Recent media reports have highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken to protect Ireland’s rivers, streams and lakes, which are at serious risk of pollution from waste water flowing, untreated, into the country’s water courses.

The cause is largely down to badly designed - or poorly maintained - septic tanks and private drainage systems. It is a ticking ecological time bomb as well as a potential threat to public health for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Raw sewage from the equivalent of 86,000 people is flowing into Irish waterways every day, a health threat the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says is not being dealt with quickly enough.” The Irish Times, February 14, 2019, 'Environmental Ticking Time Bomb'.

Traditionally, Irish householders and businesses have managed private waste water on-site using septic tanks. But a septic tank removes only around 30 per cent of the active pollutants in the effluent, which is why their discharges pose such a threat to water courses and ground water.

David Best, commercial specification manager, Ireland, for the Klargester product rat Kingspan, says: “Sewage treatment plants by contrast are highly efficient, treating around 95 per cent of the pollutants within the waste matter. They should be considered the solution of choice near to surface water or for any sensitive sites.”

Kingspan Klargester CPD – Guide to Sewage Treatment Plants

A team of experts from Kingspan Klargester, the world-leading waste water management range, in association with Engineers Ireland and CIBSE, will be offering a CPD to key professions involved in the management of wastewater, including civil engineers and architects entitled: 'A Guide to Sewage Treatment Plants'.

Topics covered include:
1.) Understanding waste water treatment
2.) An introduction to sewage treatment systems
3.) Site assessments
4.) Sizing commercial systems and seasonal applications
5.) Typical installation process
6.) Dos and don’ts

There are four CPD sessions being delivered across these venues:
September 13: The Kingspan IKON 'innovation centre' Kingscourt, Co Cavan; and September 20: The Kingspan Stadium Belfast.

The CPD is free to attend and worth one hour of CPD credit. A free tour of both the Kingspan Stadium and the Ikon is offered for delegates, and complimentary lunch with refreshments on arrival is also provided.

To find out more, or to book your free place go to www.bit.ly/klargesterCPD or email/phone us: Email: water-IE@kingspan.com / NI T: 028 3026 6799, ROI T: 048 3026 6799.