A registration and inspection regime was introduced in June 2012 for domestic waste water treatment systems such as septic tanks. The regime aims to protect ground and surface water quality from the risks posed by systems that are not working properly.

Registration

Under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 owners of domestic waste water treatment systems are required to ensure that their systems are on the register. Systems for domestic wastewater should be registered on www.protectourwater.ie.

The general deadline for registration was 1 February 2013, but late registrations are being accepted. 

A national register has been compiled and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a national inspection plan. The list of registered systems in County Cavan can be viewed by contacting the Environment Section at 049 437 8486 or environ@cavancoco.ie.

Owners of domestic waste water treatment systems need to:

• Know where their septic tank is located
• Operate and maintain the system so it is fit for purpose and fully operational
• Ensure that the system cannot pollute the environment by discharging or leaking waste anywhere it is not supposed to, that is, into the ground or any water source
• Ensure that roof water or surface water run-off cannot enter a domestic waste water treatment system
• De-sludge the system at intervals appropriate to the tank capacity and the number of people resident in the premises connected to it, or as recommended by the system’s manufacturer. De-sludging should be carried out by an authorised contractor. You should keep the receipt from the contractor for 5 years.

Waste Collection Permit Holders

The following list provides details of waste collection permit holders from Cavan, Meath, Monaghan, Louth, Longford, and Fermanagh authorised to collect septic tank/wastewater treatment system sludge in County Cavan.

• Download the Waste Collection Permit holders list (PDF, 424kb)

Inspections

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. Such inspections concentrate on areas with high risk to the environment and public health – where drinking water sources or habitats are at risk from waste water discharges. They are also carried out in areas of lower risk, but at a lower rate.

Cavan County Council will notify you if your domestic waste water treatment system is to be inspected. The inspectors are trained inspection staff from Cavan County Council who have been appointed and approved by the EPA. They carry identification and show it to householders on request. If the inspector finds that your system is working properly and being maintained correctly, you need take no extra action. Otherwise you will get an advisory notice from the local authority, requiring you to improve the maintenance of your system or to upgrade or remediate it. Any remediation work required will be based on factors such as the nature of the problem, the extent of risk to public health or the environment, existing site size, and the hydrological and geological conditions present.

If you need to carry out this type of work, you may be able to get a grant to help with the cost of the work required.

• Download the EPA's Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspection Report 2023

Grant Applications for Septic Tanks

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.  The treatment system must have been inspected under the National Inspection Plan and an advisory notice issued by the local authority under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

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).  The treatment system serves 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.

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).  The treatment system serves a house that is situated in a High Status Objective Catchment Area in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, this can be checked by inputting an EIRCODE in the following map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5eaae1b83cf84197b1f184a5ef7c2696 (use of Google Chrome web browser recommended)

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.

Standards

If you have a septic tank or similar domestic waste water treatment system, you already have a duty of care (under the Water Services Act 2007) to ensure that your treatment system does not cause a risk to human health or the environment or create a nuisance through odours. The 2012 Act adds to the existing duty of care provisions.

The EPA’s 2009 Code of Practice on waste water treatment systems for single houses sets out the most up-to-date standards. However, these will not be applied to older systems. The 2012 Regulations define performance standards, including maintenance and de-sludging requirements.

The EPA in conjunction with the Network of Ireland’s Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (NIECE) Working Group on Engagement has produced an information leaflet on septic tank systems.  A Private Wells leaflet is also available.  

• Download the 'Have you completed a septic tank system check?' Information leaflet on septic tank checks
• Download the 'Have your checked your well water supply?' Information leaflet on well check
• Download the 'How to safely spread sludge from your septic tank' information leaflet on sludge spreading (PDF, 1MB)

Further information

You can contact Cavan County Council or go to the EPA website ‘Householder Information on septic tanks’ for more information.

There is also a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on protectourwater.ie.