Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012

1. Definition.

1.— In this Act “Principal Act” means the Water Services Act 2007.

2. Amendment of section 5 of Principal Act.

2.— Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (j):

“(j) Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community [^1],”,

and

(b) by inserting the following paragraph:

“(k) Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives [^2].”.

3. Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act.

3.— Section 22 of the Principal Act is amended in paragraph (b) of subsection (8) by inserting “or an inspector appointed by the Agency in accordance with section 70E” after “or a member of the Garda Síochána”.

4. Domestic waste water treatment systems.

4.— The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following new Part after Part 4:

“PART 4A

Definitions.

70A.— In this Part—

‘advisory notice’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70H;

‘certificate of registration’ means a certificate of registration issued under section 70B;

‘domestic waste water treatment system’ means a system involving physical, chemical, biological or thermal processes, or a combination of such processes, utilised for the treatment or disposal of domestic waste water, or the sludge derived from domestic waste water, and includes—

(a) all septic tanks and waste water tanks and systems receiving, storing, treating or disposing of domestic waste water and all drains associated with such tanks or systems, and

(b) all drains associated with the discharge of domestic waste water, whether or not they discharge to a septic tank or waste water tank;

‘inspector’ means a person appointed by the Agency in accordance with section 70E;

‘national inspection plan’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70K;

‘prescribed date’ means the date prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 70B;

‘register of domestic waste water treatment systems’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70B.

Register of domestic waste water treatment systems.

70B.— (1) Each water services authority shall establish and maintain a register of domestic waste water treatment systems situated within its functional area (in this Part referred to as a ‘register of domestic waste water treatment systems’).

(2) The owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall, on or before the prescribed date and in accordance with this section, apply to the water services authority in whose functional area the treatment system is situated, to have the treatment system entered in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by the water services authority concerned.

(3) An application under this section shall—

(a) be made in writing or by electronic means,

(b) specify the name of the applicant and the address at which he or she normally resides,

(c) specify the address at which the domestic waste water treatment system is situated,

(d) contain such other information as may be prescribed, and

(e) in the case of an application under subsection (2), be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(4) On receipt of an application under this section, a water services authority shall—

(a) enter the domestic waste water treatment system concerned in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems for the functional area of the water services authority concerned, and

(b) issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.

(5) A certificate of registration shall be valid for a period of 5 years from the date on which it was issued.

(6) On or before the date on which a certificate of registration is due to expire, the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system in respect of which a certificate of registration has issued shall, in accordance with this section, apply to the water services authority in whose functional area the treatment system is situated, to renew the certificate of registration.

(7) On receipt of an application under subsection (6), a water services authority shall—

(a) update the entry on the register of domestic waste water treatment systems, and

(b) issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.

(8) A water services authority shall, from time to time, review each entry in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by it and, if the water services authority becomes aware that any particular in the register is incorrect or has ceased to be correct, the water services authority shall make such alteration to the register as it considers necessary and shall notify any person it considers appropriate of such alteration.

(9) A register of domestic waste water treatment systems shall be maintained by a water services authority in such form (including electronic form) as the Agency may direct and shall contain—

(a) details of domestic waste water treatment systems which have been entered on the register by the water services authority concerned, including the date on which each system was entered on the register and the date on which each certificate of registration is due to expire,

(b) details of domestic waste water treatment systems in the functional area of the water services authority concerned which have been inspected under section 70H,

(c) details of advisory notices issued by the water services authority concerned,

(d) details of applications made under subsection (7) of section 70H,

(e) details of appeals made under subsection (9) of section 70H,

(f) details of notices of compliance made by the water services authority concerned under section 70H(17), and

(g) such other information as may be determined by the Agency from time to time.

(10) A water services authority shall publish in such manner as it thinks fit, including by electronic means, and make available for inspection at all reasonable times by members of the public, the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by it under this section.

(11) An authorised person appointed by a water services authority may request the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system to produce a valid certificate of registration in respect of the system.

