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Septic Tank Charge Protest in Galway

24

Comments

  • #32
    johnr1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭johnr1


    OP, I suggest you log out, then login again as Dildo2 or whatever your called so you can thank your own posts and write more sh1te arguments supporting your point of view....

    Well it's worked for you recently anyway.....


  • #33
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    amacca wrote: »
    would it be wise to get an inspection like this carried out so you could have some ground to stand on if they did require tens of thousands spent on a retrofit?

    That's why i got it done.:cool:


  • #34
    ilovesleep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,619 ✭✭✭ilovesleep


    galwayrush wrote: »
    Yawn.......
    No, they are protesting because the inspection will probably lead to replacing their tanks , which will be costly.
    I got mine tested by an engineer, it's working perfectly, so absolutelyno pollution here.
    But he informed me that this new inspection will probably fail it for no reason...

    Just like the NCT really!

    Galwayrush, did it cost much to get your tank inspected from the engineer?

    I'm not all that sure what kind of a septic tank we have at home but the house was built in the 80s and the area is covered with concreate. It now has weeds growing over it :-)
    (and no i will not be deweeding the place for their visit)


  • #35
    amacca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,971 ✭✭✭amacca


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    A septic tank is simply a chamber for holding / filtering waste water. To ensure that waste water is disposed of safely into the environment, it needs to pass through a filtration system & percolation area that negates any harmful effects.

    With a lot of septic tanks that were built years ago, this process doesn't happen as it should or never happens at all & you end up with either the owner polluting their own ground water - albeit inadvertently - or by having their tanks emptied, then the waste water spread or dumped on other lands by a third party without any proper filtration.

    what tests would be required to see if your tank was working properly?

    if it does come to it...I would rather have an independent assessment I could depend on than trust some govt sponsored tax collector/rapist

    would you know what depth would soil samples have to be taken at etc


  • #36
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Daisy M wrote: »
    With regards to the emptying of septic tank waste on land, I have seen this done. Just wondering how this compares to the slurry spread from a slatted house? Would it not be comparable and if so ok to do at certain times of the year?

    I'm not an agricultural expert by any means, but from what I know, slurry spreading - if done correctly - is done in accordance with guidelines to ensure that there's a proper balance of Nitrogen & Phosphorous (or something to that effect)... essentially, it can be done with no harm to the environment, much the same way that human waste can be treated with no negative effects.


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  • #37
    Daisy M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Daisy M


    johnr1 wrote: »
    OP, I suggest you log out, then login again as Dildo2 or whatever your called so you can thank your own posts and write more sh1te arguments supporting your point of view....

    Well it's worked for you recently anyway.....

    Ah just imagine if he gets a new laptop for christmas, then he will be using the two accounts simultaneously and really wrecking our heads!


  • #38
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    ilovesleep wrote: »
    Just like the NCT really!

    Galwayrush, did it cost much to get your tank inspected from the engineer?

    I'm not all that sure what kind of a septic tank we have at home but the house was built in the 80s and the area is covered with concreate. It now has weeds growing over it :-)
    (and no i will not be deweeding the place for their visit)

    Cost me 100 euro in total.


  • #39
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    amacca wrote: »
    what tests would be required to see if your tank was working properly?

    if it does come to it...I would rather have an independent assessment I could depend on than trust some govt sponsored tax collector/rapist

    would you know what depth would soil samples have to be taken at etc

    Again, I'm not an expert on it, but I would imagine that if this inspection process is brought into place, then those doing the assessments will need to be FETAC qualified & trained in the The EPA's Code of Practice for Waste Water Treatment Systems for Rural Housing.

    I can see it being run in a similar model to the BER system - only hopefully this system will only be open to recognised professionals such as engineers & not every Tom, Dick & Harry who once worked in the building trade.


  • #40
    overshoot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,342 ✭✭✭overshoot


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    The local authorities have a list of houses that have applied for permission to build septic tanks, but that list would exclude any houses built pre 1965 and the list doesn't guarantee that the septic tanks were built to any particular standard, that they are maintained or even that they were built at all.

    In that sense, the list is fairly useless.
    thus why they have option number 2, where their sewer pipes cover! there is no doubt what houses require tanks and what dont, they can simply draw a map for an inspector, covered by us, not covered. its a registration fee, not an inspection fee, they know what areas can be inspected and what cant.
    the required standard is also why i went back and edited the piece as to why i believe this actually has wider implications for construction in general. if the regulation can change for one area, it can change for any i would assume. maybe its not relevant but how would the op feel if he had to register his house for an insulation test? or register it to check his own sewer connection. it sounds stupid i know but in the end lower standard insulated houses also cause pollution as they need more energy to heat.


