The National Inspection Plan which was published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2013, requires Leitrim County Council to carry out a minimum of 28 inspections before the end of 2016. The inspections will be carried out according to the risk based assessment developed by the EPA. The risk assessment based methodology was used to determine the potential risk posed by Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) country-wide. Areas with DWWTS that pose the highest risk to human health and the environment will be inspected first.
Inspections in Leitrim will be commencing in the coming weeks in the following areas and householders will be contacted by Leitrim County Council in ADVANCE of an inspection being carried out. If you are NOT contacted by an Authorised Environmental Inspection Officer then no inspection will be carried out on the treatment system on this occasion.
Carrick on Shannon Municipal District Area
Ballinamore Municipal District Area
Manorhamilton Municipal District Area
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.
The property owner may be requested, as part of the inspection process, to engage a contractor with a permit issued under the Waste Management Act, to de-sludge the septic tank/treatment systems. It is an offence to transfer this waste to an unpermitted individual or contractor. A list of permitted contractors is available from the National Waste Collection Permit Office on their web site www.nwcpo.ie. Alternatively you can contact Offaly County Council, who operates this service at 0579357428, to discuss the availability of approved contractors in your area.
This inspection system will be of huge benefit to householders, their families and neighbours as it will address any risk to public health and the environment caused by malfunctioning systems. Ensuring clean and safe water will have a positive impact on local tourism, agricultural and food producing sectors.
There are three Information Leaflets available from Leitrim County Council Offices and Libraries and online at www.leitrimcoco.ie and www.protectourwater.ie
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SEPTIC TANK.pdf (size 1 MB) |
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION.pdf (size 1.8 MB)
IS YOUR WELL AT RISK FROM YOUR SEPTIC TANK.pdf (size 1.1 MB)
Further information is available from Leitrim County Council, Environment Section, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon or telephone 1890 205 205