Sludge Management

The 1998 Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture Regulations governs disposal of sludge. Fehily Timoney and Company prepared the Sludge Management Plan for the Council in 2003. J B Barry and Partners prepared a report on the implementation of the plan in October 2004, the recommendations of which continue to be implemented.

The Plan makes a number of recommendations for the management of all non-hazardous sludges and, in particular, the management of municipal wastewater sludges arising in County Wicklow. A report on implementation of the plan has been submitted which included costs estimates, short-term strategies and long-term strategies, which includes the upgrading of some of the existing plants.

The Nitrates Directive will significantly impact on operations. Treated sludge cannot be spread on land between 15th of October and 15th of January the following year and this means that covered storage for sludge must now be provided over winter

The Council is obliged to maintain a Sludge Register showing details of all lands on which sludge is spread, the type and origin of sludge, and this is available for public inspection. This includes sludge originating outside Co. Wicklow.

Sludge Management Plan - 1492kb

Nitrates Directive - 20kb