ABP BANDON AWS AUDIT: CATCHMENT ANALYSIS AND WATER USAGE

Client: Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) Food Group
Location: Bandon-Ilen Catchment
Date: 2021

Síor Consulting Ltd. (Síor) contributed to the Bandon Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Audit by addressing water stewardship challenges at ABP Bandon, a bovine meat processing facility. This work was guided by the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Floods Directive. Síor’s role focused on integrating hydrological, geological, and catchment-scale analyses to support the AWS certification and sustainable water management practices.

Síor’s involvement addressed the following requirements:

• Development of a detailed catchment narrative, identifying sub-catchments of interest and assessing interactions with the processing plant.
• Evaluation of water usage, groundwater abstraction, and treated effluent discharge compliance with environmental regulations.
• Analysis of local water resources, vulnerability, and pressures using hydrological and geological data.
• Identification of risks to aquatic ecosystems and the socio-economic stakeholders reliant on the Bandon River.
• Strategic recommendations for improving water stewardship practices in alignment with AWS criteria.

Síor adopted a multi-disciplinary approach with the following solutions:

• Catchment Assessment: Comprehensive hydrological and hydrogeological studies, identifying vulnerabilities and recharge rates of groundwater systems.
• Data Integration: Development of geospatial tools and integration of LiDAR and topographic datasets to enhance hydrological characterisation and risk modelling.
• Compliance Review: Evaluation of water abstraction and discharge practices to ensure alignment with EU regulations, including the registration of groundwater wells and industrial discharge licences.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with regulatory bodies, including the EPA and Cork County Council, to align water management practices with WFD objectives.
• Strategic Recommendations: Mitigation strategies to address identified ‘at risk’ water bodies and ensure sustainability in water usage and discharge practices.