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Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant

Ringsend Wastewater Treatment

The Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works which is part of the 400 million euro Dublin Bay Project, was completed in 2003. The benefits include cleaner water in Dublin Bay and in the city’s rivers as well as more land being available for housing and commercial development.

Further benefits include two of Dublin’s beaches, Dollymount and Seapoint, receiving Blue Flag status, conversion of waste sludge into agricultural fertiliser called Bio-Fert and the conversion of waste to energy to the value of approximately 3 million euro per annum. Read more about bathing water quality results.

Ringsend Odour Action Programme

Having completed the short-term odour abatement measures in 2007, significant works were undertaken in 2008. These included permanent covering of the primary tanks with provision of associated odour control units (OCUs) and installation of new high capacity combustion chambers to all three dryers. These works were completed in November 2008.

How can I make a complaint about odours from the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works?

Odour complaints should be directed to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works by phone to 1800 242739 or by email to enquiry@caw.ie

Details of Odour Complaints

There has been a drop off of complaints since November 2008. In 2009 significant work was carried out on the odour abatement equipment leading to a raised level of complaints in April and June of that year. This work has resulted in improved effectiveness and increased capacity of the odour abatement system. The plant operators provide a 24hr maintenance service and any breakdowns in odour equipment are addressed as quickly as possible.

Dublin City Council Odour Monitoring Programme

Dublin City Council has formalised an Odour Monitoring Programme that encompasses continuous on-site monitoring. On receipt of complaints our dedicated odour team will respond to complainants at the first available opportunity. The team will endeavour to investigate the sources of the odour based on an odour survey and prevailing wind direction.

Graph showing number of odour complaints received to date

Number of complaints relating to odour per month

Date

Monitoring

Complaints

Comments

01/3 - 31/03/12

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint received in March

There was 1 odour complaint received on the 28th March. There was some routine maintenance being carried out on site, however, this should not have had an effect on odours as all Odour Control Units were fully functional at the time in question.

01/2 - 29/2/12

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in February

01/1-31/1/12

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in January

01/12-31/12/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in December

01/11-30/11/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in November

01/10-31/10/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in October

01/09-30/09/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in September

01/08 -31/08/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in August

01/07 - 31/07/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in July

01/06 - 30/06/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint received in June

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that this complaint was received.

01/05 - 31/05/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in May

01/04 - 31/04/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

2 Complaints received in April

2 Odour complaints were received in April. There were no operational incidents reported at the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that these complaints were received. After an extensive investigation, it was found that these complaints cannot be attributed to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and are not registered for this period. The odour was found to be emanating from a different location

01/03 - 31/03/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in March

01/02 - 28/02/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in February

01/01 - 31/01/11

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in January

01/12 - 31/12/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in December

01/11 - 30/11/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in November

01/10 -31/10/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

3 Complaints received in October

3 Odour complaints were received during October. There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that these complaints were received. The 3 odours complaints were attributed to the ectocarpus on Sandymount Beach and a H2S odour emanating from neighbouring Booterstown Marsh. These complaints will not be registered for this period.

01/09 -30/09/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint received in September

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that these complaints were received.

01/08 - 31/08/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

5 Complaints received in August

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that these complaints were received.

01/07 - 31/07/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

2 Complaints received in July

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that these complaints were received.

01/06 - 30/06/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

3 Complaints received in June

There were 3 odour complaints received in June, all of which are currently under investigation.

01/05 - 31/05/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

3 Complaints received in May

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that this complaint was received.

01/04 - 30/04/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

5 Complaints received in April

There were 5 odour complaints received in April. There were no operational incidents recorded on site apart from the 27th April when there was a small odour release due to a minor malfunction in the main Odour Control Unit.

01/03 - 31/03/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint received in March

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that this complaint was received

01/02 - 28/02/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints received in February

01/01 - 31/01/10

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint received in January

There were no operation incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period that this complaint was received

01/12 - 31/12/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in December

01/11 - 30/11/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in November

01/10 - 31/10/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in October

01/09- 30/09/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

3 Complaints Received in September

There was 3 Odour complaints received in September. Some process issues occurred on site over the period of these complaints. These issues were addressed as quickly as possible.

01/08-31/08/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in August

01/07-31/07/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in July

01/06-30/06/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

32 Complaints Received in June

The increase in the level of odour complaints for June was due to necessary unscheduled maintenance.

