Third of septic tanks a 'risk to human health or environment', says EPA

Half of all septic tanks and other domestic water treatment systems failed health inspections last year, and the public have been encouraged to test their systems annually.

Almost a third of water treatment systems inspected by local authorities were a “risk to human health or the environment”, according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Half of all septic tanks and other domestic water treatment systems failed health inspections last year, and the public have been encouraged to test their systems annually.

Three quarters of systems failing inspection have been fixed, but delays in resolving older failures is a concern, the organisation said. The report found more than 500 properties were endangering themselves and nearby households by having issues outstanding for more than two years, a figure that has steadily increased in recent years.

“If you do not maintain your septic tank it can contaminate your own or your neighbour’s drinking water well or your local stream,” said Dr Tom Ryan, spokesman for the EPA, “putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours.” 

He said these issues may go unnoticed unless householders check their water treatment systems and advised families to have their well tested at least once a year.

After six inspections were carried out in Cork city last year, two failed but were later fixed. This puts the city on top with the cleanest inspection record last year.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Conversely, Roscommon and Leitrim performed the lowest in inspections. Four in five systems surveyed in Roscommon and 90% in Leitrim failed inspection by local authorities and less than half were fixed by the end of the year.

Tipperary and Waterford also had a low rate of just 60% of systems fixed by the end of 2021. Households in Limerick and Kerry, while failing about half of inspections, fixed more than 80% by the end of the year.

Increased inspections

The EPA has increased inspections this year in line with a national plan to ensure the safety of water treatment systems. The agency is focusing on inspections near rivers and areas with shallow soils where there is a greater risk to water quality and household wells respectively.

"The need to fix failing septic tanks has been repeatedly highlighted by the EPA as a concern,” said Noel Byrne, EPA programme manager. “It is unacceptable that over 500 failed septic tanks are not fixed more than two years after inspection. 

Over half of these involve sewage ponding in gardens and discharging to ditches and streams, which cannot be allowed to continue. 

"Local authorities must increase their enforcement effort to ensure failed systems are fixed.” 

There are nearly half a million water treatment systems in the country, mostly septic tank systems located across rural Ireland. 

The septic tank grant scheme, which was expanded in 2020, offers grants of €5,000 to assist in addressing malfunctioning systems.