  • #41
    johnr1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭johnr1


    I think flutterinbantams opinion is needed in this thread ;-)








    sadly, he went to the great septic tank in the sky recently..


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  • #42
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    I'm not an agricultural expert by any means, but from what I know, slurry spreading - if done correctly - is done in accordance with guidelines to ensure that there's a proper balance of Nitrogen & Phosphorous (or something to that effect)... essentially, it can be done with no harm to the environment, much the same way that human waste can be treated with no negative effects.

    I wish some of the farmers in my area would follow suit. Some of them spread it almost all the year round. I believe in The Netherlands for eg, it's done twice a year by regulation, taking wind / weather conditions into consideration.
    Some of the grass looks burnt after obviously too much slurry being spread.I have heard of some farmers having to invest to introduce replacement earthworms on their land.This is a much more serious pollution problem that any one off housing causes.


  • #43
    Daisy M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Daisy M


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    Again, I'm not an expert on it, but I would imagine that if this inspection process is brought into place, then those doing the assessments will need to be FETAC qualified & trained in the The EPA's Code of Practice for Waste Water Treatment Systems for Rural Housing.

    I can see it being run in a similar model to the BER system - only hopefully this system will only be open to recognised professionals such as engineers & not every Tom, Dick & Harry who once worked in the building trade.

    Personally I think this is an exercise in job creation more than anything. I am not opposed to it but hope it is done fairly, I would find it hard to understand if we were told our soil was been contaminated by our septic tank given that everything down that end of the garden grows so fast much faster than any other part of the garden.

    As regards treating slurry I know it is meant to be done but I dont know if it is, however farmers have been using slurry as a natural fertilizer for generations and it appeared to work very well.


  • #44
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,079 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    what about the millions of sheep and cattle pissing and ****ting all over the place wherever and whenever they please!


  • #45
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    galwayrush wrote: »
    I wish some of the farmers in my area would follow suit. Some of them spread it almost all the year round. I believe in The Netherlands for eg, it's done twice a year by regulation, taking wind / weather conditions into consideration.
    Some of the grass looks burnt after obviously too much slurry being spread.I have heard of some farmers having to invest to introduce replacement earthworms on their land.This is a much more serious pollution problem that any one off housing causes.

    In my opinion, anerobic treatment systems are the way forward - they treat wastewater better than any system.. the water is completely safe to the environment & the sludge or solid waste can be used as really good fertilizer.

    In Singapore, they are even more advanced at it & can treat waste water to the point that it becomes potable.


  • #46
    cassi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 316 ✭✭cassi


    Seriously OP, there already is another thread in which you're very active in your rantings and ravings about one-off housing. Did you really need to create another??


  • #47
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    Deleted User wrote: »
    what about the millions of sheep and cattle pissing and ****ting all over the place wherever and whenever they please!

    More **** inspectors needed perhaps....:D


  • #48
    dilbert2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 364 ✭✭dilbert2


    Gophur wrote: »
    No they haven't!


    Yes, they have, by building on every former pasture and field the most butt ugly houses, that would be illegal in any other country in Europe. They are about the septic tank equivalent of architecture to be honest with you. Gombeen parish pump politics and a weak (by European standards) planning system) has given us these visual and environmental catastrophes as the pollution of drinking water in Galway a while back attests.


  • #49
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Daisy M wrote: »
    Personally I think this is an exercise in job creation more than anything. I am not opposed to it but hope it is done fairly, I would find it hard to understand if we were told our soil was been contaminated by our septic tank given that everything down that end of the garden grows so fast much faster than any other part of the garden.

    As regards treating slurry I know it is meant to be done but I dont know if it is, however farmers have been using slurry as a natural fertilizer for generations and it appeared to work very well.

    In order to prevent it being simply an exercise in job creation, I think there has to be a common sense approach to this. As Overshoot said, it is unreasonable to apply current Codes of Practice to systems built under previous standards.

    But there has to be some system in place that ensures that systems that are seriously & obviously substandard are repaired, upgraded or replaced.

    You can't always trust people to be sensible - like you say, most farmers, like most septic tank owners are responsible & sensible, but there are many farmers (as galwayrush pointed out) and many homeowners who simply don't or want to understand the concept that poor disposal of wastewater can have serious negative effects on both the environment & humans.


