.

Firstly, citizens will have better engagement with theirlocal Councillors on how and where money is spentthrough the LPT. And this engagement will bestrengthened even further from 2015 onwards whenCouncillors will be given the power to vary the LPT. Secondly, citizens will be better able to judge howwell their Council is doing at providing local services,how well they are performing relative to othersCouncils, and citizens will also be asked howsatisfied they are with the services they get. It is onlythrough this comprehensive form of measurementthat we will be able to demonstrate that we have realreforms that citizens can see and benefit from,” saidthe Minister.

The main provisions of the Bill set out the structuralreform of local government for greater efficiency,improvements to local government funding,accountability and governance, as well as providingfor local government taking the lead in economic andcommunity development.

The major structural reforms set out in the Bill will bethe most radical and visible. The number of localauthorities will reduce from 114 to 31 and the numberof elected members will fall from 1,627 to 949. Therewill also be:

• A new integrated system of municipal districtsthroughout each county, to replace the 80 towncouncils. The new municipal districts will be fully

The most radical reform of local government in over 100 years


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representative of the population as distinct fromthe town councils which had limited functional,territorial and operational scope;

• The creation of new unified local authorities inLimerick, Tipperary and Waterford as successorsto the existing city and county councils;

• New regional assemblies, with a more focussedrole in spatial and economic planning, will beestablished to replace the current eight regionalauthorities and two assemblies; and

• A single set of councillors for district and countylevels, replacing the existing dual mandate formany Councillors. Councillors will also havewider functions at district level to ensure that theneeds of their communities are fully representedand met.

Local Councils will be given a greater say in localenterprise and economic development and in localand community development activities. The reformsprovide for the alignment of the local communitydevelopment sector with local government throughthe establishment of Local Community DevelopmentCommittees, which will be mandated to prepare LocalCommunity Plans to bring strategic coordination tothe millions of euro spent each year on local andcommunity development initiatives. There will also bea new Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) forEconomic Development in each Council to:

• Prepare local action plans to guide and fostereconomic activity and stimulate job creationwithin the area; and

• Provide the planning, oversight and accountabilityof the new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs),which will replace the County Enterprise Boards.

The Bill also provides for a range of measures tosupport local democracy, to strengthen governanceand ensure that there is greater accountability for thedelivery of local services. In particular, the Billprovides for a rebalancing of responsibilities betweenthe elected members and the Council executive, tofurther strengthen the decision-making powers ofCouncillors for the benefit of the communities and

citizens they represent. Specific provisions are asfollows:

• The establishment of a new post of chiefexecutive to replace the former city and countymanagers. The role of the chief executive will bemore clearly defined to advise and support theelected Councillors in their policy making roleand there will be enhanced managementreporting arrangements to the Council. The Billalso provides for greater involvement by theCouncil in guiding the appointment of the chiefexecutive;

• A standardised commercial rate across eachcounty to be introduced over a period of 10years. Also, the level of vacancy refund of rateswill be standardised at a rate of 50% nationallyin line with current practices in Dublin, Cork andLimerick cities;

• Greater involvement in and oversight of localauthority budgets by members. In particularmunicipal district members will have delegatedpowers to decide programmes of works to becarried out within their district;

• A new National Oversight and Audit Commissionfor Local Government (NOAC) will be establishedto provide independent scrutiny of localgovernment performance and in providing valuefor money for service delivery. NOAC reports willbe made public and the Chief Executive willprepare an implementation plan to address anyissues raised by the NOAC.

• The Bill also provides for a plebiscite in 2014 toallow the people of Dublin to decide forthemselves if an office of a directly elected mayorshould be established for the greater Dublin area.

The Minister emphasised that the local governmentreforms are an essential step forward in theGovernmentʼs wider reform programme and hisintention to see the Bill enacted by the end of the yearto ensure the necessary provisions are in place wellbefore the local elections in 2014.

“This Government was elected with a strong mandatefor reform. We have already shown our bona fides indelivering significant reforms to the financial sector,major reforms of the Oireachtas, measures toincrease the number of women in politics and tomake political funding more transparent..Thislegislation is just one in a series of measures todeliver a better, more efficient and relevant localgovernment system. We are also working to ensurethe financial stability of local authorities with the localproperty tax so that your taxes work for your owncommunities.


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twenty four

PRODUCTinfoPRODUCTPRODUCTinfoinfobioTank is our Irish designed and manufactured waste water treatment system. It ismanufactured from high strength concrete and is certified to the EU standard,EN 12566-3.

