circumstances, be exempt. Instead, they must comply with various conditions which include: •following the industry guidelines on the installation of septic tanks and sewage treatment plants;
•incorporating manufacturers’ operational guidance, the British Standard BS6297 regarding soakaway design;
•following the advice given by British Water regarding de-sludging and servicing.
[
to the main sewer – if necessary using a pump station. Pump stations may be the only requirement to
access the drain or they may be part of a pack- age of solutions. For example, an effluent pump- set may be required to make a sewage treat- ment plant work effectively if the level of the outlet of the holding tank is too low to enable gravity flow to the discharge point or soak- away. The design and use of private package pump stations is covered in two principal regu- lations – Building Regulations H1 and British Standard EN 752-6. Your first step must be to arrange a site visit
by a suitably qualified expert to consider all the alternatives before a decision is made. Again, this is in line with 2010 Building Regulations. Their advice is vital because installing the wrong solution is a disaster waiting to happen e.g. the misery of overflowing toilets or blocked drains.
Sewage treatment plants – the preferred solution
If, for any reason, it is impossible to connect to the main sewer even with a pump station, the only option for self-builders to install pri- vate drainage. There are a range of sewage treatment
systems to choose from, each with an efficiency rating based on how effectively they break down the sewage. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) should
always be considered as the preferred, default solution; they provide an environment where aerobic bacteria can break down sewage and are highly efficient, treating more than 95 per cent of the pollutants. Packaged sewage treatment systems with
tertiary treatment such as packaged reed beds are the current ‘gold standard’, bringing the efficiency rating up to 98 per cent. They produce a clear, odourless overflow that is environmentally friendly and suitable for dis- charging even on sensitive sites, including into
a watercourse, but this is regulated and requires registration with the Environment Agency/ Environmental Protection Agency. Septic tanks do not treat waste, they simply
produce soluble waste from solids, which is then discharged and filtered through the ground. Poor quality septic tanks, installed in the wrong location can pollute groundwater – our drinking water essentially – as well as streams, ponds and rivers. If the ground conditions don’t allow efficient filtration, sooner or later you will know about it.
Do you need a discharge permit?
Once the decision has been taken to install private drainage you must apply for a permit to discharge into groundwater or surface water, under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (known as EPP2), revised in January 2015 with the introduction of new binding rules. Not everyone needs a discharge permit
– under EPP2 owners of small, domestic sewage tanks or plants may, under certain
You will only be exempt from requiring a discharge permit if you have also purchased a product that has been performance- tested and certificated in line with European Standards
]
Most importantly, you will only be exempt from requiring a discharge permit if you have also purchased a product that has been perform- ance-tested and certificated in line with European Standards (EN12566). If an uncerti- fied product is used, then you will have to apply for a permit. While there is no longer any need to register
a septic tank, keep records of maintenance or notify the Environment Agency if the discharge ceases, as you still need to make sure your sys- tem is working well and not causing pollution. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of
your garden to filter wastewater, then take the prudent course – protect yourself and your family by installing a sewage treatment plant.
Enq. 126
selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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