Bushmills Distillery – Groundwater Resource Assessment
Client: Bushmills Distillery
Location: Bushmills, Co. Antrim
Project period: 2023
Commission:
Bushmills Distillery, one of Ireland’s most historic whiskey producers, required a secure and sustainable groundwater supply to support ongoing production and planned expansion. The objective was to assess the local aquifer system and confirm whether sufficient groundwater quantity and quality were available to support an abstraction licence for 1,000–15,000 m³/day.
Our Findings:
- Hydrogeological assessment confirmed a productive local aquifer system.
- Through interpretation of results, we identified the preferred borehole which achieved sustained yield ≈ 18 m³/hour (≈ 432 m³/day) with rapid recovery and stable drawdown.
- We undertook Groundwater chemical and microbiological quality analysis; which determined minimal treatment required.
Value delivered:
- Early hydrogeological desktop analysis aided efficient site selection.
- High-quality data logging and observation wells critical for aquifer response assessment.
- Multi-well testing provides robust basis for abstraction design.
The work that was undertaken by McCloy Consulting demonstrated a robust evidence base for abstraction licence, confirming sustainable local groundwater source and supporting long-term production resilience.
Our work supported continued and increased whiskey production and demonstrating a commitment to responsible resource management.
If you require a Contaminated Land Risk Assessment / Geoenvironmental report that requires a Groundwater resource assessment/ Hydrogeological assessment to supplement a planning application, please get in touch with Erin Galbraith for advice.