Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government noting the statement in the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 information leaflet that there is no question of applying the EPA's 2009 code of practice to older on-site systems, if he will explain the way the requirements of the EU legislation in relation to quality of ground water are to be met. [38946/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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During the debates on the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 I stated on a number of occasions that there is no question of applying the EPA’s 2009 Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment for Single Houses to older houses. The 2012 Act specifies that the basic standard for treatment systems is that they do not create a risk to public health or the environment. The Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 set out in more detail the required performance standards, including the maintenance and de-sludging of on-site systems.