CONSULTATION Deadline 3rd March- Review of first year of National Inspection Plan for septic tanks shows that almost half of household septic tanks fail inspection.

3rd February 2015:

The EPA today released a review of the implementation of the National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2013, for the period 1st July 2013 – 30th June 2014. The National Inspection Plan is being implemented by local authorities under the supervision of the EPA.

The review of the period 1st July 2013 to 30th June 2014 found that: • 987 inspections were carried out by local authority inspectors. • 52 per cent of domestic waste water treatment systems passed inspection. • More than half the failures were due to lack of de-sludging. • 79 per cent of the inspected systems are now compliant with the regulations, following remediation work by householders. • Advice to assist householders in maintaining their domestic waste water treatment systems is available through local authority leaflets and websites. Extensive information for homeowners is also available on the EPA website.

The EPA now invites submissions on the proposals for the next Plan, which is proposed to cover the period 2015-2017. These proposals are contained in Chapter 6 of the review report published today.

Interested parties 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.

The report National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems: A Review of the Period 1st July 2013 – 30th June 2014 & Consultation on Proposals for 2015-2017 is available now on the EPA website.