Under the AIE Regs to request the following dataset of geographic locations of national septic tank inspections
As per EPA website
https://gis.epa.ie/geonetwork/srv/api/records/8a5209fe-554e-4f09-952c-2e596f813292
The following link (as above) is a dataset that “represents the site locations of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems where inspections have been carried out under the National Inspection Plan.
These locations have been captured by Local Authority Inspectors as part of the process of logging inspection details within the Domestic Waste Water Application. My understanding is the dataset is used by EPA to create various pdf reports but the actual GIS data does not appear to be in the public domain.
Statement on the dataset suggests that the locations in this dataset are captured using an integrated map part within the Domestic Waste Water Application whereby the Inspector selects the location on the map. Alternatively, the Inspector can enter the coordinates manually at which point the application then displays the location on the map for verification.
Download data here:
Sample data
Data refused
Co-ordinates of the locations of the inspections
Townland where inspection took place
Waste Water Disposal ID (*unclear what this is)
System Design PE (*unclear what this is)
Shared System (*unclear what this is)
Total Contributing PE
Number Linked Properties
Shape GIS Details
EPA grounds for refusal:
The factors in favour of withholding this information are:
• Right to privacy
• Right to privacy of third parties
• Public Interest in protecting the ability of public bodies to carry out their functions and to be able to communicate effectively.
Request for Internal Review: based on the following submissions
- environmental data should be published by default, particularly locations of pollution inspections
- public interest in an open and transparent national septic tank inspection regime
- adjoining properties have a right to know, as could adversely impact their lands, water supplies, farm payments etc
- location of environmental hazards is absolutely core to AIE process (threats to human health and safety)
- EPA approach to redacting environmental enforcement data undermines the local authority process of enforcement inspections
Request internal review: 25/2/22