Water Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2022

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

Ceisteanna (74)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

74. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the risk to public health caused by blockages on private drains which are no longer addressed as an environmental health hazard by the environmental health officers attached to the HSE, and which are not addressed by the councils or by Irish Water; and his views on whether this lacuna should be addressed by giving local authorities the power to serve a notice on all the houses connected to a blockage informing them that they have an obligation to address a potential public health hazard. [62769/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 requires the occupier or owner of a premises to keep all drains, manholes, gully traps and storage and treatment systems (which are not in the charge of a water services provider) serving the premises in such condition as not to cause a risk to human health or the environment or a nuisance through odours. Irish Water, as the water services authority, or any person affected by a failure of a third party may complain to the District Court in relation to a breach of the duty of care under section 70 once they have notified the third party in advance of their intention to make such a complaint. A prescribed form of notice of such complaint is available for general use under S.I. No. 141 of 2009.

In addition, local authorities have been given appropriate powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement under the Water Services Act 2007 and under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990 in respect of privately-owned onsite domestic waste water treatment systems in order to protect water quality, public health and the environment from risks posed by failures in such systems.