At the start of 2020 new regulations for septic tanks came into force that will affect properties across England and Wales. The new legislation states that it is now illegal for a septic tank to discharge directly to surface water, such as a river, ditch or stream. But how can you tell if your septic tank is discharging to a local watercourse?
This is a question we get asked a lot by our customers. Especially as failure to comply with this new legislation could mean you risk prosecution or a significant fine from the Environment Agency.
As the system is underground, it’s not always that easy to establish where your septic tank is discharging to but there are a few simple steps you could take:
- Check your documentation from when the septic tank was installed or serviced to see if this details where your system discharges to.
- If a ditch or stream runs close to your property, look to see whether the end of the outlet pipe is visible.
- Check the closest manhole near to your septic tank to establish in which direction the pipes are heading.
The best way to establish whether your septic tank is compliant though is to get the help of a local specialist, such as ourselves.
How can we help?
We can provide you with expert advice on whether you are compliant and if not, the measures you will need to take to ensure compliance.
Here at Cotterill Civils, we are one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, cesspools and pump stations. We can advise you on the different sewage treatment options available to you as well as ways in which you can upgrade your system without the need to replace it.
We can also offer a complete package – where we design, supply and install your new sewage treatment system, providing you with peace of mind. After installation, we can also provide a service package to ensure you extend the lifetime of your sewage treatment system.
Give us a call on 0121 351 3230 and we’ll be happy to help!
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