Vol. 455 No. 1
82 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he intends to take to curb the estimated daily discharge of 50 million gallons of untreated or semi-treated sewage effluent from septic tanks which is causing widespread inland pollution and in many cases is contaminating ground water in view of his commitment to comply with the EU requirement to cease discharging untreated sewage effluent into our coastal waters. [11619/95]
Specific EU requirements for waste water treatment do not apply to discharges below 2,000 population equivalent. Discharges from septic tanks and other smaller sources are governed mainly by the general pollution control provisions of the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990. It is for the local authorities concerned, subject to any guidance or direction from the Environmental Protection Agency, to instigate enforcement and-or remedial action in relation to any pollution or potential pollution from these sources.
My Department has issued extensive guidance to local authorities and the public about the location, performance standards and management of septic tanks. This advice includes a leaflet entitled Private Water Supplies: Focus on Quality as well as circular letters to local authorities on the regulation of septic tanks through the planning control system.
A revised standard recommendation for new domestic septic tank systems, SR 6: 1991, prepared by the National Standards Authority for Ireland, specifies stringent site test requirements and minimum distances between percolation areas and groundwater sources so as to avoid polluting groundwaters.
