Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects to publish the standards of compliance for septic tanks that will be required to comply with the Water Services Bill 2011. [7110/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 sets out the duties for owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems including septic tanks. The Act requires an owner of such a system to ensure that it does not constitute, or is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment and, in particular, that it does not create a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals, create a nuisance through noise or odours, or adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

I intend to carry out a public consultation on draft performance standards for domestic wastewater treatment systems which are being finalised by my Department in consultation with the EPA. These standards will also include the minimum requirements for the maintenance and de-sludging of treatment systems. Full details of the draft standards and the consultation process will be publicised in the coming weeks.