Replacement of aging septic tank: Recommendation to Ministry of the Environment to ``clarify standards''

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has asked the Ministry of the Environment to promote the replacement of septic tanks, saying that the septic tanks that purify domestic wastewater before discharging it into rivers are aging and in some cases are being used that pose environmental and sanitary problems. It recommended that the criteria for determining whether there is a problem be clarified.

Septic tanks, which purify domestic wastewater before discharging it into rivers, are installed in homes in areas without sewage treatment facilities, but even if they become old and have environmental or sanitary problems, they are expensive to replace. Because of this, cases in which it is used as is can be seen in various places.

For this reason, the national government revised the law in 2019, allowing prefectures to determine whether there is a problem with specific types of septic tanks that may cause serious problems, and to encourage residents who have installed them to remove them. We have introduced a system where we can provide advice and guidance.

The Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications conducted a survey of 34 local governments across the country regarding the utilization status of this system, and found that only four local governments had determined whether there were any problems as of FY2021. is.

When we asked local governments about the reasons for the lack of progress in making decisions, we heard that some said it was difficult for local government officials to judge the urgency of the situation, and others said that the national criteria for making decisions is too abstract and they would like to see concrete numbers. That's it.

In response to the investigation, the Administrative Evaluation Bureau recommended that the Ministry of the Environment quantify and clarify the criteria for evaluation in order to promote the replacement of septic tanks.

The Ministry of the Environment said, ``We will consider the recommendations and take necessary measures.''