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British Water is a not-for-profit organisation which represents UK water and wastewater supply chain companies and enables its members to work together on topics of collective interest for the public good and to promote best practice in the industry. We invest time, energy and commitment in working together to achieve positive change for the sector and our trade association brand delivers a clear message and a collective voice.
The British Water Wastewater Treatment Plant Focus Group (“Group”) has been working hard to raise industry standards through codes of practice, engagement with regulators and an accredited service technician’s qualification.
This Group would like to raise everyone’s awareness of some of the more misleading, inaccurate and incorrect messages that might result in users not meeting required discharge standards, not being compliant with the law or result in them polluting the environment. These could lead to associated enforcement actions.
Key messages:
Always contact your appropriate Regulator if you have any questions or need compliance details. *Note: please find at the end of the document the permit process and guidance links for each Regulator. Always search for accredited and independent sources for information and advice The Group has compiled the following information to provide some clarity for users:
“From 1st January 2020, 90% of Septic tanks are illegal - Anything installed before 2005 is illegal” – This statement is not true or accurate. Currently, there is no comprehensive register of septic tanks or where they are discharging to. For example, in England septic tanks do not need to be registered. In England, the requirements changed on 1 January 2015 such that if your system was installed and discharging before 31 December 2014, then you have an ‘existing discharge’. If your system was installed and discharging on or after 1 January 2015 you have a ‘new discharge’.
Any Septic tank that leaks, smells, pollutes the soil or does not have an EN 12566-1 certification will now be illegal – This statement is not accurate - only Septic tanks that have an overflow to a running watercourse or which are found to be polluting a watercourse or ground water will need to be upgraded or the discharge relocated into a new drainage field. Those Septic tanks that were installed when EN 12566-1 was in force only need this certification. Those Septic tanks installed before EN 12566-1 was introduced do not need this certification at all. For example, a Septic tank which is 30 years old which discharges to a drainage field and works perfectly well is not illegal even though it would and does not have an EN 12566-1 certificate.
Starting this year, Government site inspectors will visit all Septic tank owners to inspect their Septic tank and based on their findings your Septic tank will either PASS or FAILS – This statement is not accurate. That said, if your discharge causes pollution you may be committing an offence. The Regulator website will give you advice and some time to help you fix the problem. If your discharge continues to cause pollution then the Environmental Regulator could take enforcement action against you.
You will receive a VIOLATION NOTICE if you fail the Government site inspection – This statement is false. If it is found that you have an illegal discharge to a watercourse or the drainage field is located too close to a watercourse, then the Environment/local water authority will work with you to resolve the issue within a reasonable period.
Once you receive a Government Enforcement Order, you will then be required to install a new Septic Tank and Soakaway- This is incorrect and misleading. If you have an illegal overflow running to a watercourse or have been found to be polluting a watercourse or groundwater, you will have the option (and reasonable time) to either relocate the discharge of the Septic tank into a new drainage field or upgrade your Septic tank to a treatment system which will allow you to discharge to the watercourse if all other requirements are also met.
In addition to your new Septic tank, you will need to obtain retrospective Planning Approval - This is not true and is misleading because there is no such thing as retrospective Planning or Building Control approval relating to Septic tanks. All Planning and Building control inspections must be carried out during the installation to ensure that the works meet the correct specification and Regulations in place at that time. You will only need a Building Control Certificate for the installation of a Septic tank.
You can avoid all of the problems by installing the Government approved ECO SYSTEM SEPTIC TANK CONVERTER - “They provide safe clean mineral water”; “If you install a septic tank converter you will get a certificate issued by the Government”
This system is not approved by the Government and does not have any other certifications, for example, the relevant EN or CE certificates.
Your treatment system must meet the relevant British Standard in force at the time of installation. The standards currently in force for new systems are:
BS EN 12566 for Septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants BS 6297:2007 for drainage fields. Be aware that complex drinking water facilities from water companies produce clean mineral water.
The government do not issue CE marking certification, this is done at an approved testing facility.
Septic Tank Conversion Units- Septic tanks with a separate secondary treatment unit approved under BS: EN12566 may be used to discharge treated sewage effluent to a watercourse without requiring an environmental permit, presuming that all the general binding rules are also complied with. In-tank retrofit kits can only be used if the operator first applies for and is granted an environmental permit.
“Electric sewage treatment plants have 1 year warranty - non-electric don’t need servicing”. Guarantees and returns policies should be clearly set out by the manufacturer and must follow UK regulations. Maintenance should follow the manufacturer’s specifications. There is no such thing as a ‘fit and forget’ system. Always check what the running costs are with your Accredited Service Technician and the manufacturer.
‘Ground is dry then it’s a good indication’ An Accredited Service Technician should always be retained to carry out tests to ascertain ground suitability, percolations and water table tests.
‘You can use a hosepipe 1 1/4 inch on the back of an effluent pump” An Accredited Service Technician will be able to install the correct black MDPE pipe.
For clarification please download the full statement including information regarding the permit process for each regulator in the UK, the registration processes (if applicable) and the guidance links to obtain further information.
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