Septic tanks
Money-Saving Grants
Last update: July 2022
At Tricel, we are regularly asked by homeowners if there are septic tank grants available to upgrade their existing installation to a new wastewater treatment plant.
Currently, three types of grant schemes are available in Ireland; however, most Irish households are not eligible.
See below the types of grants available, the criteria, how to apply and who does what.
Septic tanks
What are the Septic Tank Grants Available in Ireland?
Overview
In 2013, the EPA launched its National Inspection Plan to inspect domestic wastewater treatment systems (better known as septic tanks) throughout Ireland. At the time, two types of financial help were available: the ones falling under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) and the ones falling under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) Scheme.
Since December 2019, the HRI grant has been closed to applicants and is no longer available. Only the DWWTS has been maintained by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Who awards the DWWTS grant?
The responsibility for providing funding for the DWWTS scheme grant lies with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG). BUT it is the local authorities who administer the grant scheme on behalf of the department (under the Rural Water Programme).
Therefore, you should contact the Rural Water Section of your City or County Council for the application forms and further information.
Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) Scheme
Although three types of grant schemes are still available, very few households can qualify for them.
Before going into details, all three grants listed below are up to 85% of the total cost or a maximum of 5,000€.
Maintenance, servicing, and de-sludging are not eligible for grants.
- National Inspection Plan (NIP)
Under the National Inspection Plan, grants are available for remediating, repairing, upgrading or replacing septic tank systems that fail inspection by a city or county council. Local authorities will issue an advisory notice requiring the homeowner to repair the system. Grant applications will also be handled by the City or County Council.
Read more about the inspections and what to expect.
- Priority Areas for Action:
Grants are available for fixing septic tanks in these areas if they threaten the environment and need to be repaired, upgraded, or replaced. Local Authority Waters Programme Office will identify these systems and issue a letter confirming their eligibility. After that, the homeowner can apply for a grant from the City Council or County Council.
- High-Status Objective Catchment Areas:
In these areas, grants are available to repair, upgrade, or replace septic systems threatening the environment. By entering your EIRCODE in an interactive map, you can determine if you are in one of these areas and apply for a grant from the City or County Council.
See below the summary table.
2022 grants in Ireland
| Circular L1/20 | Circular L2/20 | Circular L3/20 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relates to: | NIP septic tank inspections | PAA (Prioritised Areas for Action) | HSOCA (High Status Objective Catchment Areas) |
| Purpose of the grant: | To assist with the costs of remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of, a domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS) that serves a house. | To support the attainment of water quality objectives in Prioritised Areas for Action as outlined in the national River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 (RBMP). | To support the attainment of water quality objectives in High Status Objective Catchment Areas as outlined in the national River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 (RBMP). |
| To assist with the costs of remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of, a domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS) that serves a house. | To assist with the costs of remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS) that serves a house. | ||
| Conditions: | The works arise directly from an inspection carried out under Part 4A of the Water Services Act 2007 (as inserted under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012) | The house must be located in a Prioritised Area for Action in accordance with the RBMP. | The house must be located in a High Status Objective Catchment Area in accordance with the RBMP. |
| An Advisory Notice must have been issues by the housing authority. | The potential applicant has received a letter from the Local Authority Waters Programme Office (LAWPRO) on behalf of the housing authority, confirming eligibility to apply for a grant. | The potential applicant has received a letter from the housing authority confirming eligibility to apply for a grant. | |
| Level of grant | 85% of the eligible costs of remediation, repair or upgrading works, or replacement of any such system or €5,000, whichever is the lower. | 85% of the approved cost of the works subject to a maximum of €5,000. Minimum expenditure, on eligible works, required to process the application is €750. | 85% of the approved cost of the works subject to a maximum of €5,000. The minimum expenditure, on eligible works, required to process the application is €750. |
| More info | Link to circular | Link to circular | Link to circular |
What are Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS)?
