Septic tank charge - Government mishandling the situation

The greatest odour emanating from the stink over septic tank charges is the smell of cynicism.

An initiative that has its origins in laudable attempts to improve water quality is now sullied by the belief that it is little more than a cash-raising exercise.

The Government should not be surprised by this, even if it has a right to feel aggrieved that it is grappling with yet another unwelcome legacy of its predecessors.

For at least a decade Europe has been warning us to get our act together on waste water, raising concerns about the impact of ineffective treatment systems on drinking supplies.

The previous government neglected its responsibilities in this regard, all too aware that an inspection regime and penalty system would have been unpopular, even in the economic good times.

Introducing them now, when many households are financially at breaking point, is taking unpopularity to a new height. However, the Coalition is not entirely blameless for the backlash.

A lack of clarity around the standards that will apply to inspections, the frequency of inspections, the qualifications and independence of inspectors, and the implications for householders whose tanks fail to meet whatever criteria is eventually set out for them, have all contributed to the notion that all the Government is really focused on is collecting lucrative registration fees.

The latest attempt to defuse the situation by offering bargain rate registration for early sign-up smacks of desperation and erodes the credibility of the reasoning behind the original fee.

There has also been a complete failure to stop the debate descending into a rural versus urban spat.

Urban dwellers are not unaffected by the need to deal responsibly with waste water. They pay for it through the higher prices they are charged for their homes, into which is factored the cost of development levies, ostensibly meant to fund services like sewage disposal.

Many an urban dweller has been left with the horror of backed up sewage pipes spilling effluent into their homes because developers were permitted to build on flood plains or get away with sloppy building practices.

The orderly development of many would-be fine regional towns was held up in the pre-boom years because of lack of investment in sewage facilities, so mains infrastructure did not have the capacity to carry extra dwellings, while planning permission was not available for septic tanks.

The impact of the frantic expansion that erupted when suddenly the cash potential of development levies became obvious can now be seen in the ghost estates that serve the interests of neither urban nor rural dweller.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has complained that misinformation is undermining a noble initiative and scaring people already fearful of each next bill.

However, misinformation is not helped by lack of information — for which he must take responsibility. What’s really scary is how badly this is being handled.