Essentials of Pipeline Testing in Ireland for IPPC Compliance

The Irish Government is taking Environmental Licensing more and more seriously. And it is evident with the strengthened IPC Compliance Regulations 2020 Legislation that stresses upon "environmental impact assessment" replacing the previously used "impact statements". That is why Pipeline Integrity Testing becomes a crucial step for Irish industries to attain IPC compliance now. Here is an insight.

 

What Is The IPC Compliance And Who Needs It

 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland has established clear rules for Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC or IPC) for pipeline and drainage integrity. It applies to specific industrial and agricultural facilities including, Chemical Industries, Textiles, Tanneries, Packaged Food and Drink Fossil Fuels and Waste (class 11.1) and many others.

 It is a licence that verifies the facility's capabilities to comply with the EPA guidelines for reduced environmental effects for wastewater management, groundwater pollution control, and treatment of domestic effluents, among other factors. A similar license is the Industrial Emissions License (IED) that utilises specific pipeline and drainage integrity studies to assess the presence or risk of toxic emissions released from the facility - concerning air pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (Integrated Pollution Control) (Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 - shortly, IPC Compliance Legislation has been updated after the 2015 version. The legislation is based on the Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing Fees) Regulations 1994. It got passed by Richard Bruton, TD and former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. In the updated legislation, Richard Bruton takes the onus of deleting the definition of “environmental impact statement” and replacing it with the new definition of environmental impact assessment employing an environmental impact assessment report.

 For prioritising on-site assessment reports, pipeline integrity inspections are frequently required by site environmental licences for IED, IPC, and Waste Licences. Stormwater and foul water (i.e. household effluent) lines must be tested as well for assessing pipeline integrity under several of these licences in Ireland.

 


The Use of High-Tech Computerised Pipeline Testing for Diverse Environmental Compliance Parameters

 

 Pipeline Integrity Tests are carried out under qualified and licensed Underground Survey engineers. The survey reveals the following data about the health of the pipeline:

 

●      The integrity of connecting lines and joints

●      Assessing any cross-contamination between wastewater sewage and stormwater drainage systems

●      Assess if any effluent fluids from the pipelines leaking out and contaminating the surrounding area

●      Any other leaks, faults or anomalies that may be present.

 

The core technology and methods used to perform Pipeline Integrity testing include Hydrostatic testing, Air Pressure Testing and CCTV surveys.

Nowadays, mainstream survey engineers use computerised equipment to administer Air/Water Pressure tests to discover any leaks or anomalies inside pipelines. The reports produced by these assessments are mainly based on software-generated data that make it possible to attain more accurate and streamlined remediation where needed.

CCTV inspections, on the other hand, show live footage of the inaccessible locations inside pipelines and reveal up-close images of anomalies and their nature. Many times, site owners choose CCTV inspections alone to apply for IPC compliance but it has a greater chance of rejection since CCTV surveys only report for aesthetic or visible flaws, it does not fully verify the integrity of the pipeline, and how tolerant it is to water and further corrosion. Therefore a combination of air pressure or hydrostatic test is the standard to get a full-range report that will make compliance easier.

It is highly recommended that site owners consult Underground Survey engineers about core attributes of Pipeline Testing in Ireland for IPC compliance. There are moments when the guidelines provided by the EPA regulators might seem confusing. So having someone to make sure that all the required parameters are met comprehensively, cost-effectively and cohesively, is the best solution.

Location: Wicklow, Ireland

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