Septic Tank Inspections

The Water Services (Amendment) Act, 2012 provides for the introduction of a national inspection system for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems such as Septic Tanks and other effluent treatment systems.

All such inspections in County Longford will be carried out by trained inspectors who are employees of Longford County Council. The owners of Septic Tanks that are selected for will be notified in writing by the County Council approximately 10 days in advance of the proposed inspection date. If anybody contacts you regarding a Septic Tank inspection you are entitled to seek proof of identity from them before you allow them to carry out any inspection at your property.

National Inspection Plan

Details of the inspection process etc. are set out in the National Inspection Plan, which was published by the EPA in 2022.
Link to National Inspection Plan 2022-2026

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a National Inspection Plan (NIP) 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)

The treatment system serves a house that is situated in a Prioritised Area for Action (PAA) in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, and a letter has been issued by the Local Authority Waters Programme Office (LAWPRO) 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)

In all of the above grant schemes the following criteria apply:

Grants are available for improvement works if your septic tank is selected for inspection under either of the above two schemes. There is no general grant available where you self select your septic tank for instection.
The treatment system requiring attention must have been registered by the owner by 1st February 2013, or in the case of treatment systems constructed or installed after this date registration must have been completed within 90 days of connection.
Grants will not be paid towards the normal costs of ensuring a system is working properly e.g. maintaining, servicing or de-sludging a domestic waste water treatment system.

Please contact the Environment Department of Longford Council for further information.