Water

Galway County Council is responsible for managing and monitoring water quality at designated bathing areas, by arranging for water samples to be taken and analysed throughout the bathing season.    

All this water monitoring information is available on https://www.beaches.ie/ where you can access the most up-to-date published information on water quality designation of each beach, which is classified as either ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’ or ‘poor’.    

Local authorities monitor water quality in rivers and lakes to safeguard public health and protect the environment. Our objectives include: -  

• We aim to improve the quality of water in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies that currently have poor or moderate quality.
• For water bodies that are already good or have excellent quality, we want to keep them at that level.
• We want to use water resources in a way that ensures they remain clean and available for future generations.   

The Environmental Protection Agency conduct River Flow Monitoring on behalf of Galway County Council.  

For more information see: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/rivers/water-level-and-flow/   

Discharge licences are issued under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended in 1990, in respect of the discharge of trade effluent to surface waters or groundwater. Licences set conditions so the discharge is treated and controlled in a manner that protects the environment.  A discharge licence must be obtained under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 for the following: -  

• All domestic wastewater discharges to surface water
• All trade effluent discharges to surface water or groundwater
• All discharges of domestic wastewater greater than 5m3 in any period of 24 hours which is discharged to an aquifer (groundwater) from a septic tank or other disposal unit by means of a percolation area, soakage pit or other method
• All trade effluent discharges to groundwater
• All trade effluent discharges to sewer. These licences are granted by Uisce Eireann  

The discharge of trade effluent to waters without a licence is an offence under the Act.  In addition, failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a Discharge Licence is an offence under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended.  

Discharges to Waters – Section 4 Licences:  

Activities discharging wastewater directly to a river require a licence, in accordance with Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 – 2007. Before issuing a licence, Galway County Council must be satisfied that the wastewater is adequately treated and will not cause water pollution. The Discharge Licence sets conditions, so the discharge is treated and controlled in a manner that protects the receiving environment. 

Application for Discharge to Surface Water: 

Discharge to Surface Water GCC-ENV-05(E)-01.pdf (PDF, 1.58MB)

Application for Discharge to Ground Water: 

Discharge to Ground Water GCC-ENV-06(E)-01.doc (DOC, 399KB)

Discharges to Sewers – Section 16 Licences:  

Discharges of trade effluents to sewers require a licence, in accordance with Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 – 2007.    Applications are to be made online to Uisce Éireann via their website at Uisce Éireann  

Register of Discharge to Waters Licences:  

We maintain a public register of licences to discharge wastewater to groundwater, rivers, lakes and the sea.   This can be viewed online LINK TO REGISTER  

Some householders in Ireland have a domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS) to collect, treat and discharge their wastewater.  Septic tanks are one type of DWWTS.  If your tank is not working properly, it can contaminate private wells or water sources.  Contaminated water from DWWTSs can carry pathogens (bacteria, germs and bugs) and harmful chemicals that can cause serious illness. It can cause damage to the environment.    

Further information on how to look after your septic tank is available here:  

Desludging of septic tanks/domestic wastewater treatment systems

It is your responsibility to keep your septic tank in working order and regularly desludge the tank.  You can only use a licenced contractor to empty your septic tank.  A list of contractors allowed to empty septic tanks is available at www.nwcpo.ie   

Information for farmers on how to safely spread sludge from their own tanks on their own land is available here: 

Wells

Private well water supplies are at particular risk of pollution from septic tanks as they depend on good quality water coming directly from the ground. An information leaflet on how to protect the well can be found here: 

National Inspection Plan

Galway County Council carry out inspections each year under the EPA National Inspection Plan.  Householders cannot request for an inspection to be carried out by the Local Authority unless a letter from LAWPRO has been received. This must confirm eligibility or the property in question is within a High-Status Objective Catchment Area.    

You can check this map to check if your property is in a high status objective area: High Status Objective Catchment Areas)  

For Information on a Septic Tank Inspection click here:  

Register your Septic Tank  

Local authorities do not register septic tanks. To register your septic tank, or to obtain records of registration please contact Protect Our Water directly. 

