Why installing a septic tank could land you in hot water
Self-builders need to be aware of some key issues around septic tanks when dealing with the drainage of wastewater. Dave Vincent, operations director at Kingspan Klargester, explains further
T
he question of how to deal with wastewater from your bathroom and WC is one that all self-builders should consider
very seriously – otherwise you could be prosecuted and face a heavy fine. If your new home is not going to be connected to the main sewer, you will need to look at options to deal with wastewater, and it’s a fairly safe bet that your first thought will be installing a septic tank. Septic tanks are probably the most familiar pri-
vate drainage solution – and, anecdotally, the most common off-mains product typed into Google – and they are fine for some homes. Given the right ground conditions and the addition of a reed
bed, they may well be all that’s needed. However, despite their widespread use for homes across the UK, septic tanks are not always the best, or indeed a legal, solution appropriate for the property or its local environment. Worryingly, reports from accredited installers
show that the number of pollution incidents are rising, and the vast majority of these are as a result of inappropriate installations of septic tanks. The legal responsibility for disposing of waste-
water lies with the property’s owner. In the event of a local pollution incident, both the owner and the installer are at risk of prosecution under new regulations from the Environment Agency. Both
parties face the prospect of a heavy fine and a large clean-up bill. Recent changes to off-mains legislation in England and Wales have made off-mains drainage installation a less cumbersome and bureaucratic process for the majority of home- owners, but these revisions should not be mis- taken for permission to act irresponsibly, and personal liability remains unchanged.
The drainage connection requirements for UK homes
First, UK Building Regulations stipulate that whenever possible houses must be connected
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selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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