Faulty septic tanks can contaminate drinking water wells yet 533 Irish homeowners notified theirs failed inspection, have not fixed them.
The “unacceptable” figure was revealed by the Environmental Protection Agency in its latest report on the largely rural sewage systems.
The EPA inspected 1,147 septic tanks in 2021. Over half (53%) of them failed with 29% considered a threat to human health and the environment.
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Three quarters have since been repaired with the EPA saying its main concern is the delay in resolving older failures. They say over half of the 533 not fixed in the past two years are discharging sewage into gardens, ditches and streams. That’s despite the availability of €5,000 grants to help with repairs.
Director of the EPA’s Office on Environmental Enforcement, Dr Tom Ryan said: “If you do not maintain your septic tank, it can contaminate your own or your neighbour’s drinking water well, or your local stream, putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours.”
Local authorities issue advisory notices to householders outlining what they need to do to fix failed tanks. Yet in 533 cases, the issues raised have still not bee addressed.
EPA Programme Manager Noel Byrne: “It is unacceptable that over 500 failed septic tanks are not fixed more than two years after inspection.
“Over half of these involve sewage ponding in gardens and discharging to ditches and streams, which cannot be allowed to continue.
“Local authorities must increase their enforcement effort to ensure failed systems are fixed.”
Septic tank inspection will increase from 1,000 a year to 1,200 from 2023, with a focus placed on those near rivers and areas with shallow soils where there is greater risk to household wells.
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