Over half of septic tanks inspected by the ROI Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed in 2024, but the number of grant approvals to repair or replace an existing septic grant grew by over a third.
In this article we cover:
- Septic tank inspection results from 2024 and what they mean for rural homes
- Common reasons for septic tank failure and how to avoid them
- Updated grant supports of up to €12,000 for repairs or upgrades
- Number of septic tank grants approved in 2024
More than half of the septic tanks inspected in Ireland last year failed the test, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns in its latest annual report on domestic waste management systems. The failures, concentrated in areas close to rivers and private wells, pose risks to householders’ health and the environment.
Local authorities carried out 1,390 inspections in 2024 under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan, up on the minimum annual target of 1,200. These inspections focused on homes where domestic waste water systems – mostly septic tanks – are likely to affect drinking water sources or pollute nearby rivers.
Of the tanks inspected, 56 per cent (773 systems) failed due to issues such as poor design, lack of maintenance or damage.
Domestic wastewater treatment systems – most commonly septic tanks – collect, treat and discharge wastewater from households that are not connected to a mains sewerage system. Many self-builders who build their home in the countryside need an onsite wastewater treatment system as few mains connections tend to be available.
Faulty systems can result in sewage leaks that threaten both the household’s own water supply and local ecosystems.
All septic tanks must be registered with local authorities who may inspect them to ensure they do not pollute waterways, soil and river streams.
The EPA report also states that the majority of issues flagged over the past decade have since been addressed: 82 per cent of tanks that failed between 2013 and 2024 had been fixed by the end of last year, up from 75 per cent in 2021. The number of unresolved cases more than two years old is also dropping – from 576 in 2023 to 523 in 2024.
The EPA says this improvement is partly thanks to a higher uptake in grants. A key change introduced in January 2024 increased the maximum grant for remediation work from €5,000 to €12,000. The rule requiring systems to have been registered before 2013 was also scrapped, making the support more widely available.
In total, 265 septic tank grants were approved last year, amounting to nearly €2.5 million in funding – up from 194 grants in 2023.
Commenting on the findings, the EPA’s Programme Manager Noel Byrne urged rural householders to act:
“More than half of septic tanks failed inspection, which is a real concern. Householders’ water supplies and local rivers may be exposed to contamination… By maintaining their septic tank and fixing any problems identified, householders will protect their health and the environment.”
The report also notes that four local authorities – Limerick, Donegal, Wexford and Leitrim – fell short of their inspection targets in 2024 and are expected to make up the shortfall this year.
