S.I. No. 23/1957 - Housing (Private Water Supply and Sewerage Facilities) Regulations, 1957.


S.I. No. 23 of 1957.

HOUSING (PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE FACILITIES) REGULATIONS, 1957.

The Minister for Local Government in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 11 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1956 , (No. 31 of 1956) hereby makes the following Regulations :—

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Housing (Private Water Supply and Sewerage Facilities) Regulations, 1957.

2. In these Regulations—

" the Minister " means the Minister for Local Government ;

" sanitary authority " has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 1952 ;

" the Act " means the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1956 , (No. 31 of 1956) ;

" appointed officer " means an officer appointed by the Minister for the purposes of the Act ;

" private water supply " means a private water supply in respect of which a grant is sought from the Minister under section 11 of the act, and

" private sewerage facilities " means private sewerage facilities in respect of which a grant is sought from the Minister under section 11 of the act.

3. Any doubt, dispute or question which may arise as to the interpretation of these Regulations and as to the making or the amount of a grant in respect of the provision and installation of a private water supply or private sewerage facilities shall be determined by the Minister and such determination shall be final.

4. These Regulations shall apply to the provision and installation in dwelling-houses of private water supplies and of private sewerage facilities.

5.—(1) The conditions specified in Part I of the First Schedule hereto shall be complied with in the provision and installation of a private water supply.

(2) The conditions specified in Part I of the Second Schedule hereto shall be complied with in the provision and installation of private sewerage facilities.

(3) In addition to the said conditions, it shall be a condition that materials and appliances manufactured or produced in Ireland shall be used as far as possible in the provision and installation of a private water supply and private sewerage facilities.

6.—(1) The standards of constructional requirements specified in Part II of the First Schedule hereto shall normally be observed in the provision and installation of a private water supply.

(2) The standards of constructional requirements specified in Part II of the Second Schedule hereto shall normally be observed in the provision and installation of private sewerage facilities.

(3) The said requirements shall be in addition to the provisions of any relevant bye-laws of the sanitary authority in whose functional area the dwelling-house is situate.

7. The date when the provision and installation of a private water supply and sewerage facilities to which these Regulations apply is begun shall be deemed to be the date when construction work is commenced notwithstanding any excavation, site clearance, cartage of materials or preliminary investigation of source of water supply carried out prior to that date.

8. The procedure set out in the Third Schedule hereto shall be complied with by the person providing and installing a private water supply or private sewerage facilities and by the appointed officer.

9. The forms set out in the Fourth Schedule hereto or forms to the like effect varied as circumstances may require shall be prescribed forms and shall be used for the purpose for which they are respectively expressed to be applicable in relation to the provision and installation of a private water supply or private sewerage facilities.

10. No grant shall be payable in respect of the provision and installation of a private water supply or private sewerage facilities, notwithstanding the issue of a certificate of the appointed officer that any of the provisions of the Act or these Regulations have been complied with, unless the Minister is satisfied as to the accuracy of such cerificate.

11. Any person aggrieved by the neglect or refusal of an appointed officer to give a certificate required by these Regulations may appeal to the Minister and on such appeal the Minister may as he shall think proper give or refuse such certificate and the decision of the Minister on such appeal shall be final.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

PART I

CONDITIONS IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF A PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY.

1. The provision and installation of a private water supply shall include the provision and installation of a sink in the dwelling-house, if no suitable sink has already been installed.

2. The water pipes shall be provided to the line and description shown on approved documents.

3. The source of the water supply shall be adequately protected against contamination.

4. Stored rainwater from roof catchments shall be used only where springs, wells or other acceptable sources having an adequate supply of water are not available within reasonable distance of the house to be served.

PART II.

STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF A PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY.

1. Water pipes are where practicable to be laid with a minimum cover of 2 feet.

2. Where rain water is to be used as the main source of supply—

(a) A storage tank of at least 1,500 gallons capacity is to be provided ; where private sewerage facilities are provided in conjunction with the private water supply the tank is to have a capacity of at least 3,000 gallons.

(b) The tank is to be water-tight and where possible be of underground construction suitably protected from entrance of surface water ; the internal dimensions for a tank of 1,500 gallons capacity are to be not less than 10 feet x 6 feet x 4 feet liquid depth and for a tank of 3,000 gallons capacity, not less than 12 feet x 8 feet x 5 feet liquid depth ; it is to be fitted with an overflow at 4 feet or 5 feet, as appropriate, over floor level.

