Latest news with #septicTanks
CNN
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Low-income Alabamians forced to rig PVC pipes to deal with human waste
Rural Alabama families have been plagued by severe sewage problems for generations. For some families, their sole option has been to rig PVC pipes to help lead human wastewater away from their homes, a practice called 'straight piping.' A Biden-era program set aside millions of dollars to help families install new septic tanks. Last month, the Trump Administration killed the program calling it 'illegal DEI.' CNN's Isabel Rosales reports.
CNN
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Low-income Alabamians forced to rig PVC pipes to deal with human waste
Rural Alabama families have been plagued by severe sewage problems for generations. For some families, their sole option has been to rig PVC pipes to help lead human wastewater away from their homes, a practice called 'straight piping.' A Biden-era program set aside millions of dollars to help families install new septic tanks. Last month, the Trump Administration killed the program calling it 'illegal DEI.' CNN's Isabel Rosales reports.
CNN
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Low-income Alabamians forced to rig PVC pipes to deal with human waste
Rural Alabama families have been plagued by severe sewage problems for generations. For some families, their sole option has been to rig PVC pipes to help lead human wastewater away from their homes, a practice called 'straight piping.' A Biden-era program set aside millions of dollars to help families install new septic tanks. Last month, the Trump Administration killed the program calling it 'illegal DEI.' CNN's Isabel Rosales reports.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
What's going on with Ireland's failing septic tanks?
For too long Ireland has had a poor record in making sure septic tanks operate properly and don't pollute their environs. This is not an isolated problem with holiday homes in remote places: Domestic wastewater treatment systems, mostly in the form of septic tanks, are attached to almost 500,000 properties, mainly in rural areas. They are installed where connection to the public sewage system is not possible. The problem has been highlighted yet again by the Environmental Protection Agency. More than half of 1,400 domestic septic tanks inspected by local authorities last year failed to meet the required standard. How is human health and the environment threatened? Faulty systems can contaminate household drinking water wells with harmful bacteria and viruses. Ireland has the highest incidence of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in Europe and a substantial proportion of cases have been linked to contaminated private drinking water supplies. Excessive releases of nitrogen and phosphorus from faulty systems can cause pollution in receiving waters. Domestic wastewater is identified as a significant pressure on water quality in 148 (9 per cent) at-risk water bodies in Ireland. READ MORE Why is the problem persisting? Too many septic tanks are not built or maintained properly, with more than half posing a risk to human health and the environment. Tanks not being desludged, discharges of effluent into ditches or streams, leaks and 'effluent ponding' in gardens were the most common faults. The other problem is a lack of consistency across local authorities who are required to carry out inspections and enforcement under the EPA's national inspection plan. Some meet inspection requirements consistently and bring legal proceedings against the worst offenders, but many do not. Of most concern is high failure rate where inspections are carried out. The worst areas are in Laois, Westmeath, Roscommon, Kildare, Leitrim, Offaly and Wexford. The number of advisory notices (on what must be done to rectify issues) open more than two years has decreased for the first time, from 576 at the end of 2023 to 523 at the end of 2024 – the only good news. How can the problem be solved? The Green Party has suggested free well-water testing should be made available for rural households. According to Senator Malcolm Noonan, this would ensure householders know what risk to their health was coming from their taps and in turn create a culture of urgency to fix faulty septic tanks. Half a million people living in rural areas rely on private domestic wells for their drinking water. The EPA recommends these supplies are tested once a year – at a cost in excess of €200. So a significant ramp-up in inspections, enforcement, free well-water testing and consistency across all local authorities are required.
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Over half of septic tanks failed inspections in 2024
Over half of septic tank inspections failed in 2024, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Local authorities completed 1,390 septic tank inspections in 2024, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks. Advertisement Over half (56 per cent) of septic tanks failed inspection. "It is critically important that householders maintain their septic tanks as such failures have the potential to be a risk to their family's health and the environment," the EPA said. Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that 82 per cent of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed, up from 75 per cent at the end of 2021. Advertisement The number of advisory notices open more than two years decreased for the first time, from 576 at the end of 2023 to 523 at the end of 2024. 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.' The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. There were 265 grants awarded in 2024, totalling nearly €2.5 million, up from 194 grants in 2023.
