A EUR 11.8 million pilot project has been launched by the Irish government that will introduce Septic Tank Effluent Drainage Systems (STEDS) (settled sewerage) in seven villages in County Tipperary. Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, said he hoped that the pilot project, which will introduce vacuum sewers for the first time in Ireland as an alternative to traditional gravity and pumped systems, would produce cost-effective solutions that can be used in many other small towns and villages. STEDS can help solve the difficulties of disposing of septic tank effluent, particularly in sensitive areas or areas with poor ground conditions. Septic tank effluents are drained through a special filter prior to transferring it by small bore pipe to a small package treatment plant. The pilot project will also test de-sludging services being provided by the wastewater treatment plant operator for septic tanks owned by more outlying householders that cannot be directly linked to the new sewerage schemes. The contract has been awarded to Mallow-based company, EPS Ltd.

Contact: E.P.S. Pumping & Treatment Systems Ltd, Ireland, jmurphy@epsireland.com, http://www.epsireland.com/

Related news: Low-cost sewerage: experiences and potential in South Africa and Botswana, Source, 30 Dec 2004

Web site: Sanicon – low-cost sewerage

Source: Sam Bond, Edie, 17 Jun 2005

Tags: sanitation