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Use of Geographic Information Systems GIS to Calculate the Assimilative Capacity of Rivers to Receive Proposed Discharge

Presentation Outline. Introduction to Assimilative CapacityCalculating Assimilative Capacity

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Use of Geographic Information Systems GIS to Calculate the Assimilative Capacity of Rivers to Receive Proposed Discharge

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    2. Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Calculate the Assimilative Capacity of Rivers to Receive Proposed Discharges Vivienne Kelly Informatics & Reporting Office of Environmental Assessment t: 053-9160612 e: v.kelly@epa.ie

    3. Presentation Outline Introduction to Assimilative Capacity Calculating Assimilative Capacity & Concentrations Integrating Data Sources Demonstration of GIS Assimilative Capacity Tool

    4. Our Vision Aim: To develop environmental management systems that assess and report on environmental quality using integrated data from multiple data sources to provide more intelligence to data users see and to increase the efficient use of EPA resources. Systems Developed: Assimilative Capacity Tool Risk Assessment Tool (Landfills, Quarries & Mines)

    5. Assimilative Capacity What is assimilative capacity? … the ability of a body of water to cleanse itself; its capacity to receive waste waters or toxic materials without deleterious effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water. How is it calculated? Simple calculation: (AC = (cmax – cbackground) x (F95 or DWF) x 86.4) Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) (cmax) Background Chemical Monitoring (cbackground) Hydrometric Flow (95%iles & DWF) EPA Role? When assessing proposed discharges from IPPC, Waste and Waste Water Discharge Applications, the EPA must determine the capacity of a waterbody to receive the discharge and the potential environmental impacts.

    6. Questions to Ask

    7. Calculations Assimilative Capacity: Non Toxic Substances ? AC = (cmax – cbackground) x F95 x 86.4 Dangerous Substances ? AC = (cmax – cbackground) x DWF x 86.4 The capacity of a water body is calculated in kg/day

    8. Other Calculations Resultant Concentration: Capacity Absorbed:

    9. Waste Water Discharge Licence Substances

    10. Assimilative Capacity WebGIS Tool The Assimilative Capacity Tool is a web based GIS application designed to allow licence inspectors to calculate the capacity of rivers and the surrounding environment to receive pollutants from waste water treatment discharges. Function: Determine the capacity of waterbodies to receive specific pollutants from proposed discharges. Determine the potential impacts to the surrounding environment. Improve the use of resources & produce better response times. Support decision making.

    11. Model Concept

    12. Integration of Internal & External Data

    13. Assimilative Capacity Tool Demonstration This slide demonstrates how the recently developed web-based Assimilative Capacity Tool works. The system has been developed in such a way that the user can carry out the assimilative capacity calculations in just 3 simple steps. The aim of this demonstration is to show the simplicity of the tool and how the tool takes data from across the organisation (hydrometrics, labs, biologist, licensing etc.) to allow users make informed decisions on proposed discharges. This system helps improve our ability to meet target 3.5 of 2020 Vision: “Control discharges to waters by those we licence, to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on receiving waters”.This slide demonstrates how the recently developed web-based Assimilative Capacity Tool works. The system has been developed in such a way that the user can carry out the assimilative capacity calculations in just 3 simple steps. The aim of this demonstration is to show the simplicity of the tool and how the tool takes data from across the organisation (hydrometrics, labs, biologist, licensing etc.) to allow users make informed decisions on proposed discharges. This system helps improve our ability to meet target 3.5 of 2020 Vision: “Control discharges to waters by those we licence, to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on receiving waters”.

    14. Caveat Decision Support Tool Indication of waterbody capacity, not absolute rule Inspectors must have full understanding of EQS for a site and ensure appropriate data used in any calculation All borderline cases should be examined in full

    15. Improved Resource Use EPA Aim: To increase the efficient use of EPA resources Manual Effort: 4-6 days No. of Discharges: 177 Approx. Time to Calculate Manually: 3yrs Total Time using AC Tool: 4 days

    16. Development Team EPA Team: Breen Higgins Gavin Smith Fiona O’Rourke Deirdre Kirwan Tom Stafford Ozan Emem Jason Larkin Claire Byrne Aisling McElwain George McHugh

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