53% Of Household Septic Tanks Fail First Inspection

53 per cent of household septic tanks inspected by Local Authorities have failed first inspection, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Many of the failures could have been avoided by householders taking simple steps to maintain their treatment systems.

The EPA released an interim review of progress in implementing the National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2013. The National Inspection Plan is being implemented by Local Authorities under the supervision of the EPA.

Gerard O'Leary, Director, EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: "Since the publication of the National Inspection Plan, the EPA has appointed almost 100 inspectors, who are engaged in inspecting treatment systems across the country. The first year of the national inspection plan for septic tanks is about setting up a new inspection regime and providing information to householders about how to maintain, and rectify simple problems with, their treatment systems. The inspections will now become a routine part of local authorities’'work."

The EPA will review the Plan again after July 2014. This review will include an assessment of the information gathered from the inspections and the response to the awareness raising campaign.

(CD/IT)