01/05-31/05/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

1 Complaint Received in May

There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period

01/04 - 30/04/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

9 Complaints Received in April

Due to essential maintenance on the main Odour Control Unit, a temporary odour abatement system was put in place on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works. This system was in operation for approximately 2 weeks and regrettably, would have accounted for the majority of odour complaints received in April.

01/03 - 31/03/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in March

There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period

01/02 - 28/02/09

Odour Monitoring Continued

0 Complaints Received in February

There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period

01/01 - 31/01/09

Odour monitoring continued.

1 complaint received in January.

There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period.

01/12 - 31/12/08

Odour monitoring continued.

4 complaints received in December.

There was a small number of complaints received in December. There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period.

01/11 - 30/11/08

Odour monitoring continued.

5 Complaints received in November

There was a small number of complaints received in November. There were no operational incidents reported on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant for this period. However, odours relating to algal deposits on the beaches is currently being investigated.

01/ 10 - 31/10/08

Odour monitoring continued

0 Complaints received in October

The ongoing improvements to the plant corresponds to a reduction in the level of odour complaints for October

01/09 - 30/9/08

Odour monitoring continued

8 Complaints received in September

New drier units and covered tanks have greatly improved odour control at Ringsend. There were concurrent complaints in relation to odours from algal deposits on the beaches. This situation is being further investigated.

01/08 - 31/08/08

Odour monitoring continued

1 Complaint received in August

Odour abatement projects on schedule. Primary tanks now covered.

01/07 - 31/07/08

Odour monitoring continued

13 Complaints received in July

Some complaints were received relating to operational issues that occurred while commissioning an upgrade of sludge-drying equipment.

01/06 - 30/06/08

Odour monitoring continued

3 Complaints received in June

Weather conditions and the improved operation of driers have contributed to a reduction in the number of odour complaints received.

01/05- 31/05/08

Odour monitoring continued

35 Complaints received in April

See comments for April below.

01/04- 30/04/08

Odour monitoring continued

24 complaints received in April

Complaints related mainly to drier odours. This issue will be resolved this summer on completion of the drier refurbishment project.

01/03-31/03/08

Odour monitoring continued

2 complaints received in March.

The small number of complaints received in March is as expected for cold weather conditions.

01/02-29/02/08

Odour monitoring continued

5 complaints received in February.

The small number of complaints received in February is as expected for cold weather conditions.

01/01-31/01/08

Odour monitoring continued.

4 complaints received to date in January.

The small number of complaints received in January is as expected for cold weather conditions.

01/12-31/12/07

Odour monitoring continued.

1 complaint received in December.

The small number of complaints received in December is as expected for cold weather conditions.

01/11-30/11/07

Odour monitoring continued.

15 complaints received in November.

The number of complaints received in November matched that of October. This level of complaints can be related to the drying process.

01/10-31/10/07

Odour monitoring continued.

15 complaints received in October.

The month of October saw an improvement in the level of odour complaints received.

01/09-30/09/07

Odour monitoring continued.

27 complaints received in September.

The high level of complaints received in September was related to the drying process. The driers will be upgraded by Spring 2008. Revised operational procedures in place to minimise odour effects of driers.

01/08-31/08/07

Odour monitoring continued.

7 complaints received in August.

The month of August saw an improvement in the level of odour complaints received.

01/07-31/07/07

Odour monitoring continued.

20 complaints received in July.

The month of July saw an improvement in the level of odour complaints received.

01/06-30/06/07

Odour monitoring continued.

125 complaints received in June.

The high level of complaints received in June was related to the drying process. The driers will be upgraded by Spring 2008. Revised operational procedures in place to minimise odour effects of driers.

01/05-31/05/07

Odour monitoring continued.

10 complaints received in May.

The month of May saw an improvement in the level of odour complaints received.

01/04-30/04/07

Odour monitoring continued.

64 complaints received in April.

The high level of complaints received in April was related to the drying process. The driers will be upgraded by Spring 2008. Revised operational procedures now in place to minimise odour effects of driers.

01/03-31/03/07

Dryer odour problems highlighted by number of complaints.

24 complaints received in March.

The high level of complaints received in March was related to the drying process. The upgrading of the drying process, which will eliminate this problem, will be completed spring 2008. Revised operational procedures are now in place to minimise effects until that time.

01/02-28/02/07

No change from Jan'07.

1 complaint received in February.

Incident, relating to sludge belt presses, was quickly resolved.

01/01-31/01/07

Plant verified to be in good working condition. On-site monitoring continued.

No complaints received in January.

n/a

For more information

For further detailed information, see our Odour Leaflet

Tel.: 1800 242739
Email: enquiry@caw.ie