By the end of 2017, all buildings in Slovenia must be connected to a public sewage system or have a residential wastewater system installed. The deadline for buildings in water protection zones expires two years earlier (end of 2015). Those who fail to comply face fines of 300 to 1,200 euros.

A complete mystery to some people
People living on remote farms say that a residential wastewater system that costs several thousand euros is a complete mystery to them. Marija Korenč from the small hamlet of Žibrše nad Logatcem said that her household is not even connected to the public water supply, so she cannot be expected to install a wastewater system.

In the municipality of Logatec (where the hamlet of Žibrše is located), 1,300 people will have to install a residential wastewater system. Those who do not live in a water protection zone have another two and a half years (end of 2017) to install one.

People waiting for access to the public sewage system also face problems
The municipality of Logatec plans to connect 2,500 residents to the public sewage system. Mayor Berto Menard says that this is a problem because the municipality does not have sufficient funds to pay for the project. So, what about people who will have access to the public sewage system, but only after 2017 – what are they to do?

“People keep calling us, asking us what to do. They don’t want to be fined by inspectors. They wonder whether they should install their own wastewater system if the state fails to secure the funds,” the mayor said. He turned to the Ministry of the Environment for a response, but never got one.

Deadline to be extended?
Other municipalities have been struggling with the same problem, the opposition Democrats (SDS) said. They asked the Ministry of the Environment to extend the deadlines. Minister Irena Majcen said they are looking into the matter, adding that she was “certain the deadline would already be extended this year, but those living in water protection zones need to install a wastewater system”.

The only exception to this rule might be households with multi-chambered septic tanks. They might not be required to install residential wastewater systems or hook up the house to the public sewage system. The Democrats said they want these multi-chambered septic tanks to be classified as residential wastewater systems, stressing that they do almost as good a job at treating wastewater. According to minister Majcen, the ministry has yet to give its opinion on the matter.

Erika Pečnik Ladika, TV Slovenija; translated by D. V.