Over half of septic tanks inspected by local authorities in Ireland last year failed to meet required standards, posing risks to both human health and the environment, according to a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report.
The EPA’s 2024 Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections report revealed that 56% of the 1,390 inspected septic tanks were inadequately built or maintained. The inspections specifically targeted systems near rivers and household drinking water wells most vulnerable to contamination.
Dr. Micheál Lehane, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, called for “greater and sustained enforcement effort” from local authorities conducting the inspections. The agency highlighted inconsistent enforcement practices across different regions, noting that while 66 legal cases have been initiated since inspections began in 2013, 95% of these were brought by just four local authorities: Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, and Wexford.
Faulty septic tanks can contaminate household drinking water with harmful bacteria and viruses, while excessive nitrogen and phosphorus releases may pollute surrounding water bodies. Domestic waste water has been identified as a significant pressure on water quality in 9% of at-risk water bodies across Ireland.
Despite concerns, there has been some progress, with 82% of septic tanks that failed inspection between 2013-2024 now fixed, up from 75% at the end of 2021. The number of unresolved advisory notices older than two years decreased for the first time, dropping from 576 to 523.
EPA Programme Manager Noel Byrne encouraged homeowners to maintain their septic tanks and take advantage of enhanced grant schemes, which increased from €5,000 to €12,000 in early 2024. Last year saw 265 grants awarded totaling nearly €2.5 million, compared to 194 grants in 2023.
Four local authorities—Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, and Wexford—failed to complete their required inspection allocations for 2024 and must make these up in 2025, with the EPA warning it may issue legal directions if shortfalls continue.