(12) A person who fails to comply with a request under subsection (11) within 20 working days, commits an offence.

(13) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, make regulations for the purposes of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, regulations under this section may prescribe:

(a) the form and manner, including by electronic means, in which an application, under subsection (2) or (6) shall be made;

(b) the fee payable to the water services authority, which shall not exceed €50, which shall accompany an application under subsection (2);

(c) the date for the purposes of subsection (2); and

(d) such consequential or ancillary matters as the Minister considers appropriate.

Duties of owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems.

70C.— (1) The owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall—

(a) comply with regulations made under section 70L,

(b) ensure that the system does not constitute, and is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular does not—

(i) create a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) create a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest,

and

(c) ensure that the system is entered on a register of domestic waste water treatment systems in accordance with section 70B.

(2) A person who contravenes paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) commits an offence.

Sale of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems.

70D.— (1) A person who, on or after the prescribed date, sells a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system, shall on the completion of the sale, furnish a valid certificate of registration in respect of the treatment system concerned to the purchaser of the premises.

(2) A purchaser of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall, after the completion of the sale, notify the relevant water services authority of the change in ownership and the water services authority concerned shall update the register of domestic waste water treatment systems accordingly.

Appointment of inspectors.

70E.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Agency shall appoint such persons as it considers appropriate to carry out inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems for the purposes of this Part.

(2) The Agency shall not appoint a person to be an inspector for the purposes of this Part unless that person—

(a) has made an application to the Agency in the prescribed form accompanied by the prescribed fee,

(b) is the holder of a prescribed professional or technical qualification,

(c) has satisfactorily completed a prescribed training course,

(d) is the holder of the prescribed professional indemnity insurance, and

(e) has complied with any other prescribed requirements.

(3) An appointment under subsection (1) shall cease if—

(a) the Agency revokes the appointment, or

(b) the appointment is for a fixed period, on the expiration of that period.

(4) Where the Agency—

(a) refuses to appoint or renew the appointment of an inspector under this section, or

(b) revokes the appointment of an inspector under paragraph (a) of subsection (3),

the Agency shall notify the person in writing of the refusal or revocation together with the reasons for the refusal or revocation and the person may appeal the refusal or revocation in the prescribed manner.

(5) The Agency may, with the consent of the Minister, appoint one or more persons who, in the opinion of the Agency, have the relevant knowledge and experience in relation to domestic waste water treatment systems and the procedures in relation to carrying out an inspection to be an appeals officer for the purposes of this section (in this section referred to as an ‘appeals officer’).

(6) An appeals officer shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions under this section.

(7) An appeals officer shall consider an appeal under subsection (4) and shall, in accordance with prescribed procedures, allow or refuse the appeal.

(8) An inspector shall be furnished with a certificate of his or her appointment by the Agency.

(9) When exercising a power conferred on him or her by this Part, an inspector shall, if requested by a person affected, produce the certificate of his or her appointment or a copy of it and a form of personal identification to that person.

(10) A person who acts as an inspector for the purposes of this Part—

(a) without having been duly appointed under subsection (1),

(b) after his or her appointment has been revoked under paragraph (a) of subsection (3), or

(c) after the expiration of his or her term of appointment,

commits an offence.

(11) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, make regulations for the purposes of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, regulations under this section may provide for—

(a) application procedures in relation to the appointment, and renewal of appointment, of inspectors,

(b) criteria for appointment of inspectors, including specification of the relevant:

(i) class or classes of professional or technical qualifications to be held by a person appointed as an inspector,

(ii) class or classes of training course which a person appointed as an inspector shall have satisfactorily completed, and

(iii) professional indemnity insurance to be held by a person appointed as an inspector,

(c) an application form for appointment as an inspector (including an application form to renew such an appointment),

(d) the fee payable to the Agency, which shall not exceed €1,000, which shall accompany an application for appointment or renewal of appointment as an inspector,

(e) the period for which an appointment as an inspector shall have effect,

(f) the circumstances in which the appointment of an inspector may be revoked,

(g) procedural matters in relation to the hearing and determination of appeals under subsection (4),

(h) any consequential or ancillary matters.

