Failure rates high for septic tanks inspections
One of the worst failure rates for septic tank inspections in the country has been recorded in County Roscommon.
Nationally, 1,390 septic tanks were inspected in 2024 with 56 per cent (773) failing. Two of the biggest reoccurring reasons for a failed inspection are inadequate maintenance and desludging.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024’, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities, of the 13 tanks inspected by Roscommon County Council, 11 failed to meet the necessary standards. This equates to a failure rate of 85 per cent, one of the worst failure rates in the country after Dun Laoghaire Rathdown (100 per cent), Laois (97 per cent), and Westmeath (92 per cent).
In 2023 13 inspections were carried out by Roscommon County Council, with eight failing to pass. Between 2013 and 2024, a total of 228 tanks failed inspection in the county, with 60 per cent fixed as of the end of 2024. This fix rate has seen some improvement. Previously of the 217 tanks that failed inspection in the county, 57 per cent had been fixed by the end of 2023.
When asked by the Roscommon Herald if it was concerned about the long standing high failure rate in the county, the EPA said it was monitoring progress with particular focus on local authorities, including Roscommon County Council, with the most advisory notices open greater than two years.
“At the end of 2024, there were 91 domestic waste water treatments systems with open advisory notices in County Roscommon,” the spokesperson said. “This figure will continue to change with the ongoing work of the local authority.” The spokesperson added that householders should ensure the septic tanks were properly maintained, and avail of grants to fix any issues highlighted by the local authority in a timely manner to ensure any risk to human health or the environment is eliminated.
The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. Nationally, there were 265 grants awarded in 2024, totalling nearly €2.5 million, up from 194 grants in 2023.
Roscommon County Council told the Herald that between 2013 and 2024, the council had issued Advisory Notices to property owners in relation to 228 DWWTS that failed inspection.
It added that 60 percent of the 228 failed systems had been fixed to date and this percentage was trending upward.
“Failure rates in some neighbouring counties (Westmeath and Leitrim) were also well above the national average while failure rates in other neighbouring counties (Longford and Galway) were below the national average,” the council said.
“Nationally, the most common reasons for failing an inspection are poor maintenance, water leaks and inadequate desludging. Such cases can often be remedied relatively easily and quickly.
“In contrast, significant remedial works are often necessary to address more fundamental non-compliance issues that can be associated with older rural dwellings. Non-compliance issues in Roscommon tend to fall into the latter category.”
The council also said it welcomed the recent increase in the available septic tank grant, which now covers 85 percent of the cost up to a maximum of € 12,000.
“It should be noted that the grant is only available to properties that have been inspected under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan,” the council continued. “The council strongly encourages eligible property owners to engage with the council, apply for grant funding and undertake necessary improvement works as soon as possible or within 24 months of the Advisory Notice at the latest."
