Domestic waste water treatment systems (septic tanks)

Households connected to domestic wastewater treatment systems are required to register their systems in line with the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012 (SI No. 220 of 2012), as amended by Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration)(Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI No. 180 of 2013). This includes households connected to septic tanks and similar systems.

Households can register and pay online by credit or debit card by creating an account on the Protect Our Water website or in person at their local authority office.

Registration forms are available from:

• Local Authority Offices
• Public Libraries
• Citizen Information Centres

The registration fee is €50. Householders who have not yet registered should do so as soon as possible as it is an offence for a householder not to register and, if convicted, the penalty is a fine of up to €5,000. The fee covers the costs of administering the register and managing inspections that are carried out under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

Registration was introduced to address a European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland in October 2009. More importantly, it will help protect ground and surface water quality, particularly drinking water sources, from risks posed by faulty systems.

The basic standard expected for all domestic waste water treatment systems is that they do not cause a risk to human health or the environment. Inspections are carried out to identify treatment systems that do not meet this 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.

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.

The grants are available to assist householders with the cost of works for the remediation, repair, upgrade, or replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS) serving a house. You may be eligible to apply for a grant to your local authority if you meet the criteria set out in the Terms and Conditions for the scheme.

Grants are available under three separate schemes:

• DWWTS grant under the National Inspection Plan
• DWWTS grant in Prioritised Areas for Action
• DWWTS grant in High Status Objective Catchment Areas.

The regulations that provide for these are the:

Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant under the National Inspection Plan) Regulations 2023

S.I. No. 562 of 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for the preparation of a National Inspection Plan for the inspection and monitoring of DWWTS, in order to help identify DWWTS that are not meeting the expected standard. It is the responsibility of local authorities to implement the plan on behalf of the EPA.

Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant for Prioritised Areas for Action) Regulations 2023

S.I. No. 563 of 2023

This grant was introduced to support the attainment of water quality objectives in Prioritised Areas for Action, as outlined in the national River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 (RBMP).

Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant for High Status Objective Catchment Areas) Regulations 2023

S.I. No. 564 of 2023

This grant was introduced to support the attainment of water quality objectives in High Status Objective Catchment Areas as outlined in the national River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 (RBMP).

All eligible works to DWWTS for the purpose of obtaining one of these grants must be carried out in accordance with the EPA 2021 Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems.

Important: Costs incurred for the routine maintenance, servicing or de-sludging of a DWWTS do not qualify for a grant.

The terms and conditions of the three grant schemes are:

DWWTS grant under the National Inspection Plan

In order to be eligible for this grant, works to the DWWTS must arise directly from an inspection carried out under the National Inspection Plan, and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice to the householder by the local authority.

The terms and conditions for the scheme can be found here:

DWWTS grant in a Prioritised Area for Action

In order to be eligible for this grant, the DWWTS serving a house must be situated in a Prioritised Area for Action in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021, and the applicant must have received a letter from the Local Authority Waters Programme Office on behalf of the local authority, confirming eligibility to apply for a grant.

The terms and conditions for the scheme can be found here:

DWWTS grant in a High Status Objective Catchment Area

In order to be eligible for this grant, the DWWTS serving a house must be situated in a High Status Objective Catchment Area in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021, and the applicant must have received a letter from the local authority confirming eligibility to apply for a grant.

To help identify if a house is in a HSOCA area, this can be checked by inputting an EIRCODE in the map.

The terms and conditions for the scheme can be found here:

The grant schemes will continue to be administered by the local authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The correct application and claim forms to be used for any of the grants may be obtained from your local authority in whose functional area the DWWTS, is located.

Any enquiries should be addressed to the Rural Water Liaison Officer in the relevant local authority.