Septic tank charge could cost us dear

Rural households across the country are up in arms over the new septic tank regulations that the Department of the Environment is set to introduce, in its Water Services Bill.But, warns Mullingar engineer, John Brennan, the Irish state has no option but to put an inspection system into place.If not, he explains, it could cost the country €26,000 per day in fines to Europe.Along with that, the country would have no guarantee that leaking septic tanks were not causing problems to the country's groundwater system.However, he adds, septic tanks - even the older ones - can, and usually do, work highly efficiently.John, who is a chartered engineer and director with the firm of ORS Consulting Engineers in Mullingar, explains that in October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland was not fulfilling its obligations with regards to the disposal of treated effluent to ground water.If the issue is not addressed, the country is facing possible fines of €2.7m, and an additional €26,000 a day - which amounts to €9.5m yearly, he says."The public will have the chance to make submissions on this issue to the Department of the Environment in the near future and anyone with views on the subject should take this opportunity to have their voice heard," says JohnSeptic tanks are most commonly found around one-off houses in the Irish countryside.More in this week's paper.