(c) If elevated, the tank is not to be constructed directly over any part of a dwelling-house and is to be covered with a suitable light roof of which at least a portion shall be capable of being opened for cleaning purposes.

(d) Where concrete is used, the walls and floor of the tank are to be not less than 9" thick and the roof is to be of reinforced concrete not less than 4" thick ; all concrete is to be composed of one part of cement to two of sand and three of aggregate ; aggregate is not to exceed ¾" in diameter ; the reinforcing of the roof on the tank is to consist of ½" mild steel bars at 6" centres as the main reinforcing with ½" mild steel bars at 12" centres as the cross reinforcing, the steel being placed 1" from the bottom of the slab ; at least a portion of the roof shall be capable of being opened for cleaning purposes.

(e) Provision is to be made to ensure that the downpipe conveying water from the roof to the storage tank is brought direct to the storage tank and that a proper watertight connection is made between it and the storage tank.

3. Where water is to be taken from any other source of supply such as a river or spring which has not a sufficient pressure head for supply between the source and the house fittings or where a rainwater storage tank is not elevated sufficientlyto serve these fittings directly, a 40 gallon galvanised or asbestos cement roof tank, fitted with a ball cock and overflow, and a semi-rotary or other approved type force pump is to be provided ; a service in ½" diameter copper with compression couplings is to be brought from the tank to the sink installed in the dwelling-house and to the other fittings provided therein.

4. Where rainwater collected from roofs is used as the main source of water supply an alternative supply suitable for drinking and cooking purposes is to be available.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

PART I.

CONDITIONS IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF PRIVATE SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

1. The provision and installation of private sewerage facilities shall include the provision and installation of a water closet.

2. A water closet shall not communicate directly with any living room or kitchen and shall be ventilated from outside the dwelling house.

3. The house drains shall be provided to the line and description shown on approved documents.

4. Adequate arrangements shall be made for the disposal of sewage.

5. The water supply shall at all times be sufficient for flushing purposes.

PART II.

STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF PRIVATE SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

1. The provision and installation of private sewerage facilities are, if sufficient pressure head for supply between source and w.c. is not available, to include the provision and installation of (a) a 40 gallon galvanised or asbestos cement roof tank, if such tank has not already been provided and (b) where rain water is to be used as the main source of supply, a storage tank in accordance with standards set out in Part II of the First Schedule hereto.

2. The fittings to the water closet are to be served by ½ inch diameter copper pipe.

3. Where a septic tank is to be provided—

(a) the tank is to be situated, if possible, on the downhill part of the site and is not to be less than 60 feet distant from any dwelling house or public roadway ;

(b) the tank is to have walls and floor of 9" thick mass concrete and be watertight and is to have a minimum average liquid depth of 4 feet and a minimum liquid capacity of 450 gallons ; the width of the tank is to be the smallest practicable, normally 2' 6" and it is to be provided with an inspection chamber at the inlet end and with inlet and outlet T pieces dipped not less than 1' 3" in the tank liquid ; the floor of the tank is to slope towards the inlet end ; a baffle wall of concrete, with a 12" deep opening for its full length adjoining the floor of the tank is to be provided ; it is to have a cover consisting of concrete slabs suitably reinforced and capable of removal for cleaning purposes ; ventilation holes with grids are to be provided in the roof over the T pieces ;

(c) the effluent is to be discharged through unjointed land drain pipes laid end to end to form an even gradient of approximately 1/180 over a drain filled with fine gravel ; the bottom of the drain is to be flat, to be achieved if necessary by benching ;

(d) the drain from the house to the septic tank is to be at least 4 inches in diameter, laid with a minimum cover of 2 feet and at a gradient of approximately ¼8, and is to include a manhole for cleansing purposes ;

(e) satisfactory arrangements for the disposal of effluent from the septic tank are to be made, including provision to ensure that there is no risk of contaminating any water supply.

THIRD SCHEDULE.

PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF A PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY OR PRIVATE SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

1. A person providing and installing a private water supply or private sewerage facilities in a dwelling house shall submit the following documents to the sanitary authority with a view to obtaining a certificate (a) in the case of a private water supply, that no public piped water supply or (b) in the case of private sewerage facilities, that no public sewerage scheme has been provided, or is being provided, in the area in which the dwelling house is situate, and that the sanitary authority has no objection to the proposals :—

(i) a completed application on a form to be obtained from the Department of Local Government ;

(ii) a description of the proposed work including, where appropriate, details of the proposed source of the water supply, together with sketch plans showing the line of the water pipes and house drains, and any structural work, including any structural alterations or additions to the dwelling house ;

(iii) a description of how the work is to be carried out ;

(iv) details of the estimated cost, showing the estimated cost of :—

(a) the provision and installation of the private water supply or private sewerage facilities and

(b) any structural alterations or additions to the dwelling house.

