Over 65% of septic tanks inspected by local authorities in the Shannonside region last year failed due to operational or structural defects.
New figures from the environmental protection agency also show Roscommon was the worst county nationally for fixing defects
Domestic waste water treatment systems are used by householders to treat sewage with the vast majority being septic tanks Under the National Inspection Plan, local authorities are required to conduct a set amount of inspections on these systems per year. A total of 35 inspections were carried out in Longford, Leitrim, and Roscommon in 2022, with all councils matching or exceeding their targets. Roscommon authorities carried out 13 inspections, while Leitrim carried out 14, and Longford 8. According to the latest EPA report, Roscommon had the 3rd highest failure rate nationally at 69%. It also shows that just 53% of defects found by inspectors in the county were actually fixed, the lowest number nationwide.
Leitrim had the 2nd highest amount of inspection failures nationally at 71% and only 57% of these failures were reported as being rectified.
While in Longford, 63% of septic tanks inspected failed, but 89% were reported as fixed, the 8th best nationally.
The highest failure rate belongs to Waterford at 75%, while Cork City reported a fail rate of 0%
Senior manager at the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement, Jim Moriarty says local authorities, particularly Leitrim and Roscommon, need to follow through on advisory notices.
"The failure rate is roughly the same in Roscommon and Leitrim as it is elswhere in the country. The problem as we see it in these 2 areas is a reluctance to follow through on advisory notices that are being issued. The inspections are being done, faults are being found, and notices are being issued, and it's the householders responsibility to comply. We're calling on those 4 local authorities (Roscommon, Leitrim, Waterford, and Tipperary) to use their powers that are there to engage with householders".
