According to data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than half of septic tank systems inspections last year failed because of operational issues such as de-sludging and structural defects. Authorities did the investigations under Ireland’s National Inspection Plan, and it has been established that the failure rate has remained high ever since the scheme’s introduction as far back as 2013.
The EPA’s Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections 2021 report shows that that local authorities completed 1,127 inspections Of these 604 did not pass. Alarmingly, 29% of the systems were regarded as a risk to human health or the environment. Those that failed inspection received advisory notices requiring them to fix their system.
The director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement Dr. Tom Ryan comments that: “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. Where problems are detected, householders need to take the necessary steps to fix their septic tanks.”
A new National Inspection Plan for 2022 – 2026 has been published. This will increase the number of inspections from 1,000 to 1,200 and ensure that all domestic water treatment inspections failures are followed up, including prosecution where necessary.
The plan allocates more inspections to areas of the country identified as higher risk, where there may be multiple rivers near densely populated communities and shallow soils.