What the 2020 Septic Tank Rules Mean for You

From January 1st 2020 new septic tank rules came into action.

Depending on what type of septic system you have, you may not need to do anything, or you may already have.

These changes have been coming since way back in 2015 when new rules relating to sewage treatment discharge were first announced, giving home owners plenty of time to ponder their next step.

The regulations that came out in 2015, and are called 'General binding rules: small sewage discharge to a surface water'. Whilst that sounds like the most exciting read you could ever have;it is infect very important for many property owners.

These rules are generally enforcing a real positive change protecting your local environment.

What do the 2020 rules mean?

You are no longer allowed to discharge from a septic tank to a water course, or to any other type of soak away system other than a drainage field.  

If your septic tank currently discharges to a watercourse, not a soak away or drainage field, you must replace or upgrade the system

Given what a septic tank contains you can rest assured no one wants that running down the local stream.  You could even find yourself in the equivalent of the contents of your septic tank if you ignore these new guidelines.

ALL septic tanks that currently ultimately discharge into watercourses will have to be either:

• Replaced using a sewage treatment plant with full BS EN     12566-3 Certification instead, or
• The discharge to the watercourse stopped and diverted     to a drain field, designed and constructed to the current British Standard  BS6297 2007

How can I upgrade my septic tank?

There are a number of options homeowners have when it comes to upgrading. 

These include:

• Connecting to a mains sewer (where available),
• Installing a drainage field (infiltration system) so that the septic tank discharges into the ground or,
• Replacing with a small sewage treatment plant.
• Septic tank conversion units can be used to upgrade an existing surface water discharging septic tank. A permit is required for  this and evidence must be provided that it will treat to the equivalent standard as a sewage treatment plant.

 In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to apply for a permit to allow discharge to surface water. 

Septic Tank installed after January 1st 2015?

If you had a septic tank installed on or after 1st January 2015 there are a few additional rules you need to know.

These rules apply if there was a discharge to surface before 1 January 2015 that you wish to change to discharge to ground water (or vice versa).

They also apply if there was a discharge to ground before 1 January 2015 and you wish to install a new drainage pipe which discharges more than 10m away from the existing one.

In these cases, the following steps must be taken:

1. If you’re the building your treatment plant services is within 30m of a public sewer, the EA is not allowing a new discharge from a sewage treatment plant.
2. In relation to the above, if there is a legitimate and good reason why you cannot access this sewer you can apply for a permit.
3. New discharges to a ditches or surface water are only allowed if there is sufficient all-year round flow. The Environment Agency will advise.

Related Services

Septic Tank Emptying Service

Further Reading

Signs you septic tank needs emptying

How often should you empty a septic tank

What is a septic tank & how does one work

How much does septic tank emptying cost

‍

‍