Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 March 2015
265. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an outline of the many different types of waste water treatment systems in use that are approved by local authorities to meet current waste water standards nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10919/15]
View answerThe Building Regulations set out the legal requirements for the design and construction of buildings, including dwellings. Compliance with the Regulations is the responsibility of the owner or builder of a building or works.
Part H of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 to 2014 sets out the requirements for the disposal of foul and surface water. The related Technical Guidance Document (TGD H 2010) provides guidance on how these requirements can be achieved in practice.
In relation to the use of septic tanks, in particular, TGD H states that “Septic Tanks must conform to I.S. EN 12566 Part 1 or 4 including their national annexes and comply with the EPA Code of Practice - Section 7”. The relevant national annexes are published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland and set out clearly the performance requirements for septic tanks when used in Ireland. TGD H also states that the design, installation and commissioning of wastewater treatment systems should be carried out and/or supervised by a suitably qualified person.
Public procurement and competition law preclude public bodies from advising or promoting the use of specific branded products or systems. Building Regulations and product standards, in this case I.S.EN 12566, typically set out the requirements in terms of performance standards which can be satisfied typically by a range of products or systems. The suitably qualified person required to oversee the design, installation and commissioning of wastewater systems will be best placed to advise on the most appropriate solution in a given set of circumstances.
