Approximately 526,000 households in Ireland rely on septic tanks for wastewater treatment. Evidence from the EPA indicates that many Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS) do not meet required standards resulting in pollution of nearby surface waters and groundwater, posing environmental and public health risks. This research led by UCD, TUD and UCC provides key insights and prescriptive recommendations gathered through a structured suite of multi-modal inquiries spanning top-down and bottom-up DWWTS management perspectives.

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Understanding the perspectives of local authority planners and environmental inspectors responsible for inspecting and regulating sources of rural wat…