EPA eyes poor performance of waste treatment plants
But it takes 20 to 40 humans to produce as much as one dairy cow's 20 pounds of manure per day.
So pollution from agriculture gets priority at the Environmental Protection Agency, despite the poor performance of and overloading of waste-water treatment plants, storm water overflows, and septic tanks which has been detected by the Agency.
According to local authorities and the EPA, only 17% of the waste water treatment plants serving populations of more than 500, and discharging to sensitive waters, have facilities to reduce the amount of pollution causing nutrients.
And local authorities report that many single house treatment systems are not installed or maintained properly, and are contributing to surface and groundwater pollution.
As a result septic tanks are estimated to contribute about 12% of the total annual phosphorus load to Lough Derg; 10% to Lough Leane; 3% to the Liffey; 7% to the Suir; and 8% to the Boyne.
Limerick County Council has carried out surveys of septic tanks in parts of the Deel catchment, and has found significant problems.
For example, in the village of Feenagh, 17 out of 27 premises surveyed had direct discharges to surface waters. In some cases there was no septic tank, and the foul sewage discharged directly to the stream without settlement.
The Council is working with a local voluntary housing association, with a view to part-funding the installation of a sewerage system to serve the entire village.
Similar problems, but on a smaller scale, were found in Feohanagh.
Wexford County Council has carried out 40 investigations of septic tanks (14 of these are in the Our Lady's Island Lake catchment) and has identified malfunctioning of percolation areas as a particular problem.
The EPA has recommended that local authorities should control septic tanks through the planning process and through survey and assessment, and has warned that installation of garbage grinders in private houses may increase the load on wastewater treatment systems.
Already, 20 local authorities have proposed controlling septic tanks, mainly through the planning process and through survey and assessment.
The EPA has also warned that direct disposal of water treatment sludges to water bodies is not acceptable, and called on local authorities to review handling and disposal of these sludges.
Meanwhile, 19 local authorities have proposed carrying out surveys for unlicensed discharges, and some progress is reported on licensing of smaller businesses, such as service stations, hotels and restaurants, golf courses and clubhouses, fast-food outlets, and garages.
