Towns, cities and settlements across the European Union are required to collect and treat their urban waste water under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive both to minimize risk to public health and potential eutrophication of receiving waters. The latest figures for wastewater treatment in Europe show improvements in collection and treatment, even if big differences remain between Member...

ECOS have a new series of logos which will be rolled out over the next few weeks   Check out www.ecos.ie for our new website in the coming weeks     ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

Our Clients are SME and multi-national businesses who strive to achieve their specific corporate and regulatory needs relating to Water, Waste and Wastewater. Client needs vary from business to business and could relate to legal requirements to comply with permits and licences associated with virtually all activities relating to Waste and Wastewater or cost and...

EN 14214 is a European Standard that describes the requirements and test methods for FAME – the most common type of biodiesel. The technical definition of biodiesel is a fuel suitable for use in compression ignition (diesel) engines that is made of fatty acid monoalkyl esters derived from biologically produced oils or fats including vegetable oils, animal fats and...

A licencing authority will grant a discharge licence where the applicant can demonstrate to the licencing authority that a proposed or existing discharge can comply with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the objective of “Good” status receiving water. Where inadequate information has been presented the application may be refused or the licence...

Time and time again we come across businesses which have ended up with  unsustainable discharge licences primarily because they have not provided the licencing authority with the required information.  The applicant needs to be able to demonstrate to the licencing authority that a proposed or existing discharge can comply with the requirements of the Water...

Information relating to key control parameters is essential if one is to optimize wastewater treatment plant performance. Many business could save themselves a lot of time and money through recording and reviewing information on a regular basis. The establishment of target and optimum ranges for key control parameters can assist in forecasting when non-compliances could...

A practical guide to eco-innovation has been published which is addressed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The booklet overviews emerging business opportunities eco-innovation has to offer to companies that reconsider business models, develop new products, technologies or services, or improve production processes. This guide which is divided into six sections, summarises key business issues, questions and...

Quite often businesss could save themselves a lot of time and money through recording and reviewing key control parameters on a regular basis. The establishment of target and optimum ranges for key control parameters can assist in forecasting when non-compliances could arise and allow for suitable remedial measures to be implemented before a problem develops....

Sludge bulking may be noted through visual observation: Failure of sludge solids to settle in the final clarifier Carryover of solids resulting in high effluent suspended solids Presence of filamentous bacteria (microscopic examination) Increased SVI and disimproved settleability Clear supernatant liquor after prolonged settling Principal causes: Underloading  Dissolved oxygen too low Nutrient deficiency A correction...