Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018
621. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the Environmental Protection Agency examined HTC carbonisation plants in view of a report (details supplied) recommending alternative processes to cater for sludge treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2882/18]
View answer622. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the policies in place to encourage mobile dewatering which a report (details supplied) recommended as an effective and efficient means to empty septic tanks and sewage treatment plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2883/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.
A report entitled "Management Options for the Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Sludge Derived from Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems" was published by the EPA in 2014 under its STRIVE research programme.
This report evaluated the legislation relating to Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS) and evaluated best practice regarding the collection, transport, treatment and re-use/disposal of DWWTS sludges. Mobile dewatering was considered and recommended as a method for managing DWWTS sludge treatment and disposal. The use of HTC Carbonisation (Hydrothermal Carbonisation) was not evaluated in the report.
While at this juncture, there is no specific national policy to encourage the use of mobile dewatering, it may be considered as part of an overall future strategy to manage the disposal of sludge derived from domestic wastewater treatment systems.
