Just over half of septic tanks in Donegal failed inspection last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Donegal County Council carried out 77 inspections last year, however, there was a failure rate of 51%. Nationally, 56% of tanks failed inspection.
These were targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
According to the EPA report, 399 systems in Donegal failed between from 2013 to 2024. Of these, 82% of these have been fixed.
Meanwhile, the EPA also revealed Donegal County Council was one of four local authorities that did not complete their full 2024 allocations and are required to make these up in 2025.
The council was required to carry out 107 inspections in Donegal last year, but only 77 of these were completed.
The EPA ‘may’ issue a legal direction to local authorities in the event inspection shortfalls are not addressed.
Commenting on the report, Dr Micheál Lehane, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said: “The reduction in the number of old advisory notices (over two years) is to be welcomed, however, the number not resolved remains unacceptably high, allowing risks to public health and the environment to continue. Greater and sustained enforcement effort is needed by local authorities during their annual septic tank inspections, checking that faulty septic tanks are fixed and taking legal action where necessary.”
In 2023, grants for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems will be increased to €12,000 from the old figure of just €5,000.
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