The EPA have published findings for inspections carried out on septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems in 2023.
Up to 45% nationwide failed, with Leitrim County Council among four local authorities that failed to carry out the required amount of inspections.
In 2023, 130 septic tank inspections were carried out across the North West. Donegal and Sligo had met their allocations of 107 and 7 required inspections respectively, while Leitrim did not meet their requirement of 10.
113 inspections were done in Donegal, with 13 carried out in Sligo. However, Leitrim only managed to carry out 4.
Donegal and Sligo also both fell into the high rate of failures fixed, with 87% repaired in Sligo and 81% in Donegal.
Leitrim fell into the moderate bracket, with 66% of failures fixed in 2023.
The EPA have warned that faulty septic tanks can be a danger to people and the environment.
In total, the agency carried out 1,189 tank inspections last year with 532 classified as failures.
Anyone who has been notified of a problem and doesn’t attempt to get it fixed could face a fine of €5,000 euro and a day in court.
