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MORE THAN HALF of septic tanks failed inspection in 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.
In their Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2020 report, released today, 443 (54%) septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly.
In total, 809 inspections were carried out.
23% of domestic water systems inspected were found to be a risk to human health or the environment, as “faulty systems can contaminate household wells and pollute rivers”, the EPA said in a press release.
Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said that households should ensure effluent from their septic tanks isn’t ponding in their garden, leaking into nearby streams or contaminating any drinking water wells.
“Householders should visually check their septic tank and get their well tested at least annually to satisfy themselves that their septic tank is not posing a risk to the health of their families, their neighbours and the environment,” he also said.
The Agency also said that three-quarters of systems that failed inspection since 2013 have been fixed. However, at the end of 2020, there were 468 cases that have been ongoing for more than two years.
“Local authorities should focus their efforts to resolve open cases to ensure human health and the environment are protected,” said Noel Byrne, EPA Project Manager.
A grant of €5,000 is available to help fix failing systems as part of a septic tank grant scheme.
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2020 the country is in lockdown and they managed to visit 800+ homes? BS
@Michael: why is it BS?
@Michael: hs??
@Michael: no wonder they were failing if they were filling them with bs they are only designed for humans
@Michael: They were supposed to visit 1000+ but the numbers were down due to Covid.
In 2019 they visited 1160.
@Michael: You know sceptic tanks are outside right, they’re not indoors, now those would definitely fail.
@patrick boland: horse or human?
@patrick boland: horses or humans
That grant of 5500 euro is virtually impossible to get. It gets thrown on there in to the ether with every mention of septic tanks but it is rarley if ever given out….
@Dsds: Why should there be one, to begin with?
@Contrary Mary: Exactly imagine getting a grant for a fitted kitchen.
That report is full of ….
I remember hearing from someone years ago who installs them after the site inspection, ‘just pass them, we need the money’. Says it all really.
It’s best to boil water when renting a holiday house. Dodgy water can spoil holiday
You will have issues on the closing of sale of your house if septic tank is faulty!
@Fiachra Pollard: No sh111t sherlock!
@Fiachra Pollard:Or getting planning or extending etc. Strange set up thou, grant only available in certain areas or if you fail assessment but you cant request an assessment. if they really wanted to upgrade the systems for public health reasons, in my opinion, they should allow people an opt in for assessment option. Its a little like hiding the speed camera van, then you catch people, but if the cameras are plonked out all over the place visible you encourage change.
@Sarah Louignore it they have no money will tax people instead :
Something stinks about this story.
@Joe Ivers:and it’s really getting up peoples noses
I was one of these people whose tank did not meet EPA guidelines. An independent check of the tank found it perfect with no leakage into the water table. To replace it with a new modern system cost 16,000 Euro!!. As far as a grant is concerned that’s a joke!!. It’s a money spinner…… I will leave it there.
@Ian D. Ryan: Sums it up really, your tank does not meet the guidelines, but we can sell you one for [insert price here]…. good old Ireland huh…
I thought this article was about Americans at first…
That’s all the shyte the government are talking whit the last year there blocking everything hahaha
Talk about immature ‘septic tank’ humour. 1000′s of people who have a serious issue like this are ridiculed. Sad
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