Unblocking pathways to top-down management of domestic wastewater treatment systems in the Republic of Ireland: An interview study of council system inspectors

Background: Improper effluent discharge from domestic wastewater treatment systems (DWWTSs) is widespread and currently contaminates approximately 9% of low status waterbodies nationally. Discharges also pose a serious health risk to households reliant on private groundwater wells, of which approximately 97% co-occur with DWWTSs nationally.