Septic Tanks

Septic Tanks

Domestic Septic Tanks/Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS)

Domestic Septic Tanks Legislation

The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and Water Services Act 2017 requires water services authorities to maintain a register of domestic waste water treatment systems including septic tanks and similar systems in their functional areas.

Domestic Septic Tank Registration

If you have one of these systems, you must register it. There is a fee of €50 to register your domestic waste water treatment system. You can register and pay online at www.protectourwater.ie. If you do not register your system and are convicted, you could be fined up to €5,000.

It can be inspected by a local authority to prevent any risk to the public and the environment. Inspectors are appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must show you their identification if you ask for it.

Information for Owners of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS)

Householders need to know where their domestic septic tank is located.
Householders are required to operate and maintain the domestic septic tank system so it is fit for purpose, fully operational and compliant.
Your domestic septic tank cannot pollute the environment by discharging or leaking waste i.e. into the ground or any water source.
Surface water run off cannot enter a domestic waste water treatment system.
Your domestic septic tank should be de-sludged at regular intervals.

Domestic Septic Tank Inspection Guidelines

All Domestic Septic Tank inspections in South Dublin County Council will be carried out by trained inspection staff.
Householders cannot request an inspection. Dwellings due for inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022 – 2026 will be given advance notice in writing by South Dublin County Council.

Registering your Domestic Septic Tank

Owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems are required to ensure their systems are registered.
The septic tank registration form can be downloaded below:
For more information and to Register online go to https://www.protectourwater.ie/
Further information also available at: http://www.epa.ie/water/wastewater/info/

Maintaining/Desludging your Domestic Septic Tank

In order to maintain your septic tank, you can get an authorised operator to desludge your system every 1 to 5 years.
You can search on the National Waste Collection Permit Office website to find registered septic tank desludging operators in South Dublin County Council: https://www.nwcpo.ie/permitsearch.aspx

What are the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant Schemes?

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 South Dublin County Council 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 Waster 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).

How to Qualify

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 as follows:

Terms & Conditions DWWTS under National Inspection Plan

Terms & Conditions DWWTS Grant for Houses in Prioritised Areas for Action

Terms & Conditions DWWTS Grant for Houses in High Status Objective Catchment Areas

How to Apply

If you are eligible to apply for the Grant scheme, you can complete the following Grant Application forms:

Application-Form-HSOCA-(a)-2024-(ga)

Application-Form-HSOCA-(a)-2024

Application-Form-PAA-(a)-2024-(ga)

Application-Form-PAA-(a)-2024

Claim-Payment-Form-HSOCA-(b)-2024-(ga)