AN INSPECTION BY Cork County Council’s Environment Directorate has found more than half of septic tanks and waste water treatment systems inspected are deficient.
Out of the 125 inspections that have so far been completed 55% were found to be non-compliant. The most common issue with the systems was that they had not been de-sludged regularly enough.
De-sludging is the process of draining and cleaning a septic tank.
The inspection took place across Co Cork and priority for inspections was given to areas where water quality was most at risk of pollution from on-site water treatment systems.
These considerations about the locations of inspections specifically related to sources of drinking water.
Owners of the systems were notified that the inspections were going to take place 10 working days in advance.
Grants are available to those needing to carry out work on domestic waste water treatment systems where the work arose subsequent to an inspection.
Although not legally required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that septic tanks are emptied at least once a year.
In 2012 Ireland was fined €2 million by the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with septic tank regulation.
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