Half of septic tanks fail inspections

More than half of septic tanks in Co Cork have failed inspections, mainly because the owners are not cleaning them out regularly.

A spokesman for Cork County Council said, that up to yesterday, personnel from its environment directorate had completed 125 septic tank inspections and discovered that 55% of them were non-compliant under the terms of the Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems National Inspection Plan.

While all areas of the county are liable to inspection, the council is prioritising septic tanks near public water sources, which could be at risk from pollution caused by leaking tanks.