Why choose bioTank?The bioTank treatment unit is made from 40N concrete which is a very high strengthconcrete that will strengthen over time. We are so confident of this product that weprovide a 30 year warranty on any structural defects. The treatment unit is a singlestructure which means it is easier, more economical and requires less space toinstall than a standard septic tank. There are no mechanical parts within thetreatment unit which keeps maintenance and running costs to a minimum. The treatment unit also supports the standardinfluent range now insisted upon by many county councils.

• Easy and economical to install

• Low maintenance and running costs

• Made from durable high strength concrete

• Meets EU and local council standards

• The best value product on the market

bioTank.ieCrolly, LetterkennyCo. Donegal

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Commercial bioTank waste watertreatment tank

Meath Jettingservice new

Chewing GumRemoval serviceis the best andquickest way tohave chewinggum removedfrom any arearequiring chewinggum removal. By using a constant supply of vaporizedchemical with a combination of pressure heat and cleaningsolution at point of contact means the chewing gum isremoved quickly and efficiently.

Meath Jetting serviceʼs Chewing Gum Removal Service iscompletely silent and has no trailing leads or generator isrequired chewing gum cleaning can be carried out at anytime even when streets are busy. It is environmentallyfriendly and the unique cleaning solution is manufacturedfrom renewable sources. The chewing gum removalsolution is based on a sugar surfactant making itcompletely bio degradable.

The gum is broken down to dust and it is just swept away.Meath Jetting serviceʼs Chewing GumRemoval Service will bring paving backto its original conditions.

Unlike most chewing gum removalsystems, this proprietary system doesnot use steam or high-pressurecleaners or harsh abrasives. Rather, ituses a non-toxic,environmentally-safe,chemical derived from sugar cane togently agitate the gum.

The chemical is warmed in a special backpack and thenapplied to the gum using a lance with a small wire brush.The residue can then be swept away.

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twenty five

PRODUCTinfoPRODUCTPRODUCTinfoinfoIn recent years Ireland has woken up to thecatastrophic effects that climate change canhave on our small island perched on the edgeof the Atlantic ocean. An approximateincrease of 0.5% in temperature has beenaccompanied by a 5% increase in rainfall, asif we were not already the wettest country inEurope.

It goes without saying that we need to be prepared.We have, by now, a good idea of where we expectflooding to occur. But how do we protect life andproperty in a practical and cost effective way?

OʼReilly Oakstown Ltd of Trim Co Meath , morefamiliar as manufacturers of Wastewater TreatmentPlants and Rainwater harvesting systems, supplyand install the Steinhardt Mobile Flood Barrier

System. Designed to replace the outdated sandbagmethod, it provides an efficient easy-to-install floodbarrier which can be erected in a flash when floodingis predicted.

The Steinhardt system incorporates stainless steelframes which can be free-standing or fixed toexisting gateways or doorways, and lightweightaluminium panels which slot down into them to givea completely watertight seal during flood conditions.Barriers can be as short as a pedestrian doorway orkilometres long in the case of rivers or seashores.

Steinhardt “Stop-Logs” are a simple, practical andabove all, cost-effective way to reduce the damagerunning into millions of euro that can be caused by alack of preparedness.

We would invite anyone with properties at riskto call us at OʼReilly Oakstown Ltd.

for a free consultation. Tel: 046 943 1389 Fax: 046 943 7054


Steinhardt Mobile Flood Barrier System


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AUTHORITYNEWS

twenty six

PRODUCTinfoPRODUCTPRODUCTinfoinfoAfter a busy autumn clearing leaves and wind-

tumbled debris from the side of our roads, manyroad-sweeping machines have a bit of a slack periodwhen the snow covers the litter, or it is frozen to theground, or it is covered by rock-salt which at least iskeeping the gutters clear and unfrozen. However, asour picture indicates, there is no reason why thesemachines cannot be kept busy throughout the winterperiod. Scarab, who manufacture a wide range ofefficient and environmentally friendly sweepers, haverecently added an Azura flex to their demonstrationfleet to address this very issue. Together they havecoupled the AZURA Flex with a snow blade and anEpoke PMH 1.4 drop spreader.

John Saint, Product Manager (Winter Maintenance)at Scarab explains what lies behind the notion offitting a spreader to the back of an AZURA Flex roadsweeper.”For us itʼs all about synergy and costeffective use of resources. In the UK we have veryunpredictable winters, sometimes pretty extreme, likelast winter, sometimes largely mild. But a cold snapcan occur, pretty much at any time between the startof November and the end of April. The problem is thatlocal authorities have to be able to cope with theseconditions, but with budgets stretched as thin as they

are and public expectation high, coping with shortterm severe weather can be a real challenge. Thisidea allows local authorities to very quickly converttheir Scarab road sweeping equipment into aresource forgritting smallerareas; ensuringthe safety of thepublic, whilegetting theseextra resourcesat very low cost.