  • #50
    dilbert2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 364 ✭✭dilbert2


    cassi wrote: »
    Seriously OP, there already is another thread in which you're very active in your rantings and ravings about one-off housing. Did you really need to create another??

    What isn't there to dislike about the mess that is modern rural Ireland surrounding one off housing? Have you been around this country in recent years - places like Donegal in particular, every second field has a house that looks out of place. It's disgusting - even more so the ignorance and lack of education in Ireland surrounding environmental, planning and architecture issues. Visiting the countryside in other European countries is a pleasure. I personally vouched a while back that I would no longer visit the Irish countryside as I get fed up with pig ugly housing (even more infuriating that these areas are subsidized for a lot of services by those in towns and cities) - and I believe that many tourists from other countries have taken the same stance.

    Good luck surviving when all the agricultural subsidies dry up in 2013, and the tourists go to Scotland, Belgium etc. Don't see much else that can sustain already dying rural economies. Ironic, that a little bit of cop on and planning would have averted all of these disasters, but like so much in Ireland - gombeenry and corruption wins the day.


  • #51
    ilovesleep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,619 ✭✭✭ilovesleep


    I hope the septic tank is up to scratch at home. It's about 25 years old and never once gave any trouble.

    What will it mean if its not up to scratch ? We dig it up and replace it is it?

    Will pm you Galwayrush to get the number of your guy.


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  • #52
    johnr1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭johnr1


    dilbert2 wrote: »
    Yes, they have, by building on every former pasture and field the most butt ugly houses, that would be illegal in any other country in Europe. They are about the septic tank equivalent of architecture to be honest with you. Gombeen parish pump politics and a weak (by European standards) planning system) has given us these visual and environmental catastrophes as the pollution of drinking water in Galway a while back attests.

    less than 30 minutes ago I posted this:

    OP, I suggest you log out, then login again as Dildo2 or whatever your called so you can thank your own posts and write more sh1te arguments supporting your point of view....
    Well it's worked for you recently anyway.....


    Jesus, I hate it when I'm right....


  • #53
    Daisy M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Daisy M


    galwayrush wrote: »
    More **** inspectors needed perhaps....:D

    In hindsight animals are probably as off putting to tourists as one off housing. Its unfair that tourists should be expected to have to drive through animal do dos on their way to beauty spots and really should they have to cast their eyes on dirty animals doing their business and humping each other in plain view. We need to build a zoo located next to each town and village and keep them out of sight.
    And I nearly forgot imagine just imagine the horror if one went for a canoeing trip and an animal dared to have relieved its self in the river you were canoeing in, now that would be a travesty, shouldnt be allowed to happen must keep the tourists happy at all costs.:rolleyes:


  • #54
    overshoot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,342 ✭✭✭overshoot


    dilbert2 wrote: »
    Yes, they have, by building on every former pasture and field the most butt ugly houses, that would be illegal in any other country in Europe. They are about the septic tank equivalent of architecture to be honest with you. Gombeen parish pump politics and a weak (by European standards) planning system) has given us these visual and environmental catastrophes as the pollution of drinking water in Galway a while back attests.
    lol gotta love bungalow bliss
    if everything had to be signed off by an architect like Spain for planning imagine the cries! (though id love to see it)
    oh wait im for the rural dweller
    as i said given the huge swing from rural to urban and the fall in population there is less people/houses in the country
    and them repeated house plans in estates with no regard to sunlight, designed by and the contractor for himself sure are pretty:D

    oh and ps we produce enough food in this country for 36million people, expected to rise to 50million in a few years when EU quotas end


  • #55
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    dilbert2 wrote: »
    Yes, they have, by building on every former pasture and field the most butt ugly houses, that would be illegal in any other country in Europe. They are about the septic tank equivalent of architecture to be honest with you. Gombeen parish pump politics and a weak (by European standards) planning system) has given us these visual and environmental catastrophes as the pollution of drinking water in Galway a while back attests.

    Some beautiful houses in my area,visually stunning imo, and we don't have a 'parish pump'. We don't need one, because we have quite a good water supply, paid for by ourselves.


  • #56
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    dilbert2 wrote: »
    Yes, they have, by building on every former pasture and field the most butt ugly houses, that would be illegal in any other country in Europe. They are about the septic tank equivalent of architecture to be honest with you.


    I've read your previous rants in the "one off housing" thread & this is a rehash of the stuff you posted there. No-one is denying that there are some seriously ugly one-off houses in Ireland, but I know from experience, having travelled extensively throughout Europe, that Ireland is by no means the only offender on that front.

