Vol. 509 No. 6
405 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to regularise the usage of septic tanks and to establish a national standard and technical specification regarding these installations along with a certification of suitability (details supplied). [21155/99]
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 581, 591 and 616 of 29 September 1999.
Septic tanks installed on or after 1 June 1992 must comply with Part H of the national building regulations 1997, made under the Building Control Act 1990. The relevant technical guidance document H – Drainage and Waste Water Disposal – calls up the following standards: (1) Septic tanks serving single houses: Irish standard recommendation SR 6 of 1991, formulated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland; (2)Septic tanks serving groups of houses: British Standard B.S. of 6297: 1983, formulated by British Standards Institution.
The updating of the above standards, and certification of septic tanks to specified national standards, are primarily matters for the relevant standards institutions.
However, I understand that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, will by the end of the year, issue two new manuals dealing with the design and construction of septic tanks. When the EPA manuals are issued, my Department will issue an amendment to technical guidance document H calling up the EPA manuals.
