Published on Tuesday 17 January 2012 08:50ALARM has been raised over the number of septic tanks in the Dungannon area after latest figures estimated that there are about 5000 systems operating in the district, one of the highest in the North.
It is believed that the actual total may be much higher as the figure, which was released this week by the Department of the Environment, only covers consented septic tanks.
The environment agency predicts that there may be as many as 15,000 unconsented septic tanks in Northern Ireland.
Fermanagh District Council had the highest total at 11,250, while North Down had the fewest at 340.
According to a leading environmental charity, the building boom in the local area has resulted in the proliferation of septic tanks which is leading to increased levels of pollution in local rivers and Lough Neagh.
Friends of the Earth have revealed the shocking extent of septic tank pollution in County Tyrone.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “Septic tanks which are poorly sited or badly maintained are spewing human sewage into loughs, rivers, streams and sheughs. Water pollution undermines the future of angling, watersports and tourism, threatening the viability of the rural economy.
“The effluent from the septic tanks in Co Tyrone will pose a very significant hazard to the heath of rivers and lakes.
“Lough Neagh, the biggest lake in these islands is also one of the most polluted. We do know that septic tank run-off is a major contributor to nutrient enrichment or eutrophication.
“This affects not just the animals and birds but the drinking water for large numbers of people in Northern Ireland. It is bizarre that sewage from septic tanks can easily enter Lough Neagh and yet we use Lough Neagh for drinking water.
“A septic tank and soakaway is a poor way to deal with wastewater from a house. After they are installed they are seldom if ever checked to see if they are working efficiently.
“Over time the soakaways seal up and effluent ends up in the nearest river or sheugh. The other problem is that detergents and cleaning products that are commonly used can kill the microbes within the septic tank that do most of the treatment.
“Homeowners should use environmentally friendly cleaning products and check that the septic tank and soakaway are working properly. More importantly government must introduce measures to ensure that all septic tanks are monitored and registered.”
According to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside 60 per cent of septic tank discharges in the Lough Neagh area are reaching surface waters, including many rivers popular with anglers.
A total of 14 per cent of phosphate pollution reaching Lough Neagh, which is Northern Ireland’s largest source of drinking water, comes from septic tanks.
The report also found that many septic tanks are not regularly emptied of sludge, and the number being emptied regularly is likely to diminish when charges are introduced as part of the Water Reform process.
About 90 per cent of water bodies in Northern Ireland are at risk of not achieving the water quality standards required by the Water Framework Directive.
Septic tanks are used to treat domestic sewage from dispersed rural dwellings not connected to a main sewer.
The introduction to water of organic material such as human sewage reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen available for fish and other aquatic life. Also, nutrient enrichment stimulates the growth of algae,
Essentially a green ‘slime’ on the surface of the water which prevents light penetration. In the worst cases, water quality can be eroded to the point where a river is devoid of any living organism.
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