Assimilative Capacity Surveys
Assimilative capacity is defined as “The ability of a body of water to cleanse itself; its capacity to receive waste waters or toxic materials without deleterious effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water”.
Sewage treatment plants, agricultural activities and industries produce effluents and runoff rich in nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous compounds.
Nutrient assimilation within streams, lakes and rivers result in an increase in biomass of aquatic plants and animals.
Excessive additions of plant nutrients, silt and organic matter can substantially deteriorate water quality.
An assimilative capacity study will examine the capacity of the receiving water body to assimilate additional loadings and ensure that increases in discharges will not substantially degrade water quality.
Information from an assimilative capacity study can support and assist developers and local and municipal authorities in predicting impacts of land use on water quality.
EURO
environmental services provide the following which enables us to evaluate
the impact of wastewater discharges on receiving waters by:
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Assessing the chemical, biological (
Q rating)
and bacterial condition of the receiving water.
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Assessing the flow data of receiving waters, indicating 95 %ile flow and Dry Weather Flow.
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Provide an assessment of the associated impacts of the proposed discharge on the chemical, biological and bacteriological quality of the receiving waters with regard to the relevant legislation.
We have vast experience in carrying out assimilative capacities for a number of developers, architects, engineers and construction companies in a number of counties in
Serving Industry, Local Authorities, Business and Land Development Projects in the UK and Ireland
