John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Primary responsibility for the prevention of pollution from septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems rests with owners or occupiers of premises served by such systems. In its water quality 2004-06 report published in 2008, the EPA noted, inter alia, that greater attention needed to be given to ground water protection and in particular to prevention of pollution at source, including pollution from septic tanks. A number of measures have been taken or are under way in this area. These include strengthened legal provisions under the Water Services Act 2007 to require the occupier or owner of a premises to ensure that waste water from the premises does not cause nuisance or risk to human health or the environment; an updated code of practice for waste water treatment systems for single houses developed by the EPA which will incorporate the requirements of new European standards due to come into force on 1 July 2009; and a pilot waste water collection and treatment project for rural villages which has now been completed.

I am conscious of the need to address the findings of the EPA report on preventing pollution at source, including from septic tanks. The European Court of Justice is also due to rule in a case pertaining to the treatment of waste water from septic tanks in Ireland later this year.

The programme for Government includes a commitment in regard to a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrade of septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems. While my Department has been examining the conditions which might attach to such a scheme, the timeframe for pursuing this commitment will remain under ongoing active review, having regard to current budgetary constraints.

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