Fine Gael Senator for Sligo and Leitrim, Michael Comiskey, has urged septic tank owners to avail of the reduced €5 registration fee before the 28th September deadline.

A €50 charge will apply thereafter and all registrations must be completed by 1st February 2013.

He said: "I would like to encourage all those with domestic wastewater systems to avail of the lower €5 registration fee before the 28th September and avoid unnecessarily incurring the higher fee.

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"The registration and inspection of domestic wastewater systems was introduced following a European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland in 2009 and aims to protect ground and surface water quality, particularly drinking water, from malfunctioning systems.

"As confirmed to me by the Department of the Environment, each system will be assessed on a case by case basis. Where a system fails an inspection the recommended remedial works will be based on the factors affecting that particular system."