A total of 19,477 householders have registered their septic tanks in County Clare, new figures reveal.

The registration figure represents 98% of Clare properties with domestic wastewater treatment systems, which were listed in Census 2011.

Recently Mr Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced the provision of grant assistance for householders whose septic tanks are deemed to require remediation following inspection under the EPA's National Inspection Plan.

Mayor of Clare, Councillor Joe Arkins stated: "I would like to welcome the Government's decision to provide grant assistance for householders whose septic tanks are deemed to require remediation following inspection. The grant scheme will assist eligible homeowners in remediating their systems. I also welcome the signing of regulations providing exemptions from planning permission for works arising from an inspection under the National Inspection Plan."

-- Advertisement --

The grants scheme applies only where a domestic waste water treatment system fails an inspection carried out under the 2012 legislation, and where the treatment system had been registered by the due date of 1 February 2013.

Training of qualified local authority staff and their formal appointment as inspectors by the EPA is underway. The National Inspection Plan provides that a minimum of 1,000 inspections will take place nationally between now and July 2014.

As part of the inspection, treatment systems will be examined to ensure that they are not posing a risk to public health or the environment through leakage or discharges to the surface of the ground or into nearby ditches. There will also be checks to ensure that regulations regarding roof and surface water, as well as grey water, are complied with.

(CD/JP)