A Government proposal could require property owners to get a three-yearly warrant of fitness on their septic tank.The Otago Regional Council supports the idea, but worries it could end up costing the community.
A National Environmental Standard to improve the performance of domestic on-site wastewater systems has gone out for public comment, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said this week.
"Poorly maintained septic tanks and other on-site wastewater systems can affect human health and the environment."
Systems not providing an adequate level of treatment could contribute to lakes and rivers becoming unsuitable for swimming, or lead to contamination of ground and surface water, he said.
Under the proposed standard, regional councils would identify locations where property-owners would be required to hold a current warrant of fitness confirming their system functioned properly and was being maintained appropriately.
The affected locations could include areas with a history of problems, places identified as sites for intensification of land-use or development or areas of high seasonal occupation with systems not designed to cope with shock loads.
"This standard proposes that owners in the specified locations are required to have their systems inspected every three years by suitably qualified inspectors in order to renew a warrant of fitness."
Otago Regional Council resource management director Selva Selvarajah said the council supported the idea.
"It is about time such a regulation comes in."
However, the council had concerns about the bureaucracy it could create and the cost to the community, directly or indirectly.
Poor maintenance and insulation of septic tank systems was an issue in some places in Otago, although many small towns were already looking at addressing the problems, he said.
For many small clusters of properties, the cost of changing to a reticulated system was prohibitively high.
The regional council questioned whether the warrant of fitness concept was a function for it, or the district councils, which issued the building permits for systems in the first place.
A Ministry for the Environment public roadshow on the proposal will be held in Dunedin at some stage and people have until September 26 to make a submission.
The minister would then consider all submissions.
At a glance
•A National Environmental Standard to improve the performance of domestic on-site wastewater systems has gone out for public comment.
•Regional councils would identify locations where owners of properties would be required to hold a current warrant of fitness.
•Warrant would confirm the system is functioning properly and being maintained to appropriate standard.
•Inspections every three years.
•Public roadshow to be held in Dunedin Submissions close September 26.
•Regional councils would identify locations where owners of properties would be required to hold a current warrant of fitness.
•Warrant would confirm the system is functioning properly and being maintained to appropriate standard.
•Inspections every three years.
•Public roadshow to be held in Dunedin Submissions close September 26.
