Red List highlights six Irish freshwater species at risk of extinction

Pollan
Copyright www.loughallenbasin.com/pollan.html

Six of Ireland’s 15 native fish species and one of its three amphibians have been included in the revised Red Data List of Irish Amphibians, Reptiles and Freshwater Fish published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Link. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is listed as Critically Endangered and five more fish species (pollan, Artic char, twaite shad, Killarney shad and Atlantic salmon) were found to be Vulnerable. The Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita), is classified as Endangered.

For the first time, the status of naturalised non-native fish is discussed. Two of these, dace and chub, have been identified as invasive requiring management. The report sets out management polices and actions for the preservation of Irish Amphibians, Reptiles and Freshwater Fish.

National Ground Water Awareness Week

With all the attention Irish groundwater has been given over the years by the EPA here in Ireland, and it’s protection being cited as the major driver behind the introduction of septic registration and monitoring; it is surprising that we haven’t adopted the scheme run by the USEPA and organized a Ground Water Awareness Week. Forty-four percent of America's population regularly depends on ground water for its drinking water supply with in excess of 90 % of all public drinking water systems relying on ground water resources. So public awareness and participation in its protection is very important. The USEPA have set up a dedicated site for the event with loads of interesting downloads and activities. I particularly liked the Citizen's Guide to Ground Water Protection which describes how everyone can help to protect supplies and how to build your own aquifer in a cup. Check it out!   Link

National Ground Water Awareness Week runs from  March 11 to 17

Phosphates- Latest CEEP Newsletter

The Centre European d’Etudes des Polyphosphates (CEEP) is the major centre for the polyphosphate industry which carries out work on all aspects of phosphates especially recovery and recycling of phosphates, sewage treatment ad eutrophication. They have a very extensive research and information base available through their website. You can also add your name to their free newsletter which outlines current R&D in the area. Their latest newsletter (No.84) is now available. This edition and access to all the previous editions going back to 1990 are available at Link.

Otter populations in England make a comeback

The Otter (Lutra lutra)  almost become extinct in England from the mid 1950’s through to the early 1970’s due to river pollution and in particular organochlorine pesticides.  This month Environment Agency announced that the otter is now to once again to be found throughout England with 59% of traditional otter sites surveyed (2,940) now colonized compared to just 6% in 1979. Rivers in England are now the cleanest they have been for the past 20 years and with fish stocks improving recolonization of rivers by otters and salmon has been seen as the last step in the restoration of England’s rivers.  Link Otters are also very common on many Irish rivers, but as numbers of otters increase there are concerns from many fishing clubs that their restocking and restoration work is simply filling the otter’s larder!  This has led to some conflict between conservation and angling organizations.

World Water Week

Each year the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) hosts World Water in Stockholm. Since 2009 the massive event which consists of a large range of seminars, workshops, lectures and visits has been dealing with the issues around Responding to Global Changes. This year the main theme is Water in an Urbanising World. You can be involved by using the extensive official website. Link

Discarded larger cans and sewage fungus



Sewage fungus forms macroscopic growths of bacteria

and fungus that coat the entire substrate of rivers

affected by severe organic pollution

 I was doubly interested in a recent newspaper article this month concerning a company owned by Heineken UK.  It was recently fined for polluting a tributary of the River Leadon in Herefordshire. Leachate from apple waste had accidently found its way into the stream during site work causing a sewage fungus outbreak and also a fish kill.  The reason why this story caught my interest is that for many years I worked on sewage fungus here in Ireland, but over the years it has become a very rare site here in Ireland and also I suspect in England…which is a good thing unless it  happens  to be your research area!  The microbial ecology of sewage fungus is quite fascinating being largely comprised of filamentous heterotrophic bacteria, although there are three filamentous fungi which occasionally form part of the community.  The other reason why the story interested me was that I was sampling a section of river today and the bank was covered with discarded cans of Heineken larger, obviously a remnant of some summer party.  So I have made a new resolution and that is always to pack one plastic sack and a litter picker along with my sampling gear and make sure that at every site I visit I clear up any bank side litter before I leave and try to bring a full sack of litter/rubbish back each trip and recycle what I can. 

Ice on tap...icebergs as a source of drinking water?