Many Councilsfind it difficult toensure that theyhave all the rightequipment forkeeping themain thoroughfares open, and also to keep the sideroads as clear as possible, But the Scarab Azura Flexis designed to work where the road is too narrow formost standard gritters, because of parked cars linedalong both sides of the road. The whole point is thatmunicipal authorities can now address these issueswhen they arise by swiftly coupling an Epoke dropspreader from Scarab to their Sweeper or minitractor.”

This is a fascinating idea that could very swiftly gaintraction amongst local authorities. Having to squeezeever more service delivery from an ever tighteningbudget has focussed the minds of every municipalfleet manager in the country over the last five years.This is a low-cost way of ensuring that councils canreact more swiftly and more effectively to theinconveniences of a typical British winter, and makesmaximum use of existing resources which mightotherwise be lying idle.

Where do road sweepers goin winter?


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twenty seven

ESS Safeforce, who are part of the VP plcgroup of companies, and specialist suppliers

of site safety, survey and communicationsequipment, has opened their first depot in Ireland.

Located in Clane, Co. Kildare, this new depot willstock the full catalogue of ESS Safeforce equipmentfor hire and sale, and will offer mobile workshopfacilities to customers in Ireland. There will also be awide range of specialist training courses available,with a dedicated confined space training facility toopen early in 2014.

For more than twenty years ESS Safeforce hassupplied businesses within, and affiliated to theconstruction industry, with an extensive range ofproducts and services, including equipment for sitesurveying, environmental inspection, working atheight and communication. They also offer a ʻtotalsolutionsʼ safety package, specifically designed forworking within confined spaces and hazardousenvironments, which includes fall arrest systems, gasdetection monitors, breathing apparatus and generalsafety equipment.

This new venture is part of an ongoing Europeanexpansion and investment program by the Vp groupwho already has a well-established local operatingcompany, Groundforce, who are Irelandʼs leadingsupplier of excavation support equipment.

Liam Brew, General Manager explained the groupʼsdecision to open a dedicated hire and sales depot forESS Safeforce in Ireland. “This is a naturalprogression for the Vp group and follows on from thesuccess of our Groundforce business over the last

seven years. The ESS Safeforce product portfoliocomplements the extensive range of products wecurrently offer to our customers within theconstruction and utility sectors.

It also opens up new business opportunities withinother markets, particularly manufacturing, and withIreland emerging from its recession and starting toshow real signs of recovery and growth, we feel thisis the right time for further investment and arepleased to be creating employment opportunities.”

ESS Safeforce will offer a comprehensive range ofspecialist training courses, which includes, Road andStreetworks, Working at Height, plus a range ofConfined Space and Rescue courses. They currentlyhave a five year service and training agreement withthe Northern Ireland Special Hazardous ResponseTeam, and have recently been involved with writingthe new national police policy on confined spaceworking and search, for the Police NationalImprovement Agency (NPIA) in the UK.

Additional services include the unique ESS Safeforcemobile workshop facility. This means a customerʼssafety equipment can be conveniently serviced attheir own sites, reducing downtime and costs.

Members of the Portlaoise Hire Desk and Operations Team, plusLiam Brew (General Manager) in the centre and Andy Cull

(Operations Director – ESS Safeforce) 2nd from right and RossGibbons (Regional Operations Manager –ESS Safeforce)

ESS Safeforce Opens First Depotin Ireland

ESS Safeforce products and services areavailable from their new site, Unit A6,

Clane Business Park, Clane. Co Kildare

Tel: 1890 882 368. Email: [email protected]

ESS Safeforce Technician & on right Eoghan OʼFlaherty newly recruited technician


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twenty eight

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FRONT COVER LAN Nov.2 No 1.2013 18/11/2013 13:49 Page 3

We all depend on clean water to live and to enjoy good health. Small amounts of phosphate released into rivers and lakes can lead to eutrophication (excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen in water). If you are a householder or farmer in a rural area, you can make a difference by making sure that your septic tank system functions properly and that farmyard soiled water is collected and disposed of safely.

To find out more about Ireland's water quality and how you can help our environment cleanse, check out the EPA water quality reports, accessible at www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs

FRONT COVER LAN Nov.2 No 1.2013 18/11/2013 13:49 Page 4

local authority news vol.33 no.1

Documents

cement act

cement industry

drinking water managementvol

transformation of ireland

cover lan

director of irish cementltd

principal officers

lasting contribution