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SEPTIC TANK AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT REGULATIONS

Why do we have Regulations on Domestic Sewage Discharge?

Regulations are designed to:

Reduce Contamination of Waterways

Reduce Contamination of Water Supplies

Prevent Pathogens creating Health Issues

Create better Outdoor Spaces for people to live

What is a Septic Tank

Septic Tanks act as a storage vessel for sewage, with the associated dwell time allowing solids / sludge to fall to
the bottom of the tank, while the untreated liquid flows from the septic tank typically to a drainage field / soakaway.

Septic Tanks are suitable for specific applications where either further treatment or where soil conditions can treat the outgoing untreated liquid. Typically the pollutant level of the water will only have been reduced by 30-40% as opposed to a 97.5% removal from a modern sewage treatment plant.

Even where a septic tank is possible followed by a drainage field, as the waste is untreated the life of the drainage field is significantly reduced versus using a sewage treatment plant.

Sewage Treatment Plant

Sewage Treatment Plants treat the liquid from the sewage to create a clear odourless liquid suitable to discharge both to watercourse and drainage fields in most cases.

Many Sewage Treatment Systems require very little maintenance.

In most cases Sewage Treatment Systems require an electricity supply but modern systems require very little energy to operate.

What’s the benefit of using a Sewage Treatment Plant vs a Septic Tank?

Sewage Treatment Plants clean the sewage to a very high level.

Total Pollution Removal:

97.5%

Septic Tanks are only designed to remove solid waste from untreated sewage.

Total pollutant removal:

30-40%

Discharges from a Septic Tank

1. Traditional Drainage Field (also referred to as a Soakaway)

2. Drainage Mound

Discharges from a Sewage Treatment Plant

1. Watercourse

2. Drainage Field

3. Drainage Mound

General Binding Rules – Environment Agency

  • If you comply with the General Binding Rules introduced on 1 st January 2020, you DO NOT
    need to apply for a Discharge Permit from the Environment Agency.
  • If you are discharging Sewage Waste to a Watercourse (Running Ditch, Stream or River) you
    will have to install a Sewage Treatment Plant not a Septic Tank.
  • If you are discharging Sewage Waste to a Drainage Field (see later) you may be able to
    install a Septic Tank or a Sewage Treatment Plant.
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Discharge to surface water
Discharge to ground
General Binding Rules
The discharge must be 2 cubic metres or less per day in volume
The discharge must be 5 cubic metres or less per day in volume
The sewage must only be domestic
The discharge must not cause pollution of surface water or groundwater
The sewage must receive treatment from a septic tank and infiltration system (drainage field) or STP and infiltration system.
The sewage must receive treatment from a STP sewage treatment plant.
The discharge must not be within a Groundwater Source Protection Zone 1- or within 50m from any well, spring or borehole that is used to supply water for domestic or food production services.
For discharges in tidal waters, the discharge outlet must be below the mean spring low water mark.
All works and equipment used for the treatment of sewage effluent and its discharge must comply with the relevant design and manufacturing standards at the time of installation. BS EN12566/1 or /3
The system must be installed and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification.
Maintenance must be undertaken by someone who is competent.
Waste sludge from the system must be safely disposed of by an authorised person.
If a property is sold, the operator must give the new operator a written notice stating that a small sewage discharge is being carried out, and giving a description of the waste water system and its maintenance requirements.
The operator must ensure the system is appropriately decommissioned where it ceases to be in operation so that there is no risk of pollutants or polluting matter entering groundwater,inland fresh waters or coastal waters.
New discharges must not be within 30m of a public foul sewer.
For discharges, the operator must ensure that the necessary planning and building control approvals for the treatment system are in place.
Discharges must not be in or within: 500 metres of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar site, biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), freshwater pearl mussel population, designated bathing water, or protected shellfish water; 200 metres of an aquatic local nature reserve; 50 metres of a chalk river or aquatic local wildlife site.
Discharges must not be in, or within 50 metres of, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar site, or biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and must not be in an Ancient Woodland.
Discharges must be made to a watercourse that normally has flow throughout the year.
For discharges, any partial drainage field must be installed within 10 metres of the bank side of the watercourse.
Discharges must not be made to an enclosed lake or pond.
*A new discharge shall not use the same outlet as any other discharge if the combined volume of those discharges would exceed the volumetric general binding rules thresholds for groundwater or surface water.
*A new discharge shall not be made to a discharge point within 50 metres of any other exempt groundwater activity or water discharge activity.

*IMPORTANT: For a new discharge that started on or after 2 October 2023, binding rules 22 and 23 also apply

Building Regulations (H2) Guidelines

  • Tank must be 7m from house
  • Drainage field to be designed in accordance with BS6297
  • Drainage field 15m from a building
  • Drainage field to be 1m above the water table
  • Drainage field to be 10m from a ditch/watercourse
  • Drainage to be 50m from a well/bore hole
  • Planning will be required for a new system
  • Planning may be required for a replacement system if it’s new location exceeds 10m
  • Tank to be within 30m of a hardstanding for ease of emptying

TESTIMONIALS

OUR CLIENTS REVIEWS

“What can I say about Dynamic Tank Solutions other than they are absolutely fantastic at what they do! Our septic tank collapsed. We run a family business from our home premises so this was not good news. We contacted John who called out with us and followed through with the initial inspection. He took the weight off our shoulders by communicating hassle free dealings with our insurance company. John was very friendly, informative and professional in his approach, his knowledge and experience within this field was excellent, and communication between us was always easy. Thanks so much John. Very relieved and happy.

Selena McElhone – Facebook Review

“A genuine company with vast experience and knowledge of how to design, correctly size and install your septic tank and soak away. Definitely recommend these guys.”

Damien McLaughlin – Google Review

“I used Dynamic Tank Solutions to install a new tank, they came when they said they would, did an excellent job, they encountered extreme ground conditions but to there credit they made no fuss and got on with the job having the tank installed and working the same day as promised. John and Andy delivered what they promise and beyond, if you need anymore info on my job please feel free to ask me. Get the job done right get it done by Dynamic Tank Solutions”

Presswell Drycleaners – Facebook Review