Bulk transportation of water either by bulk tanker  or water storage balloons towed by tugs is now fairly common place, but the problem of finding sufficient water supplies to fill bulk containers remains problematic.  The idea of towing icebergs from the arctic or Antarctic has been a dream of many engineers since the 1970's Link, with a  relatively small 7 million tonne iceberg sufficient to supply 125,000 people for a whole year.  Using new 3D predictive technology it now appears feasible to transport icebergs up to 7 million tonnes by using a geotextile skirt placed around the iceberg to insulate it and collect melt water which is then towed by tugs using the sea’s natural currents to help.  Without employing sea currents then it is simply not feasible.  In theory this will produce a high quality water using far less energy hence saving money.  Trials are planned to start next year when smaller bergs will be towed from Antarctica to Australia. Link However, there remains many logistical problems to be solved in recovering the water from the iceberg once it arrives in Australia.

Successful PhD candidate

Congratulations to our colleague Donata Dubber for successfully defending her PhD thesis ‘The effect of anoxia and anaerobia on protozoan communities in activated sludge operation.’ Dr Dubber has already published a number of research papers on her study including

• Enumeration of protozoan ciliates in activated sludge: Determination of replicate number using probability Water Research 43, 3443-52;
• Replacement of chemical oxygen demand (COD) with total organic carbon (TOC) for monitoring wastewater treatment performance to minimize disposal of toxic analytical waste J. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A , 45, 1595-1600;
• The effect of anoxia and anaerobia on ciliate community in biological nutrient removal systems using laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Water Research, 45, 2213-26;
• The influence of fundamental design parameters on ciliates community structure in Irish activated sludge systems. European Journal of Protistology, In press.

Some Thoughts on the E.coli Outbreak in Germany

I suppose the many hundreds of students who have attended my introductory lectures on wastewater treatment can attest to my call for the past thirty years for microbial standards to be placed on wastewater treatment plants, and in particular to focus more closely on pathogen removal during treatment.  Wastewater treatment plants, especially activated sludge reactors, are ideal places for new strains of bacteria and antibiotic resistance to develop.  Our simple barrier approach to pathogen control based largely on dilution of effluents and the disinfection of drinking water has served us well, but the reuse of wastewater effluents, contaminated surface and ground waters are all direct routes to the food chain.  While the source of the current outbreak of E. coli  in Germany remains unknown, we should not rule out the very high possibility of such a link.  The need for better operational management coupled with final effluent disinfection to deal with pathogen release from treatment plants must be put on the agenda for a revised Urban Wastewater Directive, where emphasis is placed equally on both environmental and public health protection. 

Haiti Cholera Outbreak Continues but Origin Sourced

Cholera is still dominating the lives of those living in Haiti.  Since the original post on the 22nd October 2010, some 5,000 people have died and 300,000 have become ill.  A recent report has linked the original outbreak to a poorly constructed wastewater treatment system that was built to serve UN troops from Nepal that were based at a rural camp close to the Meye River.  The basic septic tanks leaked into this river which is a tributary of the country’s main river, the Artibonite, which runs through the central region of Haiti, and the major source of water for many tens of thousands of rural Haitians.  However, the lack of suitable  water and sanitation, which has still not been restored since the earthquake, is also a major factor for the continuation of this epidemic.

Dublin Faces Possible Water Shortages

Dublin City Council have issued advanced notice that their reservoirs in the Wicklow mountains are rapidly falling due to a very dry March and April resulting. With little or no water replenishing stocks reserves now stand at 120 days, rather than the usual 178 days normally expected at this time of year. This means that if dry weather continues then restrictions will have to be implemented both in the City and throughout the Greater Dublin area. The cut off point is 80days storage at which restrictions will be put into place. Consumers are asked to conserve supplies, especially in relation to using water for the garden and washing vehicles etc.

SFI Postdoctoral Four-Year Early Career Grants

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has recently launched the Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) which is aimed at funding excellent early-career-stage investigators (postdoctoral) to carry out independent research in the fields of science and engineering that underpin biotechnology, information and communications technology, and sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies. Funding of up to €400,000 direct costs over a four year period is provided to successful applicants, to include the Starting Investigator’s salary and funding for a postgraduate student . A mentor is required to support the necessary support and infrastructure to the project. Full information can be accessed here.
The Water Technology Research Group would like to encourage applications from any nationality to apply for one of these grants. Each institution including Trinity College Dublin is required to supply a list of approved (pre-selected) candidates to SFI who make the final selection. An internal deadline of 15th June has been set for online applications, then a short-listing will be coordinated by the Dean of Research in association with the Faculty Deans. Time is short, so if you are interested please contact either Professor Nick Gray or the TCD research office.

