Attenuation System installed at Moneypoint, Co Clare.

We were asked to design, manufacture and install a large attenuation system and oil-water separator for the ESB at Moneypoint, Co Clare.

The modular precast attenuation system stores a total of 208,000 litre of water and includes a 26,000 Class 1 Full Retention Oil/Water Separator.

Green Atlantic at Moneypoint is a landmark milestone in ESB’s Brighter Future strategy and represents a major step in achieving the Government’s target of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030.

Under this ambitious programme, ESB’s Moneypoint site in County Clare will be transformed into a green energy hub, helping Ireland to become a leader in green energy production.

O’Reilly Oakstown Ltd are very proud to be associated with the project and look forward to working with ENVA and the ESB on future green initiatives.

Completing Septic Tank System Check

Maintaining your wastewater system will help to protect your health and the local environment. As a homeowner, the law obliges you to make sure your system is installed, operated and maintained in a way that makes sure it doesn’t pose a risk to human health and the environment.

Text and images in this post are from the EPA website.

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How a septic tank system treats your wastewater

1. Everything you flush down the toilet and send down the sinks, showers and washing machine or dishwasher ends up in your septic tank system.

2. Wastewater flows from the house to the septic tank. The solids and scum form sludge in the tank and this needs to be removed regularly.

3. Liquid effluent (wastewater) percolates down from the pipes through the soil in your garden into the percolation area. The soil itself helps filter out the bacteria before making its way to the groundwater in the bedrock below. This is the same groundwater that supplies water for any local wells.

“A well maintained system in the right site with the right soil conditions will protect your health, your local environment and your pocket.”

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Planning a wastewater system, including a septic tank system?

• When you are installing the plumbing in your house and wastewater system, which includes septic tanks and packaged systems, you should make sure that the grey water from sinks, showers and washing machines drains into the wastewater system. 
• Do not allow rainwater from roofing into the wastewater system because it will flush out the solids which may block the percolation area or sit on the ground surface. Divert to a soakaway, which is a pit filled with stones into which clean water drains. Ž
• Do not put driveways or paved areas over the percolation area because they can damage the underlying pipes. The percolation area is the area of the ground where the wastewater drains and filters through the soil.

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Check your wastewater system every year!

Every year, check your wastewater system for signs of sewage. Check the following:

• all manholes for blockages
• unwanted pools of water (ponding)
• odours
• noises
• sewage in nearby ditches and streams.

Use a permitted contractor to empty your wastewater system

• Contact your local authority for a list of contractors, or search for one on the NWCP website 
• You are required by law to keep records of sludge removal and maintenance for five years.
• If you are a farmer with your own land, you can spread the sludge but only in accordance with the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations.

What is the difference between a septic tank system and a packaged treatment system?

A septic tank system depends more on the soil in the percolation area to treat wastewater. A packaged treatment system relies less on the soil but has more mechanical parts to treat the wastewater. Packaged treatment systems, therefore, need some more maintenance. Sludge has to be removed from both types of systems.

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Actions to take 

Conserve water

Conserve water by using water-saving devices such as high-efficiency showerheads that don’t leak and garden hose shut-off nozzles.

Avoid sink waste disposal units

Do not use sink waste disposal units as they can increase the amount of waste by one third and result in additional maintenance.

Watch what you put down the sink

Do not pour fat and grease or hazardous chemicals like pesticides and paints down the sink. They can block the pipes and kill the good bacteria.

Watch what you flush

Do not flush non-degradable products down the toilet, for example, feminine care products, nappies, condoms or wipes because they can block the pipes and percolation area, or get caught in moving parts such as pumps

Be careful with cleaning substances

Do not overuse bleach and disinfectants because they can kill the good bacteria in the system.

Test your well every year as it may be at risk from your wastewater system

Your private well, if you have one, may be at risk from your wastewater system so test it every year after heavy rain as contamination is likely to be high at this time. Contact your local authority or HSE environmental health officer for advice on water testing.

