Clane-Maynooth Municipal District Meeting, Friday, 3 September 2021
Councillor Pádraig McEvoy
Question
Can the council confirm what are the general rates of compliance with the appropriate operation, maintenance and desludging of private domestic wastewater treatment systems, as inspected under the National Inspection Plan in support of efforts to protect the receiving waters, the environment and public health?
Agenda Report
The EPA is responsible for the development of the National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) and for the co-ordination and reporting on the implementation of the plan by the Local Authorities. Local Authorities are responsible for the implementation of the National Inspection Plan at a local level which involves the carrying out of risk-based inspections. Kildare County Council, in accordance with the National Inspection Plan, is required to carry out a minimum of 34 inspections per annum. The National Inspection Plan is running since mid-2013 and to date 292 inspections have been carried out in Kildare. The number of compliant DWWTS was 191 (65%) while the number of non-compliant was 101 (35%). The rates of compliance can vary from year to year as illustrated in the following table. The compliance rates in Kildare are broadly in line with those at a national level.
Year | Non-Compiant |
2021 | 45% |
2020 | 53% |
2019 | 42% |
2018 | 26% |
2017 | 56% |
2016 | 27% |
2015 | 17% |
2014 | 12% |
2013 | 33% |
The reasons for DWWTS failures fall into two categories.
De-sludging and maintenance failures (55%);
Structural defects causing illegal discharges to ditches/streams, leaks, ponding, and rainwater ingress (45%).
Issued by: Mr C Flynn, A/Senior Engineer, Environment and Water Services Department.
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