Dry Weather Flows
APEM was asked to provide a detailed statistical analysis of Sewage Treatment Works flows across the UK as part of a large research and development project for the Environment Agency and the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). The use of dry weather flow, with its dependency on rare climate conditions, restricts the ability of regulators to enforce flow consents. The object of the research was to give the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment (DoE) clear, reliable parameters through which they could enforce discharge consents. We also proposed the procedures and methods needed to implement new consents and convert existing consents.
