56% of septic tanks fail to meet required standard
More than half of 1,400 domestic septic tanks inspected by local authorities last year failed to meet the required standard.
The Environmental Protection Agency said this is a real concern because failures pose a serious health risk to individuals and the environment.
It is calling for greater and sustained enforcement effort by local authorities.
There are nearly half a million septic tanks in Ireland.
They are installed where properties are not connected to the public sewage system, to treat sewage from households on site.
However, today's Domestic Wastewater Treatment Inspections Report from the EPA says many septic tanks are not built or not maintained properly, and more than half of them pose a risk to human health and the environment.
Local Authorities inspected 1,390 septic tanks last year, focusing on those close to rivers and household drinking water wells.
More than half, 56%, failed those inspections.
Poor maintenance, septic tanks not being desludged, the discharging of effluent into ditches or streams, leaks, and effluent ponding were the most common faults.
Household drinking water wells can become contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses from faulty septic tanks.
People may be exposed to sewage if it surfaces in gardens or runs off into ditches and streams.
Excessive releases of nitrogen and phosphorus can cause pollution in receiving waters.
Local authorities issue advisory notices when septic tanks fail inspection, setting out what needs to be done to fix the problem and informing homeowners about remediation grants of up to €12,000 that are available.
Last year 265 grants were awarded. The average amount was about €9,400.
Michael Kehoe, of MK Environmental Solutions, a company in Wexford that replaces old septic tanks on restricted sites, says the grant application process is straightforward.
"I operate a bit like a one-stop-shop. I do the initial assessment, the design solution, the sign off and certification, and the grant application paperwork for people.
"You do have to wait six or seven weeks from the time you make your application before you get your payment back from the council. But overall, it's a fantastic system," he says.
Despite this, 523 advisory notices were still open, indicating the problems had not been fixed, two years after householders had been informed.
Also, a 17% increase in inspections between 2023 and 2024 resulted in a 24% increase in the failure rate.
This might suggest a more extensive inspection regime by Local Authorities could uncover a possibly lower average standard overall.
EPA Programme Manager, Noel Byrne, said there are three simple steps householders need to do.
"They need to go down the garden and look around their septic tank and percolation area and see if there are any problems. They need to desludge, or empty out their tank, once every three or four years.
"That would only cost them €300. And, if they have a drinking water well, they need to get it tested once a year. Doing those simple steps will protect their family and the environment," he said.
"Householders should take advantage of the enhanced grants where applicable," he added.
The EPA said there was a shortfall in septic tank inspections last year in counties Limerick, Donegal, Wexford and Leitrim.
Those Local Authorities must now make up these shortfalls in 2025.
Official figures show 18% of septic tanks that failed inspection over the past decade were still not fixed by the end of last year.
Dr Micheál Lehane, Director of the EPA's Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, said the number of unresolved advisory notices is unacceptably high, allowing risks to public health and the environment to continue.
He called for greater and sustained enforcement effort by local authorities and for them to take legal action where necessary.
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