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White Young Green (WYG) Ireland - consultant to the built,
natural and social environment - has been awarded the contract
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide groundwater
quality data that will assist in the national assessment of
Ireland’s groundwater.
The monitoring programme has been established to satisfy
Ireland’s obligations in respect of the monitoring requirements
of the Water Framework Directive for Groundwater (WFD) (2000/60/EC)
and will involve comprehensive quality sampling and analysis
conducted throughout the country in 2008.
Commenting on the contract, Teri Hayes, WYG Environmental
Ireland Director said - “WYG is delighted to have been awarded
this prestigious contract. In order to deliver large-scale
projects such as this, WYG has an expert groundwater division
with 12 hydrogeologists and geologists experienced in environmental
assessment, groundwater development, protection and monitoring
- of which, three field scientists and three office-based
scientists will be involved in completing the monitoring concurrently
in three regions.
"The sampling and analysis will involve collecting significant
data which will form part of the national database used to
make decisions at a national level on development and groundwater
protection. This work will have a direct and positive influence
on water quality in Ireland and we are proud to be a part
of it.”
To meet the requirements of the WFD, the EPA intends to monitor
approximately 248 groundwater quality sites throughout Ireland
in 2008. The majority of the sites are abstraction points
for Public or Group Water Supply Schemes. Four samples are
required at each of the 248 monitoring sites during 2008 and
these samples will then be analysed for specified micro-biological,
physio-chemical and chemical determinands.
According to Dr. Matthew Craig, Scientific Officer, EPA -
“The EPA is pleased to announce that WYG Ireland has been
appointed to provide this service, which will enable the EPA
to meet their requirement under the EU Water Framework Directive
to monitor groundwater quality. The results of the monitoring
will be used in Groundwater Body (GWB) Classification which
is to be completed by 2009.”
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