    It makes me seriously question if you've actually ever left the country or if you get your idea of what rural Europe looks like from picture postcards your family & friends send home from their holidays in Tuscany & the Rhone.


  • #57
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    Kev.OC wrote: »
    Destroyed our countryside how exactly? I live in the country, and the two houses that went up beside me over the last few years have had no effect on our groundwater. What exactly do you mean "nothing to hide"? Hypothetically speaking, if I'm building a septic tank, it has to be on my property, quite possibly under my lawn. So why would I build a sub-standard septic tank?

    Over the last 23 years there have never had any problems what-so-ever with the septic tank at home. But now some bright spark, who probably wouldn't know a septic tank if he fell into it, has decided that all the septic tanks in the country are fatally flawed and need inspection. And if this inspector deems that for whatever reason someone's septic tank isn't up to scratch they could have to fork out anything between €700 and €15,000 to fix it.

    Now, I don't know about you, but I don't have several grand floating around the place to upgrade a perfectly operational septic tank. To the best of my knowledge, that's what all the objections are over.

    How do you know the tank is working perfectly?

    Have you had the groundwater tested?

    There are a lot of regions in Ireland with heavy clay soils that are totally unsuited to septic tanks. While it appears that the system might be working, what is really happening is the supernate is flowing into watercourses.


  • #58
    overshoot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,342 ✭✭✭overshoot


    galwayrush wrote: »
    Some beautiful houses in my area,visually stunning imo, and we don't have a 'parish pump'. We don't need one, because we have quite a good water supply, paid for by ourselves.
    they will be after the group water schemes next;)


  • #59
    dilbert2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 364 ✭✭dilbert2


    overshoot wrote: »
    1, the population of ireland used to be 8million, even with more per house i think you will find there used to be a lot more houses in rural ireland

    Eh, hang on now - most houses were tiny in comparison today and housed up to 10+ people. Most of the one off south forks today are inhabited by families of 4-5 people. Also, if I'm not mistaken - wasn't the population in clachans dispersed after the famine by the Western Districts Board to stop the spread of disease. Another fact that I'm sure the lads on the pro-one off side will try their best to manoeuvre their way around when the old "one offs are a part of our heritage" :rolleyes: argument comes up again.


  • #60
    dilbert2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 364 ✭✭dilbert2


    johnr1 wrote: »
    less than 30 minutes ago I posted this:

    OP, I suggest you log out, then login again as Dildo2 or whatever your called so you can thank your own posts and write more sh1te arguments supporting your point of view....
    Well it's worked for you recently anyway.....


    Jesus, I hate it when I'm right....

    You're talking a load of sh!te in fairness, must be that glass of water you had for supper repeating itself :rolleyes:


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  • #61
    cassi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 316 ✭✭cassi


    dilbert2 wrote: »
    What isn't there to dislike about the mess that is modern rural Ireland surrounding one off housing? Have you been around this country in recent years - places like Donegal in particular, every second field has a house that looks out of place. It's disgusting - even more so the ignorance and lack of education in Ireland surrounding environmental, planning and architecture issues. Visiting the countryside in other European countries is a pleasure. I personally vouched a while back that I would no longer visit the Irish countryside as I get fed up with pig ugly housing (even more infuriating that these areas are subsidized for a lot of services by those in towns and cities) - and I believe that many tourists from other countries have taken the same stance.

    Good luck surviving when all the agricultural subsidies dry up in 2013, and the tourists go to Scotland, Belgium etc. Don't see much else that can sustain already dying rural economies. Ironic, that a little bit of cop on and planning would have averted all of these disasters, but like so much in Ireland - gombeenry and corruption wins the day.

    Ah christ :rolleyes:. No one can deny that there are some ugly houses in this country as can they with any country! No getting into this argument here, when as I said there already is a thread for.

    The countryside may be an amenity or a destination for you and tourists but for alot of people its home, its their lives and its where their lives will always be!!

    Travel around abit, Ireland still has an exceptionally beautiful countryside and its still popular with tourists. Ive worked in hotels and other tourist attractions and Ive never one heard a person complain about the one off housing.

    Also as pointed out in the other thread, agriculture is one of the few growing industries in this country. So called "gombeen" politics and corruption had its hand in many worse things than one off houses, just look at the astronomical mess that is ghost estates, companies build and destroyed on promises, bankers fiddling accounts, they are the things you should be getting pi$$ed off at, not houses in my opinion.

    Its clear what the real undertone in starting this thread was, it had little to do with the environment and more so for the OP to rant on about problems with one off housing that he's already expressed a clear dislike for.


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