2. When the sanitary authority has issued a certificate that no public piped water supply or no public sewerage scheme, as may be appropriate, has been provided or is being provided, the applicant shall send it and the other documents specified in the preceding paragraph to the Minister.

3. On receipt of the documents the Minister shall cause them to be examined by the appointed officer. The appointed officer may require the applicant to supply him with such further information and documents as may be necessary to enable him to examine the proposal. If a certificate in the form W.A.I. or S.A.I. prescribed in the Fourth Schedule hereto can be given, it shall be completed by the appointed officer and forwarded to the Minister.

4. On receipt of such certificate the Minister will notify the applicant, the appointed officer and the housing authority of the amount of the grant provisionally allocated.

5. When the work has been completed, the applicant shall forward to the Minister a written application for the grant in the form W.A. 2 or S.A. 2 prescribed in the Fourth Schedule hereto.

6. On receipt of such application the Minister shall cause the work to be examined by the appointed officer and if after such examination, a certificate in the form W.A. 3 or S.A. 3 prescribed in the Fourth Schedule hereto can be given it shall be completed by the appointed officer and forwarded to the Minister.

7. On receipt of such certificate the Minister may, if satisfied that the provisions of the Acts and of these Regulations have been complied with, make a grant in respect of the work to the person entitled thereto, and shall notify the appointed officer and the housing authority that such grant has been made.

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

PRESCRIBED FORMS.

(a) Provision of Private Water Supply.

Form W.A. 1 Certificate of approval to provision of water supply.

Form W.A. 2 Application for grant.

Form W.A. 3 Certificate of completion of work.

(b) Provision of Private Sewerage Facilities.

Form S.A. 1 Certificate of approval to provision of private sewerage facilities.

Form S.A. 2 Application for grant.

Form S.A. 3 Certificate of completion of work.

HOUSING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1956 .

Housing (Private Water Supply and Sewerage Facilities) Regulations, 1957.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL TO PROVISION OF PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY.

Name of Applicant

FORM W.A. 1.............

Address

USE BLOCK LETTERS

This is to certify that I have approved of the documents and method of construction proposed for the private water supply described below, which comply with the provisions of the above Act and Regulations.

Subject to the terms of the memorandum on the back of this Certificate the work appears to be eligible for a grant.

The work did not commence before 25th July, 1956.

The house is situate within the....................of....................

(Specify county, county borough, urban district, etc.)

Location of house

Estimated cost

Provisional grant

£

£

Signed............................................

Appointed Officer.

Date.................................... 195 .

APPLICATION FOR GRANT.

To the Minister for

Form W.A. 2....

Local Government.

I have completed the work referred to above and hereby claim payment of the grant of £.................... provisionally allocated.

The work has been completed in accordance with the provisions of the above Act and Regulations and subject to the terms of the memorandum on the back of this Form. I accept in particular No. 7 of the said terms.

Full signature............................................................ .......... (Applicant)

Address only ............................................................ ..............................

(Block Letters)

Date .............................................195 .

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF WORK.

FORM W.A. 3....................

I certify that the work set out in Form W.A. 1 above was inspected by me on....................195 , and the work was completed in a proper and workmanlike manner. I recommend payment of a grant of £....................

Signed............................................................ ........

Appointed Officer

Date...................................195 .

FOR USE IN DEPARTMENT ONLY.

The provisions of the above Act and Regulations have been complied with in regard to the work referred to above and a grant of £....................pounds is properly payable in respect thereof.

...............................................

Rannóg na dTithe

.............................195 .

MEMORANDUM.

(1) The certificate of approval W.A. 1 overleaf will become invalid if the work is not begun within six months from the date thereof. If it is then desired to proceed with the application, the certificate must be sent to the Minister for Local Government for renewal, together with details of the reasons for the delay in commencement.

(2) When the work has been completed the form of application W.A. 2 overleaf, should be completed by the applicant and forwarded to the Minister for Local Government.