“In order for something to become clean, something else must become dirty”

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Frequently asked Questions

 

 

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Around 500,000 households in Ireland have a wastewater system that includes septic tanks and packaged systems. About 137,000 of these also have a private well for drinking water. Since 2013, all homeowners with a wastewater system must be registered with their local authority (LA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body. We are responsible for supervising local authorities when they inspect wastewater systems. We do this to ensure that the systems are suitable and well maintained.

A quarter of wastewater systems (25%) inspected failed the LAs inspection due to poor operation and poor maintenance. Poorly maintained wastewater systems can affect your drinking water especially from private wells. Many people assume that their private well water is safe to drink and don’t treat it or get it tested. They shouldn’t because a recent study found that E.coli, which can cause serious illness, is present in almost a third (29%) of Irish private wells.

Where to find more information on Septic Tank System Checks

For more information, contact your local environment section or visit www.maintainyourseptictank.ie.

Also, download the ‘Have you completed a septic tank system check‘  PDF.

Contact us to find out more

Contact our team today to enquire about our septic tank and wastewater treatment systems, and they will help you find the best system for your home.

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Sewage systems should be a one time purchase and should last the entire period of occupancy in any house. The best systems on the market will require little maintenance, an important factor in the decision of which system to go with. This article briefly describes; how a sewage system works, and finding the best one for your home.

How a sewage system works

All wastewater / sewage treatment systems have internal components as part of the their technology. Understanding the process, their lifespan and likely cost down the line, is a factor that often gets overlooked when choosing which wastewater treatment system to install.

Sewage treatment systems are more advanced than traditional septic tanks, which have generally relied on anaerobic digestion and therefore have no moving parts or treatment process. The graphic and description below outline the process of how a sewage system works, this example is for our 6PE system.

 

 

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4 Stages of 6PE Sewage Treatment System

1. 1. • Stage 1 – Primary Settlement in Chambers 1 & 2. Primary Settlement works on the basis of sedimentation, where solids separate from the water in chambers 1 and 2 allowing for anaerobic digestion over an extended period of time.
      • Stage 2 – Bio Reactor Chamber. Wastewater continues to flow by gravity into chamber 3 where natural occurring micro-organisms form on our submerged biofilm filter and are oxygenated by a small air blower. Effluent is extensively treated in this chamber prior to gravity flow into chamber 4
      • Stage 3 – Clarifier Chamber. Final settlement takes place within our Clarifier Chamber where any remaining sediment gravitates to the bottom of the tank and is transferred back to the primary settlement chamber. This ensures only fully treated water enters the final chamber
      • Stage 4 – Discharge Chamber. Treated water is stored within the discharge chamber and can be pumped or gravity fed to the percolation area depending on the client’s site requirements.

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BAF Technology

Selecting the highest quality components for sewage systems represents the best value for money in long term, compared to lower cost systems where components need to be replaced regularly. We use BAF technology which is reliable, robust, low cost in terms of power consumption, and overall better value for money.

Alternative technologies such as SBR (Sequential Batch Reaction) systems have a reputation for being problematic and unreliable. They typically struggle with peak flows and generally require maintenance and regular desludging of the tank itself.

As a customer you should always take independent advice from your architect, builder or industry experts. They will explain all the benefits of wastewater treatment systems and explain how a sewage system works.

Lower cost systems can initially appear good value, but it’s important to compare like-with-like in terms of the product offering, accessories included, quality of components and maintenance requirements down the line.

The EPA website also has more information on sewage treatment systems. If you think you need to upgrade your system contact us to talk through your options.

Finding the best one for your home

It’s important to speak to someone who will clearly explain how a sewage system works, and make the best recommendation for your home.

Our team are highly skilled and experienced and will discuss what you need, outline costs for you and even carry out a Free Site Survey to assess your site. Call us today on 046 9431389 to arrange a visit.

