Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report 2016

Transcription

1 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report 2016 for KMK Metals Recycling Ltd. Cappincur Industrial Estate, Daingean Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Waste Licence No. W by Q.E.D. Engineering Ltd M-TEK Building I Armagh Road Monaghan Fax: December 2016 EPA Export :02:17:52

2 1. Introduction Q.E.D. Engineering Ltd was commissioned to take two separate groundwater samples at KMK Metals Recycling Ltd., Cappincur Industrial Estate, Daingean Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Groundwater monitoring of GW1 and GW2 wells onsite was carried out in accordance with parameters listed in Schedule C.7 of waste licence W and the hazardous substances identified in the Groundwater Monitoring Risk Assessment Report Monitoring was conducted by Anthony Meehan of Q.E.D. Engineering Ltd. on the 23 rd of November This report was also completed by Anthony Meehan. 2. Sampling Methodology Both GW1 and GW2 wells are tapped on-site. The wells were both adequately flushed out by KMK in advance of sampling. GW1 well is used as the main water source on-site for domestic supply and therefore there is a good draw on this source throughout the year. GW2 well is not used routinely on-site. Therefore, in order to adequately flush out the well head for GW2, this tap was allowed to run and fill three 1,000litre IBC containers over a period prior to sampling. The time between well flushing and sampling was deemed adequate for full recharge of the supply at GW2 for subsequent sampling. The taps at GW1 and GW2 were flushed, sterilized with alcohol wipes and flamed using a lighter on the day of sampling, as required for microbial sampling only after all other test parameter samples were first taken. The taps were then allowed to run with water for a few minutes prior to microbial sampling. The samples were placed into a cooler box with ice packs to maintain a temperature below 5⁰C. The samples were forwarded to ALS Environmental, Hawarden, Deeside, UK for analysis. ALS Environmental are an accredited laboratory. Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 1 EPA Export :02:17:52

3 3. Results 3.1 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Results GW1 and GW2 Limit (Groundwater) Regulations (S.I. No. 9 of 2010) Parameter Units GW1 GW2 Chloride mg/l ms/cm deg.c Total Nitrogen mg/l <1 <1 ph ph Units Aluminium µg/l <2.0 < Arsenic µg/l < Cadmium µg/l <0.08 < Chromium µg/l <1.2 < Copper µg/l <0.85 < Iron mg/l Lead µg/l < Mercury µg/l <0.01 < Nickel µg/l Zinc µg/l Mineral Oil mg/l <1 <1 Diesel Range µg/l <10 <10 Organics EPH Range µg/l <46 <46 >C10 - C40 Faecal No/100ml <1 <1 0 Coliforms Total coliforms No/100ml 3.1 <1 0 The Certificates of analysis from the laboratory are provided in Appendix 3. Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 2 EPA Export :02:17:52

4 4.0 Discussion The majority of results are within the EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 where applicable. Arsenic and nickel metal parameters highlighted in red exceeded the recommended guideline limits set by EC Groundwater Regs. S.I. 9/2010 for sample GW2. Levels for arsenic at 21.1ug/l and nickel at 41.5ug/l were detected. There have been elevated nickel levels between the range 21.9 to 135 μg/l from 2006 to 2015 apart from 2009 and 2012 where nickel levels were below the EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, S.I. 9/2010 threshold values. In determination of the significance or otherwise of the metallic parameters detected in GW2, it is important to consider that the other metallic species i.e. lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, mercury and aluminium were below the Groundwater Threshold Values EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, SI 9/2010 where applicable. Nickel is naturally present in most soils and rocks in general, and this broad fact is generally well documented. For example, according to the Soils of Co. Offaly National Soil Survey of Ireland by Teagasc 2003, the typical levels of trace nickel in agricultural soils ranges from 0.5 to 100 mg/kg. The natural occurrence of arsenic in rock veins is also well documented across the world. In the absence of specific data for arsenic in Offaly, another close licensee was reviewed in terms of their groundwater monitoring i.e. AES Ireland Ltd, Cappincur Ind. Estate, Tullamore. It was noted in their 2012, 2014 and 2015 AER that arsenic was also found in one of their boreholes GW2 (see attached extracts from the 2012, 2014 and 2015 AER in Appendix 2). Both boreholes are approximately 300m apart. This presence confirms naturally occurring arsenic in the groundwater because the levels are very similar and also the two associated businesses are very different i.e. a general waste transfer and recycling station and KMK operates a hazardous and non hazardous recycling facility. Therefore, there are no artificial or manmade sources of metallic contamination entering the groundwater from KMK site activities above ground. Hence, the presence of arsenic and nickel can be attributed to background levels in the groundwater from rock ores and soils. There were no hydrocarbons detected in both GW1 and GW2 [mineral oils, DROs or petroleum hydrocarbons]. A map showing the location of the groundwater monitoring points GW1 and GW2 is included in Appendix 1. The groundwater level at GW1 was measured at 1.6m on the 27th November However, the groundwater level cannot be measured at GW2, therefore a determination of the direction of flow of the groundwater cannot be made from monitoring groundwater wells present on-site. In the absence of specific groundwater levels on-site, AES Ireland Ltd, Cappincur Ind. Estate groundwater monitoring returns were reviewed to determine the direction of groundwater flow in the immediate area. The groundwater boreholes at AES Ireland Ltd. are located approximately 300m from KMK s groundwater boreholes and give a good indication of the groundwater flow in the area. AES define their up-gradient and down-gradient groundwater boreholes in their 2015 AER and these boreholes are shown in the Groundwater Monitoring Locations Map in Appendix 1. Based on this data the direction of groundwater flow at the KMK site is to the South. A graphed trend of analysis for each parameter analysed in November 2016 is included in Appendix 4. Cadmium, Copper and Zinc were analysed for the first time on site in 2014, therefore there is limited historical data available for trending these parameters. Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 3 EPA Export :02:17:52

5 APPENDIX 1 Groundwater Monitoring Locations Map Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 4 EPA Export :02:17:52

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7 APPENDIX 2 Extracts from the 2012, 2014 and 2015 AER for AES Ireland Ltd, Cappincur Ind. Estate, Tullamore Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 6 EPA Export :02:17:52

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11 APPENDIX 3 LABORATORY TEST CERTIFICATES Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 10

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15 APPENDIX 4 Groundwater Results Trend Graphs Prepared by Q.E.D. M-TEK Building 1, Armagh Road, Monaghan 14

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