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
There is a grant available to upgrade or replace your Septic Tank/Domestic Wastewater Treatment System. This grant is 85% of the cost of works up to a maximum of €12,000. This was increased in 2024 from €5,000.
The grant for upgrading/replacing your Septic Tank/Domestic Wastewater Treatment System is not available to every person/household but is only available to persons where their property/household falls within one of the following 3 categories:
- The septic tank at the property was inspected under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice issued by the Local Authority. Please click on the following link to find out more about the National Inspection Plan
- The property is situated in a Prioritized Area for Action in accordance with the Local Authority River Basin Management Plan and a letter has been issued by the Local Authority Waters Programme Office (LAWPO) on behalf of the Local Authority confirming eligibility. Please click on the following link to find out how a property is selected to be in a Prioritized Area for Action
- The property is situated in a High-Status Objective Catchment Area in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan and has been checked by High Status Objective Catchment Area Map.
You can check this by opening the following link and entering your Eircode:
High Status Objective Catchment Areas (arcgis.com)
Unfortunately, if your property does not fall within one of the above 3 categories the grant is not applicable.
Grants are not 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