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Managing your Septic Tank
SEPTIC TANKS are underground chambers where bacteria safely break down the waste. Solids sink to the bottom forming sludge and the liquid fl ows into a ‘drainage fi eld’ where more bacteria treat it as it soaks into the ground. These systems must not discharge to watercourses.
SMALL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS work in a similar way but use powered mechanical parts to aerate the bacteria. This makes them more eff ective at treating waste water and means they can discharge treated sewage into a soakaway or directly into fl owing water.
If not working properly, both systems can release raw sewage, polluting the water in the ground, in rivers and streams, and at the coast. Owners can ensure that their systems are properly maintained by following best practice guidelines, and new General Binding Rules introduced in 2015. These rules must be complied with by law.
What are septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants?If your home or business is not connected to the mains sewerage system or a cess pit, the waste water from your toilets, baths, showers, sinks and washing machines will drain into one of the following systems:
Could you be contributing to the ‘dirty secret’ hidden in the clear waters of our rivers and streams?Waste water from most homes and businesses fl ows via drains and sewers to wastewater treatment works, where it is cleaned up and returned to the environment. But not all properties benefi t from this – some rely on private systems to collect and treat their waste.
Catchment
Based
Approach
Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 1Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 1 14/03/2016 14:16:2614/03/2016 14:16:26
Get
to
know
you
r sy
stem
Whe
re is
you
r tan
k? A
met
al o
r con
cret
e lid
sho
uld
be
visib
le, u
sual
ly in
the
grou
nd d
ownh
ill fro
m y
our p
rope
rty.
Is it
sha
red?
Ask
you
r nei
ghbo
urs.
Whe
re d
oes
it di
scha
rge
to?
Loca
te y
our s
oaka
way
. Th
is g
rave
l or g
rass
ed a
rea
clea
ns a
nd fi
lters
the
liqui
d effl
uen
t fro
m y
our t
ank.
Che
ck y
our
syst
emC
heck
that
the
soak
away
isn’
t wat
erlo
gged
, and
th
at th
ere
are
no p
ools
of w
ater
runn
ing
in to
ditc
hes
or w
ater
cour
ses.
Effl
uent
insi
de th
e in
spec
tion
cham
ber s
houl
d be
cle
ar o
r pal
e, a
nd o
dour
-free
.
Don
’t u
pset
the
bal
ance
Usi
ng p
rodu
cts
mar
ked
as ‘s
uita
ble
for s
eptic
tank
s’ o
r ‘e
nviro
nmen
tally
frie
ndly
’ will
keep
the
bact
eria
in y
our
tank
hea
lthy.
The
bac
teria
bre
ak d
own
your
was
te, s
o th
e ta
nk c
ould
cau
se h
ealth
risk
s an
d en
viro
nmen
tal
prob
lem
s w
ithou
t the
m. A
void
har
sh c
hem
ical
s lik
e bl
each
, cau
stic
sod
a, d
isin
fect
ants
and
ant
i-bac
teria
ls,
and
use
clea
ning
pro
duct
s an
d de
terg
ents
spa
ringl
y.
Dom
estic
sew
age
syst
ems
can’
t rem
ove
phos
phat
es
from
the
efflue
ntso
usin
gph
osph
ate-
free
prod
ucts
1 2 6
3 4
Get
to
know
you
r sy
stem
Whe
re is
you
r tan
k? A
met
al o
r con
cret
e lid
sho
uld
be
visib
le, u
sual
ly in
the
grou
nd d
ownh
ill fro
m y
our p
rope
rty.
Is it
sha
red?
Ask
you
r nei
ghbo
urs.
Whe
re d
oes
it di
scha
rge
to?
Loca
te y
our s
oaka
way
. Th
is g
rave
l or g
rass
ed a
rea
clea
ns a
nd fi
lters
the
liqui
d effl
uen
t fro
m y
our t
ank.
Che
ck y
our
syst
emC
heck
that
the
soak
away
isn’
t wat
erlo
gged
, and
th
at th
ere
are
no p
ools
of w
ater
runn
ing
in to
ditc
hes
or w
ater
cour
ses.