O’Reilly Oakstown supply precast concrete BAF sewage treatment systems throughout Ireland and can provide a full installation service. We may recommend the 6PE BAF for your standard domestic home. Or if you need a larger tank, our 8PE BAF system will be the answer for you.

Contact our team today to enquire about our sewage treatment systems and they will help you find the best one for your home.

 

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On Friday 5th August we organised an ice cream van to visit all our precast production plants and offices in Ireland. This is just a small token of appreciation we wanted to give our staff to thank them for all their hard work.

It was great to see all the smiling faces and we are glad they enjoyed it!

Construction Safety Week 2022 at the O’Reilly Group

O’Reilly Oakstown are committed to high standards of health and safety, both on and off site. The welfare of those working for us and those affected by our activities is of paramount importance to us. We pride ourselves on our first-class level of Health and Safety practices and only employ trained operatives with appropriate qualifications.

Watch our video highlighting our commitment to Health & Safety and Construction Safety Week 2022

Health & Safety

O’Reilly Oakstown are committed to high standards of health and safety, both on and off site. The welfare of those working for us and those affected by our activities is of paramount importance to us. We pride ourselves on our first-class level of Health and Safety practices and only employ trained operatives with appropriate qualifications.

As part of the O’Reilly Group we consider the safety of all employees, on-site personnel and the public to be of the highest importance. Health and Safety practices and procedures are continually reviewed and improved to maintain the highest standards and our excellent reputation. Within the Group’s policy, we strive to make the workplace as safe and as healthy as is reasonably practicable, by consulting with our employees and seeking their cooperation.

The O’Reilly Group are actively improving the level of safety at our production plants, quarry sites and offices. Our health & safety team work hard to constantly develop and implement new health and safety initiatives that will control risk and prevent accidents in the workplace. The team have brought in a number of new initiatives to ensure the safety of staff and visitors to our facilities.

Site Signage
Safety signage is clearly on display throughout all the group’s facilities which inform staff and visitors of the practices to follow while on the premises. For example, the correct PPE to be worn. The signage also includes a Traffic Management plan which guides both vehicle and pedestrian traffic safely through our plants and quarries.

Safety Coloured Bump Hat
This safety initiative was introduced across the O’Reilly Group in 2020. The coloured hard bump hats have been issued to all operatives at all plants. The colour recognition system works by identifying the roles of the operative at our plants: RED = General Operative, BLUE = Supervisor/Manager, GREEN = First Responder

This has improved the safety standards of the workplace and keeps staff safe, by;

• Protection – these are safety hard hats
• Ease of staff identification
• Visual recognition of different plant roles (eg. First responder is quickly and easily identified)
• Visitors to the plant can see who to report to
• Visual aid to help with language barriers

Training
Ensuring training certs, manual handling, SOPs, weekly toolbox talks and all other training courses are up-to-date for all employees in their relevant fields. At the O’Reilly Group, we are strict in ensuring that all employees are fully trained in using the required equipment/machinery and that they are capable of doing tasks in a safe and correct manner. In addition, weekly management meetings occur to ensure that the health & safety guidelines are being implemented in each department. We recognise the importance of management-employee engagement within the workforce.

O’Reilly Group Training Centre
We have just completed our Group’s new in-house training centre located in our Barleystone Paving facility in Co. Cavan. The centre will facilitate and assist in the training and learning of all employees across the O’Reilly Group. Training courses such as manual handling and toolbox talks will be held in this new centre. Our health and safety team created a quiet and bright learning environment to ensure all participants can utilise the space to aid in the progression of their career.
The Group’s training centre will be a key element in the development of skills and knowledge of staff, allowing them to flourish in their field of work.

We are delighted to support Construction Safety Week 2022. You can read more about our Health & Safety policies on this link.

Also see our group company websites H&S pages for O’Reilly Concrete and Barleystone