WATER SERVICES NATIONAL TRAINING GROUP 2010 CONFERENCE WASTE WATER TREATMENT & DISPOSAL SYSTEMS FOR SINGLE HOUSES A NEW AUTHORISATION REGIME HOW IT MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED? 9 TH SEPTEMBER 2010 JACK KEYES, COUNTY MANAGER CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL

3 MESSAGES HUGE ISSUE – 1.2M PEOPLE (2002) – 418,000 HOUSES (28.6% OF HOUSING STOCK) HUGE ISSUE – 1.2M PEOPLE (2002) – 418,000 HOUSES (28.6% OF HOUSING STOCK) COMING UNDER INCREASED EU/ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY COMING UNDER INCREASED EU/ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY NEED FOR IMMEDIATE/PLANNED ACTION NEED FOR IMMEDIATE/PLANNED ACTION

BACKGROUND CAVAN CAVAN  Drumlins and Lakes (365 no.)  Intensive farming 1970’s  Deterioration in surface water quality  Substantial resources input by Cavan County Council  On-site wastewater treatment systems (OSWTS) a source of pollution

WHAT HAPPENED? Survey Survey - 11,000 OSWTS in County (usually - 11,000 OSWTS in County (usually septic tanks) septic tanks) - 30% not operating properly - 30% not operating properly - threat to public health and water quality - threat to public health and water quality Introduction of bye laws – SPC agreed 2004 Introduction of bye laws – SPC agreed 2004

LEGISLATION Planning & Development Act 2000 – New Tanks Planning & Development Act 2000 – New Tanks Water Pollution Act Section 12 – malfunctioning tanks Water Pollution Act Section 12 – malfunctioning tanks New Bye Laws (CCC) New Bye Laws (CCC) - each house to have satisfactory WWTS - each WWTS to be assessed by competent person and defects made competent person and defects made good good - new WWTS to comply with relevant standards standards - Regular maintenance and inspection Elected Members – courageous endorsement Elected Members – courageous endorsement

PROGRESS Panel of approved assessors Panel of approved assessors Use of media/information packs Use of media/information packs 3200 assessed (25% failure rate) 3200 assessed (25% failure rate) No legal proceedings to date – SPC review No legal proceedings to date – SPC review Guideline cost of remediation €2500 Guideline cost of remediation €2500

OTHER RECENT STUDIES Western River Basin District (WRBD) Western River Basin District (WRBD) Dundalk Institute of Technology/NRWMC Dundalk Institute of Technology/NRWMC TCD TCD EPA – Strive Study EPA – Strive Study Others Others

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Joint Oireachtas Committee – need for strategy & action Joint Oireachtas Committee – need for strategy & action ECJ Judgement – October 2009 ECJ Judgement – October Ireland, except Cavan has failed in its obligations under Articles 4 & 8 obligations under Articles 4 & 8 - Adverse affects on environment - Adverse affects on environment - need for legislation and authorisation regime - need for legislation and authorisation regime  Renewed Programme for Government – licensing and inspection system Work of Task Force on Septic Tanks – DEHLG Leadership, EPA and Local Authority Membership Work of Task Force on Septic Tanks – DEHLG Leadership, EPA and Local Authority Membership EPA Code of Practice for new systems EPA Code of Practice for new systems

RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGE Options - BER type system Options - BER type system - Licensing system - NCT type system Cost- polluter pays Cost- polluter pays - local government/central government fund scarcity - local government/central government fund scarcity - registration - registration - fee from each household/grant from Central Government Process - panel of independent assessors (by WSA?) Process - panel of independent assessors (by WSA?) - initial registration fee and annual fee from each - initial registration fee and annual fee from each - The inspection – how stringent - Assessors? - Assessors? - Training - Training - certificate of compliance for x years - Risk based approach - rating of non-compliance (standards to be agreed) - rating of non-compliance (standards to be agreed) - period to put right - period to put right - Period for inspection to happen - performance of assessors to be monitored

THE DATA DILEMMA Need for a register of property ownership – OSTS/domestic water metering Need for a register of property ownership – OSTS/domestic water metering Change in legislation Change in legislation Self-registration the answer NPPR lessons? Self-registration the answer NPPR lessons?

WAYS TO PROGRESS  Strategic Plan/Government sign off Legislation/central regulation/national approaches Legislation/central regulation/national approaches Regional/local responses Regional/local responses WSTG asked by DEHLG to develop a training programme WSTG asked by DEHLG to develop a training programme Full cost recovery from owner(?) Full cost recovery from owner(?) Pilot Project(?) Pilot Project(?) GIS Based Register – Data Access GIS Based Register – Data Access Consultation Consultation Education – desludging, chemicals etc. Education – desludging, chemicals etc. PR Campaign PR Campaign