KENNY SPEAKS IN DAIL ON WATER SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2011

Posted on December 1, 2011 10:38 AM   |   Permanent Link   

In relation to Water Services generally, I wish to make a number of points which I believe are critically important. There is an ongoing problem with water supply outages in the Portmarnock area of my Dublin North East constituency. The issue relates to the delay in construction of a new reservoir at Seamount, Malahide, which will serve Malahide, Portmarnock and Kinsealy. It should have been in place by now, but there is a long drawn out dispute over way leave. I would request if the Minister can ask if that dispute can be resolved and provide a timescale for completion.

Also it is reported in today's press that 150,000 homes in Dublin and Wicklow could be left without drinking water if an unstable 19th century water tunnel collapses, Dublin City Council has said. The Council are quoted as saying that the Vartry water tunnel "could suffer a partial or total collapse at any point in time". This could have a further knock-on effect in the Greater Dublin and Leinster and needs to be addressed urgently by government. Dublin City Council said it would not be in a position to build a replacement tunnel until 2013. This situation, therefore, needs to be addressed by government urgently The Water Services (Amendment) Bill is required by a European Court of Justice Decision ruling against Ireland in respect of treatment of waste waters from septic tanks. As a result of this case, Ireland faces a potential lump sum fine of €2.6million, as well as daily fines of €26,000 as non-compliance continues.

It is worth remembering that the previous government made commitments in relation to this issue. The Renewed Programme for Government, agreed between Fianna Fail and the Green Party in October 2009 stated "We will introduce a scheme for the licensing and inspection of septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems". Ireland is now facing the imposition of substantial penalties and fines from the European Court of Justice; the European Commission lodged an application to the Court for this purpose last July. We are in this situation due to the lack of priority given to the matter by the previous Government. This Government has acted decisively and without delay.

Poorly managed septic tanks can pollute the environment, with harmful substances such as e-coli and other substances. The new legislation is to enhance and protect public health and the environment which will, in turn, benefit rural dwellers in terms of a better quality of life and better quality water. In 2010 a HSE survey of private well quality in counties Sligo and Leitrim revealed a rate of 76% non-compliance with standards required under the Drinking Water Regulations 2007. Faecal contamination, particularly of ground waters, has previously been highlighted in a number of reports by the Environmental Protection Agency. Septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment plants, along with organic farm waste, have been identified as the most likely causes of E. Coli contamination.

The Bill sets out certain duties applying to householders with septic tanks, who would be obliged to register and ensure that their septic tanks do not pose a risk to the environment. Water services authorities are to maintain a register of the septic tank holders. On the sale of premises connected to domestic septic tanks, the Bill envisages that a Certificate of Registration must be produced, and the new owner must then notify the appropriate water services authority of the change in ownership.

Inspectors appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency are to carry out a regime of inspections and notify the relevant water services authority if there are breaches of any Regulations issued under the Water Services Act 2007, or if the septic tank poses any risk to the environment.

Inspections may give rise to householders being advised to improve the maintenance of their systems, or indeed upgrade or remediate the treatment system. The registration fee is likely to be around €50, to be paid every 5 years. The revenue from this registration fee will fund the inspection regime.