Sir, – “More than half of septic tank systems failed checks.” This was the headline reporting the latest Environmental Protection Agency inspection results (News, June 30th).
This outcome has to be examined in the context of what was measured. Only those septic tanks deemed to be most likely to fail have been selected for inspection and it is significant that 46 per cent of those which pose the greatest environmental threat passed the test.
In essence this indicates that, by far, the majority of Ireland’s 500,000 septic tanks are performing effectively.
However the same cannot be said for the country’s municipal discharges which continue to be identified as the greatest polluters of surface and sea waters.
– Yours, etc,
DECLAN MACPARTLIN
Enniscorthy,
Co Wexford.