Septic Tank Inspection

Have you been having trouble with your septic tank and percolation area? Do you have surface water ponding around your septic tank system when it rains or a constant need to have your septic tank emptied to avoid flooding and wastewater backing up into your home? Maybe you might be selling or buying a new property and need professional advice and guidance to ensure the septic tank system is operating correctly.

We are offering a septic tank inspection service to help customers diagnose ongoing issues and provide a detailed roadmap to achieving a long-term solution once and for all (repairing, upgrading or replacing your septic tank system including septic tank grant scheme applications).

We also provide site-specific reports and recommendations to our customers who might be selling or buying a new property, everything will be documented in a full digital report and sent to our customer within minutes of a suitably qualified member of our team at Wastewater Solutions carrying out the septic tank inspection.

If you need to book a routine service callout or an emergency breakdown callout for a mechanical/electrical on-site wastewater treatment system please visit our Service & Maintenance page for more details.

We recommend that most of our customers will need to de-sludge (empty) their on-site wastewater treatment system (including septic tanks) every 12-18 months. Unfortunately, we don't provide this service but we have put together a list of licensed de-sludging companies throughout Ireland.

*If you decide to purchase products and/or services from Wastewater Solutions when repairing, upgrading or replacing your existing septic tank system you will be credited the cost of the septic tank inspection no matter how long the project takes to complete.

What is included in a Septic Tank Inspection?

1. Septic tank and percolation area inspection (with a camera).

2. We take measurements of separation distances from the property, boundaries, roads, neighbours, wells, streams, rivers etc.

3. Visual inspection of venting, manholes, pipework etc.

4. Drain tracing (with dye) looking for possible surface water or rainwater ingress.

5. Visual inspection of the overall site looking for possible signs of pollution/surface water ponding caused by your septic tank and percolation area.

6. Visual inspection of any additional wastewater-related products such as grease traps, distribution boxes, pumping stations, effluent filters, wastewater pumps etc.

7. De-sludging (emptying) frequency and service provider recommendations.

8. EPA Grant Scheme information and application forms.

9. Full digital report including images and our overall recommendation.

Are you entitled to avail of a grant scheme to repair, upgrade or replace your septic tank system in Ireland?

There are grants of 85% up to a maximum of €5,000 available under the following schemes:

National Inspection Plan: If your on-site wastewater treatment system (including septic tanks) is inspected by the local authority and they find an issue with your system you will receive an advisory notice within 21 days of inspection. You can then submit an application to the relevant local authority to avail of the grant scheme under the national inspection plan. (You currently can not specifically request an inspection from the local authority)

High-Status Objective Catchment Areas: If you would like to check if you are in a high-status objective catchment area you can enter your EIRCODE here. If you are eligible you can then submit an application to the relevant local authority to avail of the grant scheme under high-status objective catchment areas.

Priority Areas For Action: These areas will be identified by the local authority waters programme office, if you are eligible you will receive confirmation in writing, and you can then submit an application to the relevant local authority to avail of the grant scheme under priority areas for action.

Please note that routine maintenance and or de-sludging (emptying) is not covered under the grant scheme, this is an essential part of owning and operating an on-site wastewater treatment system (including septic tanks).

For more information click here.

Did you know?

1. There are currently nearly 500,000 domestic on-site wastewater treatment systems in Ireland (mostly septic tanks).

2. There were 1,147 inspections of septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2021. Fifty-three per cent (604) of the systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly. Twenty-nine per cent (337) of systems inspected were considered a risk to human health or the environment because faulty systems can contaminate household drinking water wells and pollute rivers.

3. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the development of a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. Under the plan, local authorities undertake a minimum of 1,000 inspections each year, increasing to 1,200 in 2023, distributed by risk across the country.

4. The National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 requires increased inspections and enforcement to ensure failed systems are fixed.

5. In 2021, nearly 35% of all failed inspections were due to a lack of de-sludging (emptying) and regular maintenance by homeowners.

Frequently asked questions