New legislation for domestic septic tank owners

Domestic septic tank owners - are you compliant with the new 2020 legislation?

What’s changing?

If your home is not connected to the mains sewage network then the new General Binding rules that came into force on 1st January 2020 may affect you. The environment agency has shared new rules in an attempt to tackle water pollution which means your Septic Tank may need replacing or upgrading.

Under the new rules, septic tanks can no longer discharge liquid directly to surface water (rivers, streams, canals, water surface drains or any other watercourse). If your septic tank does discharge into any of these, then you may need to upgrade your septic tank.

Do the new rules apply to me?

Yes, if you own, use or maintain a septic tank. If you are on rented property with a septic tank, it may be worth discussing the changes with your landlord.

What are my next steps?

Contact Paul James our Wet Waste manager on 0118 9894652. Paul can come out and see if you are using the correct treatment system, he will also be able to advise on

• what treatment system you currently have
• what you are required to do under the general binding rules

If your septic tank discharges directly to a watercourse, you need to do one of the following as soon as possible:

• connect to a mains sewer network
• install a drainage field (also known as an infiltration system). These take the wastewater from your septic tank and discharge it into the ground without causing pollution.
• replace your septic tank with a small sewage treatment plant. These turn waste into wastewater that’s clean enough to discharge straight to a waterway.