COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO 11.

A Living Place

Section: Housing

Paragraph 1.2.53, Domestic Effluent Disposal

Amend Paragraph 1.2.53 ‘Domestic Effluent Disposal’ to read as follows (additional text in bold, deleted text struck through):

1.2.53 Domestic Effluent Disposal

The Council acknowledges the availability of various proprietary wastewater treatment systems for the treatment of domestic effluent. Where such treatment systems are proposed, the Council will adjust the technical qualifying criteria pro-rata to the proven performance of these systems, subject to the Council being satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made to secure on-going long-term maintenance protocols suitable for such systems. The Council will require that satisfactory evidence be submitted regarding the necessary commitment to such long-term maintenance protocols.

On sites where a treatment plant is proposed, the treatment plant and the percolation area shall comply with the requirements of the Wastewater Treatment Manual on Treatment Systems for Single Houses (2002, or as may be amended from time to time)Code of Practice ‘Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses’ (p.e. <10) (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009) or other relevant standards. Minimum distances from wells etc., and other relevant standards must comply with the requirements of the Wastewater Treatment Manual Code of Practice.

On sites where the use of a septic tank is proposed, the design of septic tank systems and percolation areas shall conform with Standard Recommendations for Septic Tank Systems, SR6:1991, published by National Standards Authority of Ireland, (or as may be amended from time to time), and the requirements of the Council. Site size should conform with the requirements of SR6: 1991 (or as may be amended from time to time) and the requirements of the Council and should be sufficient to safely dispose of the effluent without the use of adjoining land.

Percolation areas should be designed and located so as not to cause pollution to groundwater, watercourses or adjoining land. Consequently, the position of nearby wells and drinking water supplies and the position and density of on-site wastewater disposal and percolation areas must be considered in each case.

A detailed site suitability assessment report shall be provided with all planning applications. It shall include a visual assessment of the site, a trial hole test and percolation test results, and shall be certified by a qualified person approved by the Council. The Site Characterisation Form in Appendix A of the Wastewater Treatment Manual on Treatment Systems for Single Houses, (or as may be amended from time to time) Annex C of the Code of Practice ‘Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses’ (p.e. <10) (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009) shall be used for this purpose, regardless of the type of system proposed.

All septic tanks and proprietary treatment plants should be maintained regularly and serviced not less than once per year by a person qualified to service such plant. All systems may be subjected to an inspection by the Council or the Environmental Health Officers of the Health Services Executive, in the interests of pollution control, amenity and public health.

Reason

In order to update references to the ‘Wastewater Treatment Manual on Treatment Systems for Single Houses’ (2002) and ‘Standard Recommendations for Septic Tank Systems’ (SR6:1991), which have now been superseded by the Code of Practice ‘Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses’ (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009).

Recommendation

That the amendment be adopted.