I propose to take Questions Nos . 371 to 376, inclusive, and 381 together.
The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems to operate and maintain their systems so as to ensure that those systems do not create a risk to human health or the environment. Domestic waste water treatment systems are defined in the Act and include all drains associated with the discharge of domestic waste water, whether or not they discharge to a septic tank or waste water tank. Irrespective of the age or type of system in place, if there is no evidence of risk to human health or the environment, no action will be necessary.
The Act also assigns responsibility to the Environmental Protection Agency to make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was published by the EPA in February 2013. Details of the minimum number of inspections for each county are included in the Plan. It is the responsibility of the water services authorities to implement the Inspection Plan in their functional areas. There will be no charge for inspections.
The Local Authority Services National Training Group, in consultation with my Department, the EPA and the water services authorities, has overseen the development and delivery of a training course for the local authority officials who will carry out inspections under the 2012 Act. The EPA is responsible for appointing as inspectors the officials who have satisfactorily completed the training course and meet other qualification criteria regarding professional or technical qualifications and indemnity insurance cover.
Inspections will be objective, evidence-based and aimed at identifying systems which are a risk to public health or the environment. There is no question of applying new standards, for example those of the EPA’s 2009 Code of Practice, to older on-site systems, nor is there any question of a householder being directed to acquire additional land to facilitate remediation works. Where an inspection reveals a problem with a domestic waste water treatment system, issues such as existing site size, hydrological and geological conditions etc. will be considered so as to identify the most appropriate, pragmatic and cost-effective remediation works required. With regard to the grants scheme for remediation of domestic waste water treatment systems, I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 175 and 176 of 3 July 2013 which sets out the position.