Increasing resource efficiency in wastewater treatment plants: EPA Research Report 168

The focus of this project was the resource efficiency of Irish wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The perspective of the report is both operational (economic) and environmental. Wastewater treatment is a resource-intensive process, with three main resources being identified as those of greatest concern: energy, chemicals and water.This report is published as part of the EPA Research Programme 2014–2020. The programme is financed by the Irish Government. It is administered on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) by the EPA, which has the statutory function of coordinating and promoting environmental research. The authors would like to acknowledge the EPA for its financial support. The authors acknowledge the contribution of the Project Steering Committee, comprising Dr Dorothy Stewart (EPA), Lisa Sheils (EPA), Mr John Gray (Consultant), Mr Thomas Griffin (DECLG) and Dr Edmond O’Reilly (Irish Water). The authors also acknowledge the environmental assessment and testing work carried out by Mr Niall Durham. Finally, the authors would also like to gratefully acknowledge the support of and the information provided by various local authorities and wastewater treatment plant operators without whom this research would not have been possible