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With over 180 years’ experience we, The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals. Our 13 hectare site in Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin is home at any one time to 100 animals and we rehome approximately 2,000 animals each year.
We work also in education outreach with young people particularly in disadvantaged areas and on site to promote empathy towards animals. We offer subsidised veterinary services (including neutering) for animal owners who need it.
The DSPCA recognised the need for a sustainable and affordable wastewater treatment system. Through a myriad of contacts, it retained the services of VESI Environmental Ltd. for their unparalleled expertise in wastewater management in an ecological coherent, sustainable and cost-effective manner.
Introductions were made between the two parties by Trinity Green. CEO of DSPCA Brian Gillen embraced the ethos of the VESI Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) concept with its environmental considerations, positive ecological impact and the creation of on-site amenities for staff and visitors alike, while treating all waste and surface waters from the facility in a naturally and low operational cost structure.
The designed half hectare ICW with its four treatment cells was such that it nestled into the land available alongside our boundary with Mount Venus Cemetery. Therefore, fitting into the landscape, complementing its surroundings and local environment, while also enhancing its biodiversity and creating a much-diminished wildlife corridor. ICW systems work in a manner whereby through flowing waters are fed by gravity through sequentially placed densely vegetated wetland cells by which the wastewaters are reduced of their pollutants and contaminants. The ICW also works by sequestering carbon through the accumulation of organic matter, thereby reducing/negating the carbon footprint of the facility. In addition, this ICW system diminishes water flows, attenuating stormwater impacts.
Construction commenced in 2018 and fully operational from early 2019. Since commissioning this ICW achieves excellent treatment efficiency as demonstrated through regular monitoring, with performance illustrated in the table below.
| Polluting Parameter | Treatment Efficiency |
|---|---|
|
BOD |
96.5% |
|
Ammonia |
99.82% |
|
Orthophosphate |
99.92% |
Surface water drainage and water-vectored wastes are primary challenges faced at the 13 hectare DSPCA facility in South County Dublin. The DSPCA facility with its focus on the care of animals is an environmentally aware charity requiring a comprehensive approach to all its site management needs. The application of the Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) developed by staff at VESI Environmental Ltd. over more than 25 years was especially attractive given its successes in treating a wide spectrum of conventional and emerging pollutants. These include those of bacterial and pharma origin, and even micro-plastics.
The ICW system is comprehensive in removing the need for any additional treatment in day-to-day operations (surgery, animal care, cleaning, staff facilities, wash-down). Furthermore, there is no waste generated from the ICW that needs to be removed from site. Accumulated organic matter may be de-watered in-situ and incorporated into the managed grounds of the campus. Moreover, the wetland’s accumulated organic material provides a valuable carbon sink reducing the site’s carbon footprint.
The construction of the ICW required minimal materials such as concrete, steel and plastic. The construction of the ICW largely undertaken by an earthworks contractor was delivered using on site clay soils, with no import or export of materials with the exception of minimal pipework and gravel surface dressing for paths.
As there are no direct material inputs into the ICW, other than the wastewaters it treats, there are no specific chemical or energy uses needed to operate the ICW and this in turn has reduced the amount and other costly (and potentially environmentally harmful) materials that are required on-site. The location of the ICW treating the wastewater downstream of the facility means there is no energy input to convey the wastewater for treatment as it all flows by gravity.
Unlike conventional systems the DSPCA ICW requires no energy to operate. As the ICW is a self-contained/managed system there is no need to link with the already overburdened public sewer.
The ecological diversity that the ICW provides is unparalleled in the context of habitat creation – both aquatic and terrestrial. The large ecotone areas created within the embankments and surface water furthers both flora and fauna. Considering such habitat interfaces are one of the most heavily removed landscapes and biotypes in Ireland, this project is a significant contribution.
Complex microbial activity is the primary treatment process of the wastewater, these are supported by the dense vegetation in the wetland cells, all of which are native. This natural process feed into the lifecycle supporting microscopic/macro aquatic life which in turn support avian and mammalian species. This biodiversity includes macroinvertebrates (dragonfly, damselfly, diving beetles, stoneflies, caddisflies, etc), amphibians (frogs and newts), birdlife (heron, mallard, moorhen, coot, swan) and even larger terrestrial mammals such as, deer are all everyday examples of what are present in the curtilage of the ICW.
Habitats for a wide range of animals are provided on the site, where they are typically lacking across the country. ICW systems have been shown to support >60% of all known aquatic beetle species known in Ireland. The DSPCA ICW is a prime example of how a wetland supports a biodiverse habitat, all while treating the wastewater on the foothills of the Dublin mountains while enjoying the vistas of the greater Dublin urban area.
This has only further attracted visitors and volunteers to our facility. While nature looks after our wastes, we can focus nurturing our animals.
ICWs by their design require little to no energy input to operate. At DSPCA, the through-flowing waters are gravity fed and thus there is zero energy input to the system (other than sunlight and incoming water gravity flow). Comparatively, a conventional electro-mechanical system requires a constant connection and can result in substantial energy usage over the course of a year – conventional treatment systems do not provide any services beyond that of water treatment alone.
The ICW approach relies upon the explicit integration of the system into operations, landscape, and ecology of its given site. At DSPCA, the ICW now provides passive wastewater management, on-site amenities for staff, guests and ‘residents’ to the facility. This is all while providing excellent water treatment efficiency, providing typically >95% reduction in nutrient concentrations and excellent microbial (and by inference a wide spectrum of emerging pollutants) removal.
The management of stormwaters is addressed through stormwater collection basins and drainage, which in turn help to supply the wildlife pond within the ICW. Management of stormwaters is also passive and prevents any surcharges of water through the ICW.
The DSPCA ICW providing a nature-based solution for all its wastewater management requires no external power with only minimal mechanical intervention for its management in the means of a ride on lawnmower a couple of times a year.
The ICW traffic is host to staff and visitor walks with potential lifelong partners (pets). The only vehicular traffic was during the construction of the ICW and now lends itself to a peaceful wildlife corridor nestled between the busy DSPCA workings and the respectful quietness of Mount Venus Cemetery.
The long-term impact is only positive with the maturing of the ICW system, public engagement, and support of local authorities. Maturing of the ICW will only enhance its capabilities of the wastewater treatment while having the robustness to take on increasing demands with the expansion and development of the DSPCA facility.
The stability and sustainability of the ICW will further enrich the area as a wildlife habitat supporting local aquatic, terrestrial and avian species. The embracement of the ICW at our DSPCA facility has led to future plans of conservation, sustainability and landscaping.
The creation of our ICW has exceeded our expectations. We are graced by a bespoke piece of ecological engineering, which while treating all the combined wastewaters of our facility also facilitates the interaction of our staff and visitors into the natural environment that is safe and enjoyable.
Operational costs are near zero allowing more economic resources to be turned towards our main facility projects. It has encouraged us to carry out future similar, environmental projects. Our carbon footprint is reduced/ negated. We are having no negative impact on our local environment; we are enhancing it and all through our ICW wastewater treatment system.
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