MCERTS & EPR Installation Services

MCERTS - The Environment Agency's Self-Monitoring Certification Scheme

MCERTS is the Environment Agency's Self-Monitoring Certification Scheme. Its purpose is to provide a framework to ensure that environmental measurements are set to a certain standard. Any flow greater than 50 cubic metres per day must be monitored with MCERTS accredited technology - with a target measurement uncertainty of 8 per cent of total daily volume at 95 per cent confidence level. MCERTS is operated by Sira Certification Service (SCS) on behalf of the Environmental Agency. The main focus of MCERTS is the Environment Agency's requirements for consent holders under the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA '91) to measure the flow of sewage or trade effluent to controlled waters and collect and report the monitoring data. This may also have similar applications for permits issued under Integrated Pollution Control, Pollution Prevention and Control and Radioactive Substances Act 1993 or '91 abstraction licences.

As an independent environmental measurement consultancy, RS Hydro can help you or your company to find the best flow monitoring equipment for your needs. Our field engineers have experience across all kinds of applications and will be able to apply their practical knowledge to recommend a total solution. We stock a number of MCERTS accredited flow meters and can help you to obtain the most accurate measurements possible via optimum installations. Please contact us on +44 (0) 1527 882060 or info@rshydro.co.uk.

INTEGRATED POLLUTION PREVENTION & CONTROL

Also known as IPPC, Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control signifies a commitment to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment. It is a real demonstration of the political recognition of the link between environment and health. For a long time this area has been neglected, and companies or even countries have continued to fail to meet international standards and conventions; often in favour of employment opportunities, lack of awareness or lack of enforcement. The IPPC was introduced in 1996 as part of the EU Directive 96/61/EC. The key aims are to minimise "routine" and "accidental" pollutant discharges, to the air water and land via the introduction of environmental permitting. The EU has set common rules in order to create a level playing field for all industries and regulators. The overall aims of the IPPC are therefore to introduce an integrated approach to pollution control across England and Wales, with a wider view of permitting, and a focus on the protection of human health. The objective is to have achieved this across all installations by October 2007.

The IPPC names three categories for installations, distinguishable by the amount of pollution they emit and often by production capacity:

• Category A (1) controls the potentially more polluting, larger installations' emissions to air, land and water. A (1) installations are regulated by the Environment Agency.
• Category A (2) covers smaller installations' emissions to air, land and water. These have a lesser potential to pollute and are regulated by Local Authorities.
• Category B installations have limited potential for pollution, and are also regulated by the Local Authorities.

Regardless of which category the installation belongs to, each must apply for a permit. Without a permit, the installation cannot legally operate. In order for the regulator to grant this permit, the applicant must take the necessary steps in order to meet the following criteria and to ensure:

• All appropriate preventative measures are taken against pollution, in particular through application of BAT (Best Available Technique).
• Waste is avoided, or at least recovered when produced.
• Energy must be used efficiently
• Measures are in place to avoid accidents and injury

 After a permit has been granted, the operator must monitor effectiveness and it is their duty to provide the regulator with sufficient data to check compliance and effectiveness. Such findings must be made available to the public. RS Hydro can help with IPPC permitting by conducting flow surveys to establish water usage or flow rates. Please contact us on +44 (0) 1527 882060 orinfo@rshydro.co.uk for more information.