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2,000 homes on septic tank hitlist 15.03.12

Report: Inishowen Independent

MORE than 2,000 homes in south Inishowen will be targeted for early assessment under the forthcoming septic tank inspection regime.
The Irish Independent this week reported that the Environmental Protection Agency has developed a register of at-risk areas based on water quality and soil conditions, with homes in areas with the highest risk being targeted for inspection first.
More than 2,000 homes with septic tanks along the southern reaches of Lough Swilly, from Carrowen in Burt to Manorcunningham and Letterkenny are considered to pose a risk, as well as a further 1,000+ tanks from Drumfries to Bridgend, including Buncrana. They are among 35,000 at-risk tanks across the country that will be inspected in the first phase of examinations.
However, Newtown-based Fianna Fáil councillor Paul Canning questioned how the risk of pollution from septic tanks had been assessed.
“The very nature of the ground in which these supposedly at-risk tanks are located is good soil for the proper treatment of effluent,” Cllr Canning said. “This begs the question as to how this area was targeted.
“It may be based on certain water samples taken from the River Swilly that has effluent and grey water discharging into it from urban treatment systems every day.
“If that’s the case, Donegal County Council needs to get its own house in order first in terms of discharges from their urban plants before they target rural dwellers with septic tanks.”
Sinn Féin Buncrana town councillor Mary Kelly, who last year helped organise the collection of a petition opposing the septic tank charge, said the proposals discriminate against rural dwellers.
Urban dwellers have their sewage systems provided free of charge.
“Rural dwellers are expected to pay all the charges when they are building their house and then they are expected to pay for the upgrade in the septic tanks.”
She added: “I am finding that people are increasingly desperate and wondering where they are going to find the money from.
“More and more people are on the phone simply stating that they do not have the money to pay anymore and wondering what they can do.
“People do not need this added fear of having to pay for a new septic tank system.”
Councillor Kelly continued: “We also have not seen by what standards are these inspections going to be based.
“People need to know what they have to do to bring their system up to standard but this is not being made clear.
“This area is going to be hit hardest when these inspections start and we need to have answers to all the questions that have arisen.”
From later this year, owners of tanks will have to register their system at an initial cost of €5 for the past three months, and €50 thereafter.
A replacement tank can cost between €5,000 and €12,000, with the cost being borne by householders. Minister for Environment Phil Hogan is currently ruling out a grant scheme to help householders obliged to replace their septic tank.

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