DWWTS includes septic tanks and wastewater treatment plants.
Who can apply for a DWWTS grant?
The DWWTS grants are available to help homeowners with the cost of repairs, upgrades or replacement of their domestic wastewater treatment system.
To apply for a grant or request more information, please contact your local City or County Council.
How to apply?
Grants are administered by local authorities on behalf of the department; you should contact the rural water section of your local authority for more information.
Summary of who does what
It can be unclear to understand which organisation does what when it comes to financial help for septic tank and wastewater treatment systems. To get a clearer understanding, see the summary table below.
| Who? | Their responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Homeowners | Registration Proper operation and maintenance Prevent risk to the environment or human health |
| Environmental Protection Agency | National Inspection Plan National reports Code of Practice |
| Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government | Funding of grants Coordination and guidance under the Building Regulations. |
| City and County Councils | Application to register with Protect Our Water Planning and building control Inspections Grants for septic tank systems and wells Identifying potentially polluting septic tanks (Local Authority Waters Programme Office) Investigation of septic tank complaints |
Criteria for the grant schemes to be applicable:
- Registration of your domestic wastewater treatment systems
Registration of the treatment system must have been completed by the owner by 1st February 2013, or, for systems constructed or installed after that date, registration must have been completed within 90 days of installation.
Registration of your wastewater treatment plant or septic tank is mandatory in Ireland. To find out more, check our page dedicated to the septic tank regulation in Ireland.
- Non-qualifying work
Costs of maintenance, servicing and de-sludging your wastewater treatment system are outside the scope of the septic tank grants scheme.
- Insurance:
If an insurance payment is used for works on a property, the total qualifying cost will be reduced by the amount received from an insurance company.
Supporting documentation
The grant applicant must submit supporting documentation, including evidence of:
- Itemised receipts from each contractor linked to remediation works.
- Copy of the contractor’s current tax clearance certificate issued to the contractor by the Revenue Commissioners.
Processing of application
You should submit your septic tank grant request to your local authority.
Sources
We tried to keep up to date with the latest information; our sources are the following websites:
What is PE ?
PE represents the initials of Population Equivalent. Population equivalent: conversion value which aims at expressing non-domestic applications in terms of domestic loading based on 1 person creates 60 g/day BOD5 and 150l/day. (Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (p.e. < 10), EPA)
Different products sold by Tricel
Tricel Novo & Vitae: Both are wastewater treament plant solutions manufactured by Tricel. Wastewater treatment plants offer a superior quality of treatment. For example, the Tricel Novo comprises of three independent wastewater treatment zones and offers an average of efficiency of 95.9% BOD removal.
This is a higher treatment standard than the effluent from a septic tank. Please note: all wastewater treatment plants used in Ireland must comply with the EN12566-3 standard and all septic tanks must comply with the EN12566-1 standard..
Tricel Vento: The septic tank from Tricel is manufactured as a primary treatment. Designed for the settlement of your effluent. This product may need an additional treatment like the Sandcel or Puraflo.
Tricel warranties
Most Tricel products have a warranty. To discover all the guarantees on our products, as well as on the internal parts, consult our dedicated product pages.
Certifications for Tricel wastewater treatment systems
The Tricel wastewater treatment plants comply with the European Standard EN12566, S.R. 66, and with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Code of Practice. Click below for more details about the certifications.
Maintenance on the wastewater treatment systems
Tricel recommends that you maintain your device to the fullest. You are obliged by law to avoid all types of pollution or nuisances. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information on our service contracts. An annual maintenance contract may be offered.
How can Tricel help?
We can help you by finding a suitable option for your new wastewater treatment system. Get in touch to discuss your project and request a quote for a septic tank or a wastewater treatment plant.
Contact us regarding your project
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Tricel (Killarney) Unlimited Company
Ballyspillane Industrial Estate, Killarney, Co. Kerry, V93 X253, Ireland
Tel: 64 663 2421