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Project Code [2005-MS-15-M1]

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Project title

An investigation into the effective distribution of on-site wastewater effluent into percolation areas and the treatment performance of sandy subsoils and constructed wetlands

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Laurence Gill

Project Abstract

The safe disposal of on-site wastewater is essential forthe protection of groundwater in Ireland and has comemore into focus recently due to the publication of the EPAguidance manual Treatment Systems for Single Houses(EPA 2000). This project reports the results from fourseparate field trials carried out on separate sites coveringa range of different subsoil types whereby two sites weredischarging septic tank effluent into conventionalpercolation areas and the other two sites weredischarging secondary treated effluent from a peat filterinto similar percolation areas. Stratified sand filters werealso constructed one receiving septic tank effluent theother receiving secondary treated effluent for comparison.The short duration of the research (the maximum amountof time that each site was monitored was 12 months) andthe limited numbers of sites investigated mean that onlytentative conclusions can be made about on-sitewastewater treatment at this stage which will hopefully becorroborated by further research in the future.

Grant Approved

�380,827.85

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Protecting our Water Resources

Start Date

01/01/2005

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a