Effl
uent
insi
de th
e in
spec
tion
cham
ber s
houl
d be
cle
ar o
r pal
e, a
nd o
dour
-free
.
Fix
Faul
tsG
urgl
ing
pipe
s, d
isco
lour
ed e
ffl ue
nt,
odou
rs, f
oam
, a s
wam
py s
oaka
way
, lus
h gr
ass
grow
th, a
nd s
ewag
e fu
ngus
(tha
t lo
oks
like
grey
cot
ton
woo
l) in
loca
l wat
erw
ays
can
all i
ndic
ate
that
you
r sys
tem
isn’
t wor
king
pr
oper
ly. T
he m
ost c
omm
on p
robl
ems
are
that
tank
s ar
e fu
ll an
d ne
ed to
be
empt
ied,
or
that
pip
es a
re b
lock
ed –
thes
e ca
n be
cle
ared
w
ith b
oilin
g w
ater
or d
rain
rods
. Pro
blem
s m
ust b
e fi x
ed im
med
iate
ly, p
reve
ntin
g po
llutio
n, h
ealth
risk
, and
esc
alat
ing
repa
ir bi
lls. A
ccre
dite
d en
gine
ers
can
fi x m
ore
serio
usfa
ults
and
carry
outs
ervi
cing
Follo
w t
he la
wC
alcu
late
how
muc
h yo
ur s
yste
m is
dis
char
ging
at
ww
w.g
ov.u
k/sm
all-s
ewag
e-ru
les
- if y
ou
disc
harg
e m
ore
than
2,0
00 lit
res
of tr
eate
d se
wag
e / d
ay in
to th
e gr
ound
or 5
,000
litre
s to
fl o
win
g w
ater
, you
will
need
a p
erm
it.
If re
plac
ing
or in
stal
ling
a ne
w s
yste
m, c
hoos
e eq
uipm
ent t
hat m
eets
Brit
ish
Stan
dard
BS
EN 1
2566
and
spe
ak to
you
r loc
al c
ounc
il to
ch
eck
that
it w
ill m
eet p
lann
ing
requ
irem
ents
an
d bu
ildin
g re
gula
tions
. You
will
also
nee
d to
con
tact
the
Envi
ronm
ent A
genc
y to
fi nd
out
w
heth
er y
our n
ew s
yste
m
will
need
a p
erm
it.
Don
’t u
pset
the
bal
ance
Usi
ng p
rodu
cts
mar
ked
as ‘s
uita
ble
for s
eptic
tank
s’ o
r ‘e
nviro
nmen
tally
frie
ndly
’ will
keep
the
bact
eria
in y
our
tank
hea
lthy.
The
bac
teria
bre
ak d
own
your
was
te, s
o th
e ta
nk c
ould
cau
se h
ealth
risk
s an
d en
viro
nmen
tal
prob
lem
s w
ithou
t the
m. A
void
har
sh c
hem
ical
s lik
e bl
each
, cau
stic
sod
a, d
isin
fect
ants
and
ant
i-bac
teria
ls,
and
use
clea
ning
pro
duct
s an
d de
terg
ents
spa
ringl
y.
Dom
estic
sew
age
syst
ems
can’
t rem
ove
phos
phat
es
from
the
effl u
ent ,
so u
sing
pho
spha
te-fr
ee p
rodu
cts
will
Gen
eral
Bin
ding
Rul
esTh
ese
rule
s m
ust b
e co
mpl
ied
with
by
law
Bes
t P
ract
ice
Gui
delin
es
1 2 6
3 4
Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 2Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 2 14/03/2016 14:16:2814/03/2016 14:16:28
Kee
p go
od r
ecor
dsKe
epin
g a
reco
rd o
f mai
nten
ance
, em
ptyi
ng a
nd
serv
icin
g w
ill he
lp c
ontra
ctor
s to
fi x
any
prob
lem
s th
at
aris
e, a
nd w
ill be
use
ful i
f you
wan
t to
sell
your
hom
e.
