Delays in fixing failed septic tanks is unacceptable, says EPA

Date released: June 29, 2022

• Over half (53%) of septic tank systems failed inspection in 2021.
• Three quarters of systems failing inspection have been fixed, but delays in resolving older failures is a concern.
• Faulty septic tank systems are a risk to people’s health and the environment.
• The National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 requires increased inspections and enforcement to ensure failed systems are fixed.

30th June 2022: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2021. This is a report of the 1,147 inspections of septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2021. Fifty-three per cent (604) of the systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly. Twenty-nine per cent (337) of systems inspected were considered a risk to human health or the environment, because faulty systems can contaminate household drinking water wells and pollute rivers.

Commenting on the report, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said,

“If you do not maintain your septic tank, it can contaminate your own or your neighbour’s drinking water well, or your local stream, putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours. Some of these problems may go unnoticed unless householders check their septic tank and drinking water well. Householders should visually check their septic tank and get their well tested at least annually to satisfy themselves that their septic tank is not posing a risk to the health of their families, their neighbours and the environment. Where problems are detected, householders need to take the necessary steps to fix their septic tanks.”

Local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix septic tanks that fail inspection. The report found there were 533 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed. The septic tank grant scheme, which was expanded in 2020, offers grants of €5,000 to assist in addressing malfunctioning systems.

Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said,

"The need to fix failing septic tanks has been repeatedly highlighted by the EPA as a concern. It is unacceptable that over 500 failed septic tanks are not fixed more than two years after inspection. Over half of these involve sewage ponding in gardens and discharging to ditches and streams, which cannot be allowed to continue. Local authorities must increase their enforcement effort to ensure failed systems are fixed.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 - 2026 was published in 2021. The plan increases inspections from 1,000 to 1,200 from 2023 onwards. Inspections will be focused near rivers where there is greater risk to water quality, and areas with shallow soils where there is greater risk to household wells.
The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2021, is available on the EPA’s website.

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

Notes to Editor

Septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems are used by rural householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland, mostly septic tank systems.

The EPA is responsible for the development of a National Inspection Plan for domestic waste water treatment systems. Under the plan, local authorities undertake a minimum of 1,000 inspections each year, increasing to 1,200 in 2023, distributed by risk across the country.

Local authorities and the EPA have made information available to the public on the inspection process and on maintenance of systems on their websites.

Details of the eligibility criteria and level of grant are available on the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government website.

Inspection findings by local authority area (ranked by percent of systems fixed), Table 1 of the report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2021:

* Includes inspections carried forward from 2020