(3) The work must be completed in accordance with the approved documents on or before 1st April, 1958, and when completed must be certified by the appointed officer to have been completed in a proper and workmanlike manner.

(4) Notwithstanding the issue of this certificate W.A. 3 a grant will not be paid until the Minister is satisfied as to the accuracy of the certificate.

(5) The work shall be open to inspection by the appointed officer or any other duly authorised officer of the Minister at any reasonable time before the grant is paid.

(6) Materials and appliances manufactured or produced in Ireland must be used as far as possible in the work and shall conform with the current standard quality for the particular work.

(7) The issue of the certificate W.A. 3 and the making of a grant carry no guarantee as to the adequacy or suitability of the water supply and involve no responsibility on the part of the appointed officer or the Minister as to the validity or otherwise of agreements entered into by the applicant in connection with way leaves, water rights and other similar matters.

(8) A grant for the provision and installation of a private water supply will not be paid by the Minister if a grant in respect of the water supply has been paid by the Minister for Agriculture.

DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM. IT IS VITAL TO GRANT PAYMENT.

HOUSING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1956 .

Housing (Private Water Supply and Sewerage Facilities) Regulations, 1957.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL TO PROVISION OF PRIVATE SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

Name of Applicant

FORM S.A. 1.............

Address

USE BLOCK LETTERS

This is to certify that I have approved of the documents and method of construction proposed for the private sewerage facilities described below, which comply with the provisions of the above Act and Regulations.

Subject to the terms of the memorandum on the back of this Certificate the work appears to be eligible for a grant.

The work did not commence before 25th July, 1956.

The house is situate within the...............................................of...............................................

(Specify county, county borough, urban district, etc.)

Location of house

Estimated cost

Provisional grant

£

£

Signed............................................................ ......

Appointed Officer.

Date............................195 .

APPLICATION FOR GRANT.

To the Minister for Local Government.

FORM S.A. 2.........

I have completed the work referred to above and hereby claim payment of the grant of £................................................provisionally allocated.

The work has been completed in accordance with the provisions of the above Act and Regulations and subject to the terms of the memorandum on the back of this Form. I accept in particular No. 7 of the said terms.

Full Signature................................................(Applicant)

Address only............................................................ .........

(BLOCK LETTERS)

Date....................................195 .

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF WORK.

Form S.A. 3....................

I certify that the work set out in Form S.A. 1 above was inspected by me on ....................195 , and the work was completed in a proper and workmanlike manner. I recommend payment of a grant of £....................

Signed............................................................ ...........

Appointed Officer.

Date..............................................195 .

FOR USE IN DEPARTMENT ONLY.

The provisions of the above Act and Regulations have been complied with in regard to the work referred to above and a grant of £................................. pounds is properly payable in respect thereof

............................................................ ..................

Rannóg na dTithe

............................................................ ........195.

MEMORANDUM.

(1) The certificate of approval S.A. 1 overleaf will become invalid if the work is not begun within six months from the date thereof. If it is then desired to proceed with the application, the certificate must be sent to the Minister for Local Government for renewal, together with details of the reasons for the delay in commencement.

(2) When the work has been completed the form of application S.A. 2 should be completed by the applicant and forwarded to the Minister for Local Government.

(3) The work must be completed in accordance with the approved documents on or before 1st April, 1958, and when completed must be certified by the appointed officer to have been completed in a proper and workmanlike manner.

(4) Notwithstanding the issue of this certificate S.A. 3 a grant will not be paid until the Minister is satisfied as to the accuracy of the certificate.

(5)The work shall be open to inspection by the appointed officer or any other duly authorised officer of the Minister at any reasonable time before the grant is paid.

(6) Materials and appliances manufactured or produced in Ireland must be used as far as possible in the work and shall conform with the current standard quality for the particular work.

(7) The issue of the certificate S.A. 3 and the making of a grant carry no guarantee as to the efficiency in operation of the sewage disposal works and involve no responsibility on the part of the appointed officer or the Minister as to the validity or otherwise of agreements entered into by the applicant in connection with way leaves, water rights and other similar matters.

DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM. IT IS VITAL TO GRANT PAYMENT.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Local Government this Eighth day of February One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-seven.

PATRICK O'DONNELL,

Minister for Local Government.

The Minister for Finance hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Dated this Eighth day of February, 1957.

GERARD SWEETMAN,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These regulations prescribe the conditions to be complied with by applicants for grants for the installation in a dwelling-house of a private water supply or private sewerage facilities.