Register of inspectors.

70F.— (1) The Agency shall establish and maintain a register of inspectors for the purposes of this Part (in this section referred to as the ‘register of inspectors’).

(2) The register of inspectors shall be maintained in such form (including electronic form) as the Agency considers appropriate.

(3) The register of inspectors shall contain the name and contact details of each inspector and such other information as may be determined from time to time by the Agency.

(4) The register of inspectors shall be kept at the offices of the Agency, and shall be made available to each water services authority.

Powers of inspectors.

70G.— (1) For the purposes of carrying out an inspection under section 70H, an inspector may—

(a) enter and inspect any premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system,

(b) inspect, examine or test the course or condition of a domestic waste water treatment system, including any fixture, fitting, appliance, plant, drain, service or process associated with the treatment system,

(c) monitor any domestic waste water which is contained in or discharged from a premises or domestic waste water treatment system,

(d) take samples of any substance or thing associated with or discharged to or from, a domestic waste water treatment system,

(e) take photographs,

(f) carry out surveys, take levels and measurements, make excavations, take samples and carry out examinations of the depth and nature of subsoil,

(g) require information regarding the maintenance, servicing or operation of a domestic waste water treatment system from an owner or occupier of the premises or any person employed on the premises or any other person present on the premises,

(h) require the production of, or inspect, records or other documents (including records or documents stored in non-legible form) relevant to the maintenance, servicing or operation of a domestic waste water treatment system, or take copies of or extracts from, or take away if considered necessary for the purposes of inspection or examination, any such records or documents,

(i) require that the premises or any part of the premises or anything in the premises shall be left undisturbed for such period of time as may be necessary for carrying out the inspection.

(2) An inspector shall not, other than with the consent of the occupier, enter into a private dwelling under this section.

(3) The Agency or a water services authority may authorise any other person as it considers appropriate to accompany an inspector in the performance of his or her functions.

(4) Any certificate or other evidence given, or to be given, by an inspector in respect of any test, examination or analysis of any sample shall, in relation to that sample, be evidence, without further proof, of the result of the test, examination or analysis unless the contrary is shown.

(5) Any person who, following notification of an inspection by a water services authority—

(a) refuses to allow an inspector to enter any premises or to bring any person or equipment with him or her in the exercise of his or her powers,

(b) obstructs or impedes an inspector in the exercise of any of his or her powers,

(c) gives either to an inspector, a relevant water services authority or the Agency, information which is to his or her knowledge false or misleading in a material respect, or

(d) fails or refuses to comply with any reasonable request or requirement of an inspector,

commits an offence.

Inspection of domestic waste water treatment systems.

70H.— (1) (a) An inspector shall inspect such domestic waste water treatment systems as he or she is directed by the Agency, or a water services authority, to inspect.

(b) The Agency or a water services authority shall notify in writing the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system of a proposed inspection at least 10 working days before such inspection.

(2) When directing an inspector to carry out an inspection under subsection (1), the Agency or a water services authority shall have regard to the national inspection plan.

(3) Where, following an inspection under subsection (1), an inspector is of the opinion that—

(a) the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system has not contravened regulations made under section 70L, and

(b) the domestic waste water treatment system does not constitute, and is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular does not—

(i) create a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) create a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest,

the inspector shall, within 21 days of the inspection, notify the owner of the premises to which the treatment system concerned is connected and the water services authority concerned.

(4) Where, following an inspection under subsection (1), an inspector is of the opinion that—

(a) the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system has contravened regulations made under section 70L, or

(b) the domestic waste water treatment system constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular—

(i) creates a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) creates a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affects the countryside or places of special interest,

the inspector shall immediately notify the owner of the premises to which the treatment system concerned is connected and shall, within 21 days of the inspection, notify the water services authority concerned, in each case stating the reasons for his or her opinion.