Visit: www.protectourwater.ie    

Telephone: 01-6438484 services available between 10:00 to 14.00. 

email: support@protectourwater.ie 

Septic Tank Grants

There are grants available to help householders with the cost of works for the remediation, repair, upgrade or replacement of a domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS) serving a house.  You can be eligible to apply for a grant if you meet the criteria set out in the Terms and Conditions for the Scheme.  There are 3 different grants schemes available: -  

• DWWTS grant under the National Inspection
• DWWTS grant in Prioritised Areas for Action
• DWWTS grant in High Status objective Catchment Area  

You can get additional Information on these grants at this link:   

Gov.ie - Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems  

Septic Tank Regulations and Enforcement

The Water Services Act, 2007 and Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provide for the National Inspection Plan and the Grant Scheme.  The regulations underpinning the different grant schemes are: -  

• Housing (Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Grant under the National Inspection Plan) Regulations 2023 S.I. No. 562 of 2023 
• Housing (Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Grant for Prioritised Areas for Action) Regulations 2023 S.I. No. 563 of 2023 
• Housing (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant for High Status Objective Catchment Areas) Regulations 2023 S.I. No. 564 of 2023  

It is an offence not to comply with an advisory notice. The Environment Department will act under the Water Service Act to secure compliance.  

Local authorities regulate the spreading of sewage sludge by farmers and landowners on their lands.  Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants and septic tanks can only be used in Agriculture in accordance with: -  

• The Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998.
• The Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 2001.   

These Regulations provide for the registration and regulation of sewage sludge facilities to meet the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive.    

Guidelines for Slurry/Fertiliser Spreading: -  

• Check the weather forecast before spreading. Do not apply organic or chemical fertilisers when heavy rain is forecast within the next 48 hours (about 4 days).  

Avoid spreading organic or chemical fertiliser:  

• On wet or waterlogged ground
• On frozen or snow-covered land
• On land sloping steeply towards rivers, streams, lakes and exposed bedrock
• No Chemical Fertiliser should be applied within 1.5m of any watercourse.
• Avoid polluting surface waters and wells by leaving a buffer strip between them and the land on which organic fertilisers are applied.  

Sewage sludge facilities certificate  

Operators of sewage sludge facilities must register with the local authority for a certificate of registration to meet waste management requirements.    

To comply with article 7 (1) of the Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 32/2010) all Operators of sewage sludge storage facilities:  

• Must register with the local authority for a Certificate of Registration to allow for the safe storage of treated sewage sludge in their functional area.
• Each certificate that is issued has specific conditions that must be met.
• Each facility will be inspected and audited over the year.
• An annual Environmental Report must be submitted to Galway County Council each year. This must provide details on how the facility performed over the previous 12 months.  

Sewage sludge in agriculture register  

Local authorities maintain a public register of farmers and landowners who spread sewage sludge on their lands.  

Sewage sludge facilities regulations enforcement  

Local authorities regulate the storage of waste in sewage sludge facilities from wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks.  These Regulations provide for the registration and regulation of sewage sludge facilities to meet the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive.  

Sewage sludge facilities register  

Local authorities maintain a public register of sewage sludge facilities.  

• The Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations S.I. No. 32 of 2010 was introduced on 2nd February 2010 and may be subject to amendment.
• These Regulations provide for the registration and regulation of sewage sludge facilities to meet the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive.
• Facilities already regulated under other environmental legislation such as licensed facilities under the Waste Management Acts are excluded.  

Click here for the Register of sewage sludge facilities in County Galway.  

Nutrient management plan assessment  

Local authorities may assess nutrient management plans to ensure the spreading of organic sludges and fertilizers does not cause environmental damage.  

Nutrient management planning is a best practice approach which aims to:  

• Optimise crop yield and quality while minimising fertilizer input.  
• This ensures minimal impact to protect our soil and water resources.  

Local authorities require the submission of nutrient management plans to ensure the spreading of organic sludges and fertilizers do not cause environmental damage.