Fixing faulty septic tanks is taking too long, says EPA

Date released: June 27, 2023

• Half of septic tanks failed inspection in 2022 with 20 per cent identified as a risk to human health and the environment. 
• Enforcement by local authorities of failed septic tanks is inconsistent, with the lowest rates of Septic Tank failures fixed in Roscommon, Waterford, Leitrim and Tipperary. 
• Over 1,100  septic tank inspections were completed by local authorities in 2022. Inspections by Clare, Waterford and Offaly Councils last year were well below their  requirements.

28th June 2023: Domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS), mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2022. The EPA examined the 1,143 inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2022. Forty-nine per cent (560) of the treatment systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly. Twenty per cent (230) of treatment 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, 

“Faulty septic tanks are a risk to human health and the environment. If not built and operated properly, they can pollute watercourses and contaminate household drinking water wells with harmful bacteria and viruses. Where septic tanks are not functioning properly, it is critical that householders fix the problems to protect their family’s health, and the environment.”

Where septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The report found that there were 550 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed. The septic tank grant scheme, offers grants up to €5,000 to assist in addressing malfunctioning systems. Over 200 grants, totaling nearly €1 million were awarded in 2022.

Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said, 

"It is unacceptable that failed septic tanks have not been fixed more than two years after inspection. Half of these involve sewage surfacing in gardens and discharging to ditches and streams, which are health risks that cannot be allowed to continue. Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities, particularly in Roscommon, Waterford, Leitrim and Tipperary, to ensure failed systems are fixed to protect human health and the environment.”

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. There was a shortfall in inspections by five local authorities in 2022 and these need to be completed in 2023. Inspections are 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 System Inspections 2022, 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

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. 

Table 1: Inspection findings by local authority area (ranked by percent of systems fixed)

*Includes inspections carried forward from 2021

Table KEY