Perchlorate Standard for US Drinking Water

Perchlorate in drinking water is known to suppress thyroid function by inhibiting uptake of iodide and its subsequent ability to produce hormones that are critical to development. Children and new born are particularly at risk. However, the exact safe dose of this compound is unknown. Link Link  In 2002 the US EPA suggested a limit of 1 ppb should be set, but in 2008 the Government decided not to regulate the compound but recommended drinking water concentrations should not exceed 15 ppb.

The US EPA has  now decided to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act . Perclolrates are used to produce rocket fuel, fireworks and explosives, not activities associated with Ireland. However, they are also found in bleach, in some fertilizers and in nature making them universal. In the US it is estimated that between 5 to 17 million people may be exposed to perchlorate contaminated water with 153 supplies known to be contaminated. A standard is not expected to be set for at least 18-24 months. Link

Irish EPA Drinking Water Quality Report

Copyright EPA

Yesterday the Environmental Protection Agency published its annual report on the quality of Irish drinking water quality for the period 2008/2009. The report covers 944 public water supplies and shows problems of faecal contamination and high trihalomethanes in some supplies. The number of private group water schemes where E. coli was detected dropped from 134 in 2008 to 87 in 2009 with17% of all private group water schemes identified as microbially compromised at least once during 2009. The EPA indicated improvement is required in the compliance of aluminium and turbidity parametric values. At the end of 2010 there were 264 supplies requiring remedial action to bring them up to standard.

TCD Avoca Mines/River Publications

Several people have asked for a list of the Internal Reports that we have published on the Avova Mines and its impact on the Avoca River.  These were done mainly in the 1990's with more recent research published in journals.  There is also significant work availble in thesis format.  Below is a list of the internal reports that are available.  There are two reports which were Governmnet Reports that are confidential and so are not included both dealing with plans to rehabilitate the mines.

• Sullivan, M. and Gray, N.F. (1992) An evaluation of the fisheries potential of the Avoca catchment. Technical Report 9, Water Technology Research, Dublin, 47pp.
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Flow calculation in the River Avoca: flow calculation and flow data. Technical Report: 10, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-11-8) Revised July, 1995.
• Gray, N.F. and Doyle, T.M. (1995) Characterisation of acid mine drainage generating sites. Technical Report: 11, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-12-6)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Water quality of the surface waters at Avoca Mines and the Avoca River: Intensive sampling period May to October, 1994 (Interim report). Technical Report: 12, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-13-4)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Main adit flow and metal discharge rates. Technical Report: 13, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-14-2)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Field assessment of acid mine drainage contamination in surface waters. Technical Report: 14, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-15-0)
• Kilroy, A. and Gray, N.F. (1994) A review of treatability, toxicity and biodegradability test methods. Technical Report: 15, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-16-9)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Influence of secondary sulphate mineral formation on the impact of acid mine drainage to surface waters. Technical Report: 16, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-17-7)
• Byrne, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995 ) Environmental impact of acid mine drainage on the Avoca River: Effects of habitat types on biological monitoring of the macro invertebrate fauna. Technical Report: 17, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-18-5
• Byrne, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Environmental impact of acid mine drainage on the Avoca River: Acute toxicity experiments in the field using macro invertebrates. Technical Report: 18, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-19-3)
• Herr, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Environmental impact of acid mine drainage on the Avoca River: Metal fluxes in water and sediment. Part I Introduction to metal accumulation in riverine sediments. Technical Report: 19, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-20-7).
• Herr, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Environmental impact of acid mine drainage on the Avoca River: Metal fluxes in water and sediment. Part II Metal contamination of riverine sediments. Technical Report: 20, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-21-5).
• Herr, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Environmental impact of acid mine drainage on the Avoca River: Metal fluxes in water and sediment. Part III Metals in water and suspended particulate matter.Technical Report: 21, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-22-3).
• Gray, N.F. (1995) An objective index for the assessment of the contamination of surface and ground waters by acid mine drainage. Technical Report: 22, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-23-1)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) A substrate classification index for the visual assessment of the impact of acid mine drainage in lotic systems. Technical Report: 24, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-25-8)
• Doyle, T.M. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Protocol for monitoring and predicting the impact of acid mine drainage: Designing and setting up a geographical information system (GIS). Technical Report: 25, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-26-6
• Sullivan, M., Gray, N.F. and O'Neill, C. (1995) Synoptic overview of the Avoca-Avonmore catchment and the Avoca Mines. Technical Report: 26, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-27-4)
• Gray, N.F. and Sullivan, M. (1995) The environmental Impact of acid mine drainage. Technical Report: 27, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-28-2)
• Herr, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Protocol for monitoring and predicting the impact of acid mine drainage: sediment sampling. Technical Report: 28, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-29-0) 
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Procedure for the estimation of the impact of acid mine drainage to surface waters. Technical Report: 29, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-30-4)
• O'Neill, C., Herr C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) A survey of soil and vegetation in the area surrounding the East Avoca Mine, Co. Wicklow. Technical Report: 31, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-32-0)
• Gray, N.F. (1995) Biorehabilitation of the acid mine drainage phenomenon by accelerated bioleaching of mine waste: Executive summary of the work done at Trinity College, Dublin. Technical Report: 33, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-34-7).
• Herr, C. and Gray, N.F. (1995) Seasonal variation of metal contamination in riverine sediments of the Avoca River with regard to seasonal differences. Technical Report: 34, Water Technology Research, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin. (ISBN 1-872220-35-5).

