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.

Septic Tank Inspections - EPA Ireland - Maintaining Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS)

Please note that Protect Our Water deal with registration of a Septic Tank and they can be contacted by phone at (01) 643 8484 or by email at support@protectourwater.ie. 

• 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 from €5,000 in 2024).

The grant for upgrading/replacing your Septic Tank/Domestic Wastewater Treatment System is not available to every person/household. It is only available to persons where their property/household falls within one of the following 3 categories:

1. The Septic Tank at the property was inspected under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice was issued by the Local Authority. Please click on the following link to find out more about the National Inspection Plan - National Inspection Plan.
2. 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. If LAWPRO catchment scientists identify that there is a water quality issue in a nearby river and believe defective DWWTSs may cause or make the problem worse, they may provide you with a letter advising you what to do next.
3. 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.  This can be checked by contacting the Council offices in Leitrim (Environment Department)

Unfortunately, if your property does not fall within one of the above 3 categories the grant is not applicable. National Inspection Plan is not influenced by complaints and / or by homeowners wishing to upgrade. The selection process is entirely based on environmental risks as specified under the National Inspection Plan.

If you are based within a High Status Objective Catchment Area or a Priority Area for Action, please avail of the grant when you can as these areas will be subject to change over time and as a result, the opportunity to avail of the grant may not always be present.

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.

For more information on DWWTS grants, please visit the following page - Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Tanks).

Leitrim County Council Environment Department

Park Lane House

Carrick on Shannon

Co Leitrim, N41 RX53

Tel: (071) 9620005 Ext 611

Email: environment@leitrimcoco.ie