ALMOST HALF OF all household septic tanks failed inspections and more than half of those failures were due to people not de-sludging their tanks.

That’s according to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan.

Between July and June last year local authorities inspected 987 septic tanks and 48% (476) tanks failed the inspection.

Cork had the highest number of failures – 60 out of 99 septic tanks did not pass.

The aim of the inspections is to make sure the systems are properly maintained and do not pose a threat to human health.

Keep it clean people

Programme Manager of EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement David Flynn said:

There are simple steps that homeowners can take, have the sludge emptied from your tank on a regular basis using a permitted contractor, retain the receipt, and if you have a package treatment system it needs a regular scheduled service.

Following remediation works by householders – 79% of tanks around the country are now compliant with the regulations.

The EPA says it wants the current number of inspections maintained up to 2017.

Advice to help householders maintaining their domestic waste water treatment systems is available on the EPA website.

The EPA is also inviting submissions on proposals for the next Plan – which will cover the period 2015-2017.

Those interested can make submissions by emailing DWWTSInspections@epa.ie or by post to National Inspection Plan 2015-2017 Consultation, EPA, McCumiskey House, Richview, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14 to arrive no later than 3rd March 2015.