Anger grows as septic tank inspections are finally underway

Opponents of the controversial septic tank registration scheme have claimed that it is ludicrous to blame one-off rural households for pollution around towns such as An Spideal and An Cheathru Rua as staff members from Galway County Council begin a programme of inspections this week.

The scheme to inspect septic tanks across the county began when staff members from the local authority began calling on households in the South Connemara area over the past few days.

The staff members have received specialised training to examine tanks at rural houses and make sure they comply with the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Regulations which came into effect earlier this year.

They have set a target of inspecting a minimum of 98 domestic waste water schemes by July of next year and will provide details of grants of up to €4,000 to householders who fail the inspections but registered for the scheme prior to February 1 last.

A hardcore of 9% of septic tank owners in Co Galway have refused to register for the scheme which was vehemently opposed by groups such as Galway-based Glor na Tuaithe, who have described it as a tax on people living in rural Ireland.

A spokesperson for Galway County Council told the Connacht Tribune yesterday that initial inspections would be carried out in the area around An Spideal, where the main town beach lost its Blue Flag designation as a result of water pollution last year.

“We are looking at a particular catchment area where there are issues and we started in Spiddal, where we lost the Blue Flag,” said the spokesperson.

“We notified people of the inspections two weeks ago and, prior to that, we ran a series of awareness evenings throughout the county. We will notify people ten days in advance of an inspection.”

The spokesperson pointed out that grants will be available to those who fail the inspections, provided they registered by February 1 last for a nominal €5 fee.

She said the intention was to focus on “high risk areas” close to drinking water sources and bathing areas, while educating the public is also set to become an important role of the new inspectors.

Glor na Tuaithe spokesman Padraig A’Tailliura O Conghaile said he had to laugh when he heard that septic tanks were now being blamed for pollution at An Spideal, when all of the sewage from the town goes directly, and untreated, into the sea.

“Any donkey would know why they lost the Blue Flag status, because the town’s sewage is going directly out there,” said Mr O Conghaile. “All of the area around An Spideal is connected to the public sewer and it’s the same around An Cheathru Rua.

“Untreated, it’s going straight from the village out into the sea. Septic tanks have nothing to do with it. If the septic tanks are to blame for pollution, then the council is at fault for giving permission for them in the first place. Our fight is not over against what we believe is a tax on people living in rural Ireland.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.