Septic Tanks (DWWTS)
Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems -DWWTS
Septic Tanks and your Responsibilities
Domestic wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks) collect, treat, and discharge wastewater from households that are not connected to public sewerage systems. Your septic tank accepts wastewater from toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers in your house. This means that your septic tank will contain bacteria, germs, and chemicals as well as water and waste materials. As a householder with a septic tank, you have responsibilities for its design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Register your wastewater treatment system online
- Pump out (de-sludge) and service your system regularly using a permitted contractor.
- Keep a record of all service work and de-sludging.
- Ensure all manhole covers are secure.
- Prevent grease, excessive bleach and chemicals, food, disposable items, and rainwater from entering your system.
The Contractor must provide you as Householder with a receipt with the following details:
- Their Waste Permit Number
- Date of sludge collection
- Weight collected and destination of sludge (treatment and disposal)
Click here for further information on DWWTS [Septic Tanks]
Septic Tank Sludge Removal Contractors
Domestic wastewater treatment systems (Septic Tanks) – Financial Assistance
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has announced that grants available for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (commonly known as Septic Tanks) will be increased to €12,000 from €5,000.
The Minister also announced that the qualifying condition that the septic tank must be registered with the local authority prior to 1st February 2013, will be removed. The changes, took effect from the 1st of January 2024.
Grants of 85% up to a maximum of €15,000 are available to fix septic tanks systems under the following grant schemes:
- National Inspection Plan: Grants are available to fix septic tank systems that fail inspection by a Local Authority under the National Inspection Plan and need remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement. The homeowner will receive an advisory notice from the Local Authority requiring the system to be fixed. The Local Authority will also handle the grant application.
- High Status Objective Catchment Areas: Grants are available to fix septic tank systems in these areas that are or may be causing a threat to the environment and need remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement. You can check if you are in these areas by inputting your code into the following map and apply to the Local Authority for the grant.
- Priority Areas for Action: Grants are available to fix septic tank systems in these areas that are or may be causing a threat to the environment and need remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement. These systems will be identified by the Local Authority Waters Programme Office who will issue a letter confirming eligibility to apply. The homeowner can then apply to the Local Authority for the grant.
In all of the above grant schemes 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 wastewater treatment system.
Grants are administered by Local Authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.
Leitrim County Council Environment Department
Áras an Chontae,
St. Georges Terrace,
Carrick on Shannon,
Co. Leitrim,
N41 PF67
0719620005 Ext 611