Septic Tank Inspections

• Other relevant links
• Air Quality
• Beaches of County Galway
• Burial Grounds
• Septic Tank Inspections

About one-third of all houses (500,000) in Ireland rely on a domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS) to collect, treat and discharge their wastewater. Septic tanks are one type of DWWTS.  

When not designed or operated properly, DWWTSs are in danger of contaminating domestic wells or water sources. Contaminated water from DWWTSs can carry pathogens (bacteria/germs/bugs) and harmful chemicals that can cause serious illness and damage to the environment. It is the responsibility of the owner of the septic tanks/domestic wastewater treatment systems to maintain them in full working order including regular desludging of the tank.  

An information leaflet on how to look after your septic tank/domestic wastewater treatment system is available HERE.

Desludging of Septic Tanks/Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems 

A  list of contractors permitted to empty septic tanks/wastewater treatment systems is available from the national waste collection permit office www.nwcpo.ie.  

It is an offence to use an unpermitted person/contractor to empty your septic tank. 

Information for farmers on how to safely spread sludge from their own tanks on their own land is available HERE.

Inspections  

Galway County Council carry out inspections each year of septic tanks under the EPA National Inspection Programme. An information leaflet on what to expect from a septic tank inspection is available HERE.   

Grant Schemes

Since the 1^st January 2024, after a review of the Septic Tank Grants scheme, 2 main changes have been introduced:

• A significant increase in maximum grant level from €5,000 to €12,000. Grant is 85% of approved costs.
• Removal of requirement to have Septic Tank registered to qualify for a grant.

 Householders may be eligible for a grant in carrying out remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of a wastewater system that serves a house.

3 different grant schemes are in place, however there are restrictions on eligibility under each scheme. Further information is available from:

 Gov.ie - Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems

 EPA - Septic Tank Inspections

 

*Please note that householders cannot request for an inspection to be carried out by the Local Authority unless a letter from LAWPRO has been received confirming eligibility or the property in question is within a High Status Objective Catchment Area (check map here: High Status Objective Catchment Areas)

 

Registration of Septic Tanks/Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems

All queries relating to septic tank registration should be directed to ‘Protect our Water’. For full details visit: https://www.protectourwater.ie/ 

 

Wells

Private well water supplies are at particular risk of pollution from septic tanks as they depend on good quality water coming directly from the ground. An information leaflet on how to protect your well can be found HERE.  

 

Information on the criteria for inspection of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems is available here:

Criteria for Inspections of Domestic Waste Water Systems