EPA STRIVE Research Programme
Water Research
Irish Freshwater Biologists Annual Meeting
UCD – 12/03/2010
Alice Wemaere
Presentation Overview
 EPA Research Programme Overview
 Water Research
 Projects Overview
 International Linkages
STRIVE Programme 2007-2013
“To protect and improve the natural environment by
addressing key environmental management issues
through the provision of world-class scientific
knowledge, generated through a vibrant, competitive
programme of research supported and co-ordinated
by EPA”
What are the drivers?
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Water Framework Directive
Drinking Water Directive
Bathing Water Directive
Nitrates Pollution Directive
Groundwater Directive
Flood Directive
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Urban Waste Water Directive
Dangerous Substances Directive
Environmental Liability Directive
Soil Thematic Strategy
EPA-funded Research
2000 / 2002 Calls
 Directly aimed at the
implementation of the WFD
(mainly DS)
Air Quality
Cleaner Production
Environment & Health
Landuse Soils & Transport
Waste & Resource Mgt
Biodiversity
Climate Change
Environmental Technology
Socio-Economic
Water Quality
2005 Calls
 Aimed at the Characterisation
report, references conditions &
public participation
Local Authority
Private Sector
Research Institutes
2007 Calls
 Efficiency of Measures, Monitoring
Criteria for PP; Understanding of
contaminants pathways
3rd Level Institution
Review of EPA Water Research
 Evaluation Framework & VFM
in-house Study (2007)
 CIRCA Benchmarking of ERTDI
Programme (2007)
 Assessment of policy impacts
of WFD-targeted research
(2009)
Current Research
Completing in 2010:
Ongoing Projects:
2005
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 Pathways Project
Projects:
WINCOMS
ILLUMINATE
IMPLANT
 HYDROFOR Project
 Monitoring Criteria for Priority
2007 Projects:
 Alien Invasive Species
Pollutants
 Groundwater Fauna
 EFFECT Project
 ET, EH, PhDs & FS
PATHWAYS
Project:
€2m – 5 year
QUB, UCD & TCD
Aims:
Integrate relevant past and current research studies into a catchment
management tool (CMT) for use by RBD management
Help improve the current understanding of hydrological processes in the
Irish context:
 Contaminant transport and attenuation,
 Impact upon receptors.
Website:
www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/eerc/UsefulLinks/Pathways-EPASTRIVEProject/
HYDROFOR
Project:
€2m – 5 year; co-funded with COFORD
UCD, NUIG, UCC, MI
Aims:
Better explain/predict ecological quality of waterways affected by forestry
to advance scientific research and further inform Ireland’s Water
Framework Directive Programme of Measures development process
 Investigate the effects of forestry enterprises on Ireland’s aquatic
ecology
 Assess measures to efficiently reduce these effects
Website:
www.ucd.ie/hydrofor/home.htm
Monitoring Criteria for PP
Project:
DCU, CIT
Aims:
Establish an index that relates population equivalents to the occurrence
and / or concentration of dangerous and priority pollutants.
 Review & Optimisation of laboratory methods
 Assessment of content of priority substances: Domestic & Industrial
 Emission Factors
Website:
https://sites.google.com/site/criteriaforprioritychemicals/
Groundwater Fauna
Project:
U. Ulster & NUIG
Aims:
Assessment of the distribution, structure and functioning of
subterranean fauna within Irish groundwater systems
 Survey for subterranean fauna
 Structure and functioning of key species Niphargus kochianus
irlandicus
Contact:
Joerg Arnscheidt (j.arnscheidt@ulster.ac.uk)
EFFECT
An Effective Framework For assessing aquatic ECosysTem
responses to implementation of the Phosphorous Regulations
Project:
TCD, AFBI, U. Ulster
Aims:
Identification of water bodies/stretches of water that are
particularly sensitive to P-induced impairment or insensitive to
remediation,
Determination of the efficacy of POMs aimed at reducing diffuse
and point-source, P-induced impacts on water quality
Contact:
David Taylor (taylord@tcd.ie)
Policy Support – Env & Health
Enhancing Human Health Through Improved Water
Quality project
 Cryptosporidium Understanding
 NUIG/HSE
 http://www.nuigalway.ie/ehh/ehhtiwq_home.php
Other Health-Water projects
 Biologicals – Pathogens, Norovirus,
 Chemicals – Personal Care Products, Anti-microbial residues,
Nanoparticles
Research Supporting
Environmental Technologies
Toxicity testing
– replacement
animal trials
> 98% Metal Removal using Nano
IBM/ Water Quality
Sensor at Inniscarra
Anaerobic sewage treatment at 120C 500 days
Research supporting Policy &
Technology
DEPLOY
DCU/UCC/SWRBD & IDS
Started April 2009 – Partners Trial
(EPA/MI)
http://89.124.67.3/deploy2/Home/tabid/180/
Default.aspx
Flow-Proportional passive sensor
validation of phosphorus and nitrogen in
Irish rivers
Research Support (Policy,
Technology & Careers)
NUIG research facility at Tuam WWTP
Full strength wastewater,200-600 PE,
Research into N & P removal, emerging
pollutants, design capacity loading –
Support for UWWT Directive
Test Centre for Irish WWTP technology
SMEs (sensor, membranes)
Training centre for LA operators and
future engineers
International Linkages
 SNIFFER
 ERA-Nets: SKEP, Env & Health, CIRCLE2
 FP7
 WssTP
Contact: a.wemaere@epa.ie