PAST Statistical Software

We use a wide range of statistical packages at TCD but I always recommend students on my courses to use PAST (PAlaeontological Statistics). It’s an easy to use and robust software package that can be downloaded free from the Internet. There are no strings attached and it is a very simple and quick download. It is incredibly versatile and carries a wide range of statistical applications. I use it primarily for multivariate analysis and the calculation of a wide number of diversity indices. The package has been developed and is run by Oyvind Hammer who is based at the Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo, who is to be highly commended for his constant enthusiasm and helpful advice which is so freely given to users A new version (2.07) is now available incorporating many new features making it even more sophisticated while retaining its ease of use. It is supported by a series of downloadable pdf manuals. Download here.

Queensland's Flooding Continues



Today's 24 hour rainfall.
Copyright Australian Government

 For us in Ireland, or indeed within Europe, it is hard to image the reality of the recent floods in Queensland Australia. It is impossible for us to image the scale of the affected area which is larger than France and Germany combined with more then 200,000 people suffering the consequences. I was only in communication a couple of days ago with a Colleague based at the university at Rockhampton which has been severely affected and is still waiting for the flooding to reach its peak.

Up to date information can be obtained from the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Emergency website which links to the Queensland Flood Warning Centre.  More information on Flooding in Australia: Link

Irish Water Supply Problems Update

For an update of the current water supply problems facing water suppliers then you should search the relvant County Councils.  For Dublin these are:

• Dublin City Council 
• Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
• Fingal County Council
• South Dublin County Council

The current situation in Dublin is not that there is insufficient water in its reservoirs but rather that burst pipes have caused an increase in demand to 624 ML per day while current supply capacity via its treatment plants is 550 ML per day leaving a shortfall of >70 ML  resulting in restrictions.

Ireland Facing Water Supply Crisis

Irish water suppliers are faced with further restricting water supplies throughout the country as the thaw sets in due to excessively high demand caused by burst pipes. Over 60 ML was lost last night from fractured mains in Dublin alone. Most seriously affected towns and cities include South Dublin, Cork city, Kilkenny, Athlone and Limerick.  Counties Wicklow, Kildare, Westmeath, Sligo  and Clare are also seriously affected.  For example, over 20,000 people in Tralee, Co. Kerry, are having water supplied on a phased basis only during the day as the local reservoirs are empty, with all supplies turned off during the night. Similar restictions are in place nationwide. Suppliers are also warning of curtailments to supplies as burst pipes are repaired and are calling for householders and businesses to conserve water to prevent further restrictions and interruptions in supplies.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are man-made compounds that can stay in the environment for many years and can accumulate in fatty tissue. The Stockholm Convention in 2005 added nine more compounds to the “dirty dozen”. These POPs include pesticides which are organochlorine compounds such as aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane (also by-products), chlordecone, and lindane. Industrial chemicals such as PCBs, hexachlorobenzene (also a pesticide), hexabromobiphenyl, hexa- and heptabromodiphenyl ether (commercial octabromodiphenyl ether), pentachlorobenzene, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its salts perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride, tetra- and pentabromodiphenyl ether (commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether), and unintentional by- products compounds: polychlorinated dioxins and furans. These highly toxic substances are released into the environment though several human activities and travel long distances via air and water. The total distribution of POPs concentrations in water around the world is unknown. For that reason, Dr. Lorena M Rios of the Department of Natural Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Superior, is guest editing a special edition of the on-line journal Water and has issued a call for papers where you can share your research results of these POPs in water and related research in order to make available information about their global environment transport. Closing date 30th April, 2011.