Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems

Waste water from our homes must be treated to remove polluting material so that it can be released safely back into the environment. Depending on where you live, your waste water either goes to a public sewer (also known as urban waste water treatment plants) operated by Uisce Éireann, or your own domestic waste water treatment system (for example, a septic tank).

Registering your domestic waste water treatment system

Households with domestic waste water treatment system are required to register their systems under the Water Services (Amendment) Act, 2012. 

Households can register their domestic waste water treatment system online by creating an account on the ProtectOurWater.ie. The registration fee is €50.

Domestic waste water treatment system inspections 

Householders may not apply to have a domestic waste water treatment system inspection carried out. Inspections are allocated across the country through the National Inspection Plan, with the greatest focus on areas where there is the most risk to groundwater, surface water or human health. 

These inspections identify treatment systems that do not meet the required standard. Irrespective of the age or type of system in place, if there is no evidence of risk to human health or the environment, no action is necessary. There is no question of imposing modern standards on older systems, or of householders having to acquire additional land to remediate systems arising from an inspection.

The inspections take place subject to the following eligibility requirements:

  1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a National Inspection Plan to help identify domestic waste water treatment systems that are not meeting the expected standard. The treatment system must have been inspected under this inspection plan and an advisory notice issued by the local authority under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. The relevant Regulations are Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 184 of 2020). Details of the inspection process are set out in the National Inspection Plan.
  2. The treatment system must serve a house that is situated in a Prioritised Area for Action in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, and a letter has been issued by the Local Authority Waters Programme Office on behalf of the relevant local authority, confirming eligibility to apply. The relevant Regulations are Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Financial Assistance for Prioritised Areas for Action) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 185 of 2020).

Where an on-site system fails an inspection, the remediation work required is based on factors such as:

  • the nature of the problem
  • the extent of risk to public health or the environment
  • the existing site size and the hydrological and geological conditions present

Inspections are carried out by trained inspectors who are employees of Longford County Council. The owners of septic tanks that are to be inspected, will be notified in writing approximately 10 days in advance of the proposed inspection date. If a property owner is contacted regarding a septic tank inspection, they are entitled to seek proof of identity before allowing any inspection to be carried out at their property.

    Domestic waste water treatment system grants

    Grants are only available for a domestic waste water treatment system that has failed an inspection. There is no general grant available and property owners cannot self select their domestic waste water treatment system for inspection. 

    Grants will assist with the cost of required works following an inspection. These works could include remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of, a domestic waste water treatment system. 

    Grants will not be paid towards the normal costs of ensuring a system is working properly, for example: maintaining, servicing or de-sludging a domestic waste water treatment system

      The above grant schemes are being administered by Longford County Council on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 

      Septic tank de-sludging 

      You must de-sludge septic tanks regularly, with the frequency of de-sludging dependent on the useable tank volume and the number of people occupying the house, for example: 

      • Two person households should de-sludge their septic tank every five years
      • Three person households should de-sludge every three years for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 to 3 cubic meters, every four years for a volume of 3.5 cubic meters and every five years for a volume above 4 cubic meters
      • Four person households should de-sludge every two years for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 to three cubic meters, every three years for a volume of 3.5 to 4 cubic meters, every four years for a volume of 4.5 cubic meters and every five years above 5 cubic meters
      • Five person households should de-sludge every year for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 cubic meters, every two years for a volume of 3 to 3.5 cubic meters, every three years for a volume of 4 to 5 cubic meters, every four years for a volume of 5 cubic meters and every five years for a volume of 6 cubic meters
      • Six person households should de-sludge every year for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 to 3 cubic meters, every two years for a volume of 3.5 to 4.5 cubic meters, and every three years for a volume above 5 cubic meters
      • Seven person households should de-sludge every year for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 to 3.5 cubic meters, every two years for a volume of 4 to 5.5 cubic meters and every three years for a volume above 6 cubic meters
      • Eight person households should de-sludge every year for septic tanks with a volume of 2.5 to 4 cubic meters, and every two years for a volume above 4.5 cubic meters

      Please see the list of County Longford authorised septic tank sludge collectors. 

      Further Information

      A series of information leaflets about the operation and maintenance of domestic waste water treatment systems, inspections of such systems and the risks to well water quality are also available: