The risk posed by septic tanks to watercourses has become a major focus of Stranooden GWS in County Monaghan as it aims to improve water quality on the Dromore river system.
One stream on the Dromore system is the target of an innovative approach to community desludging of septic tanks that may provide a model to other rural communities.
Annamacneill
Building on its targeted approach in the Derryvalley sub-catchment during the NFGWS Source Protection Pilot Project – Phase II, the GWS’s catchment sampling regime identified another tributary of the Dromore River – namely the Annamacneill Stream — as contributing about 60% of the phosphate loading into the river system. This stream is now the primary focus of its source protection measures.
Recognising that pollution pressures come from both domestic and agricultural sources, GWS representatives have personally met with every farmer and householder along Annamacneill stream to explain the project.
There has been a positive response from local farmers, many of whom have agreed to the installation on physical mitigation measures on their lands, aimed at slowing the flow of nutrients during heavy rainfall events and taking up phosphates before they reach watercourses.
Septic tanks
Effluent from septic tanks/wastewater treatment presents a significant risk to water sources, accounting for between 20 and 50% of the contaminant loading. To reduce this risk, the GWS is organising periodic emptying of all the septic tanks along the Annamacneill stream by a competent service provider. This service is being provided at no cost to the householder. Overall unit costs have been reduced because of the number of systems involved.
In advance of desludging, a scheme representative met each householder to build awareness about how septic tanks operate and the need for ongoing management. Before and after desludging, dye tests are being carried out to see if effluent is entering nearby water sources. Where systems are found to be defective, the group water scheme will work with the householder to secure funding for an upgrade.
Stranooden GWS has welcomed the support of Abbott Ireland (Cootehill) in the roll-out of this project. Similarly, the scheme acknowledges the advisory support of a range of statutory and non-statutory stakeholders.
This article originally featured in the most recent edition of the Rural Water News magazine. To read the full edition and to sign up to our magazine mailing list, click here.
