Home > Our Services > Environment > Septic Tank Grant > Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Scheme

Revised Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS) Grant Scheme

On 4th November 2023, the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH) issued a revision to the existing Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS) grant scheme with the publication of the new Regulations which came into effect from 1st January 2024.

The main amendments to the terms and conditions of this grant scheme are:

  • An increase in the maximum grant available to €12,000 from €5,000
  • Removal of the eligibility requirement for householders to have registered their Domestic Waste water Treatment System with Westmeath County Council before 1st February 2013.

The grants are available to assist householders with the cost of works for the remediation, repair, upgrade or replacement of their Domestic WWTS serving a house, where either:

  1. The householder receives an Advisory Notice, following a failed Local Authority inspection carried out under the EPA National Inspection Plan (NIP Regulations )
  2. The house is situated in a Prioritised Area for Action, as detailed under the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (PAA Regulations )
  3. The house is situated in a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as detailed under the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (HSOCA Regulations )

How to apply for the Grant

If you have been recommended remediation, repair or upgrading works or replacement of your Domestic WWTS after inspection by Westmeath County Council as per above then you may be entitled to a grant towards the works required.

From 1st January 2024, the level of grant available is 85% of the approved cost of the works, subject to a maximum of €12,000.

The above grant schemes are administered by Westmeath County Council on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The following forms must be completed and submitted to the Council by email to ruralwater@westmeathcoco.ie. Alternatively, you can send completed forms to the Council at the address shown below.

  1. National Inspection Plan - Grant payment Form
  2. Prioritised Areas for Action - Grant application Form
  3. High Status Objective Catchment Areas - Grant application Form

Terms and Conditions of Grant Schemes

You can access the terms and conditions of each of the Grant Schemes by clicking the links below:

  1. National Inspection Plan - Terms & Conditions
  2. Prioritised Areas for Action - Terms & Conditions
  3. High Status Objective Catchment Areas - Terms & Conditions

Transition between Existing and New Regulations

Where a grant application has been received by Westmeath county Council and the grant has not yet been paid to the householder, the Council may consider the application under the new terms and conditions, which are effective from 1 January 2024.

Registering your Septic Tank or Waste Water Treatment System:

If your dwelling is connected to Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), you are required to register your systems in line with the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012 (SI No. 220 of 2012), as amended by Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI No. 180 of 2013). This includes households connected to septic tanks and similar systems.

You can register your household and pay online by credit or debit card by creating an account on the “Protect Our Water” website or you can register in person at Westmeath County Council’s offices.

The registration fee is €50. If your dwelling has not yet been registered, you should do so as soon as possible as it is an offence for a householder not to register and, if convicted, the penalty is a fine of up to €5,000. The fee covers the costs of administering the registration and management of inspections that are conducted under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

Registration of Domestic WWTS was introduced to address a European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland in October 2009. More importantly, it will help protect ground and surface water quality, particularly drinking water sources, from risks posed by faulty systems.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Inspection Plan 2022-2026

The objective of the EPA National Inspection Plan is to reduce the risk to human health and water quality by directly engaging with homeowners to determine if their DWWTS is being correctly operated and maintained. Inspections are targeted in areas where there is greatest risk to human health and water quality from DWWTSs. The following core principles underly the allocation of inspections:

  • All areas of the country are covered and are subject to inspection
  • Risks to human health (e.g. contamination of household wells or direct exposure to ponded effluent) and the environment (surface and groundwater quality) are considered
  • Inspections are prioritised into areas of higher relative risk and
  • The methodology is based on the source-pathway-receptor (S-P-R) model

Required Number of Inspections

In accordance with the current National Inspection Plan, Westmeath County Council must inspect seven Domestic waste water Treatment Systems per annum. The Council intend to carry out inspections based on perceived levels of environmental risk.

Important: Grants will not be paid towards the normal costs of ensuring a system is working properly, for example, maintaining, servicing or de-sludging a domestic waste water treatment system.

Contact details for the Rural Water Department of Westmeath County Council:

Telephone: (044) 93 32267

Email: ruralwater@westmeathcoco.ie

Address:
Domestic WWTS Grant Scheme
Rural Water Department
Westmeath County Council
Áras an Chontae
Mullingar
County Westmeath
N91 FH4N