Get
it e
mpt
ied
regu
larl
yAl
l sys
tem
s ne
ed to
be
empt
ied
of s
ludg
e on
a
regu
lar b
asis
. Fre
quen
cy w
ill de
pend
on
leve
ls o
f use
, and
on
how
wel
l you
trea
t you
r sy
stem
, but
hav
ing
it em
ptie
d an
nual
ly b
y a
regi
ster
ed w
aste
car
rier w
ill he
lp
to e
nsur
e th
at it
func
tions
pro
perly
an
d do
esn’
t cau
se p
ollu
tion.
Dom
estic
sew
age
syst
ems
can’
t rem
ove
phos
phat
es
from
the
effl u
ent,
so u
sing
pho
spha
te-fr
ee p
rodu
cts
will
help
to p
rote
ct y
our l
ocal
rive
rs a
nd s
tream
s.
Bin
you
r w
aste
Hou
seho
ld w
aste
can
blo
ck o
r dam
age
your
sys
tem
an
d sh
ould
be
binn
ed in
stea
d of
fl us
hed.
Kitc
hen
tow
els,
‘fl
usha
ble’
wip
es, t
issu
es, c
otto
n bu
ds, n
appi
es a
nd
sani
tary
item
s w
ill al
l blo
ck y
our t
ank
or p
ipes
lead
ing
to
expe
nsiv
e re
pair
bills
. Oils
, fat
and
gre
ase
will
solid
ify a
nd
bloc
k pi
pes
and
soak
away
s. U
se a
kitc
hen
sink
stra
iner
to
prev
ent f
ood
was
te fi
lling
up y
our t
ank,
or i
t will
need
to b
e em
ptie
d m
ore
frequ
ently
. Pai
nts,
sol
vent
s an
d ch
emic
als
can
kill
your
tank
bac
teria
and
sho
uld
be d
ispo
sed
of a
t a
civi
c am
enity
site
. Med
icin
es c
an a
lso
kill
your
bac
teria
.
Don
’t o
ver-
wat
er!
Larg
e vo
lum
es o
f wat
er c
an o
verw
helm
you
r tan
k,
fl ush
ing
out u
ntre
ated
sew
age.
Ens
ure
that
roof
gut
ters
ca
rryin
g ra
inw
ater
are
n’t c
onne
cted
to y
our s
yste
m,
and
avoi
d ru
nnin
g di
shw
ashe
rs a
nd w
ashi
ng m
achi
nes
seve
ral t
imes
in o
ne d
ay.
7 8 9
5
pg
pbi
lls. A
ccre
dite
d en
gine
ers
can
fi x m
ore
serio
us fa
ults
and
car
ry o
ut s
ervi
cing
.
Get
it e
mpt
ied
regu
larl
yAl
l sys
tem
s ne
ed to
be
empt
ied
of s
ludg
e on
a
regu
lar b
asis
. Fre
quen
cy w
ill de
pend
on
leve
ls o
f use
, and
on
how
wel
l you
trea
t you
r sy
stem
, but
hav
ing
it em
ptie
d an
nual
ly b
y a
regi
ster
ed w
aste
car
rier w
ill he
lp
to e
nsur
e th
at it
func
tions
pro
perly
an
d do
esn’
t cau
se p
ollu
tion.
Dom
estic
sew
age
syst
ems
can’
t rem
ove
phos
phat
es
from
the
effl u
ent,
so u
sing
pho
spha
te-fr
ee p
rodu
cts
will
help
to p
rote
ct y
our l
ocal
rive
rs a
nd s
tream
s.
Bin
you
r w
aste
Hou
seho
ld w
aste
can
blo
ck o
r dam
age
your
sys
tem
an
d sh
ould
be
binn
ed in
stea
d of
fl us
hed.
Kitc
hen
tow
els,
‘fl
usha
ble’
wip
es, t
issu
es, c
otto
n bu
ds, n
appi
es a
nd
sani
tary
item
s w
ill al
l blo
ck y
our t
ank
or p
ipes
lead
ing
to
expe
nsiv
e re
pair
bills
. Oils
, fat
and
gre
ase
will
solid
ify a
nd
bloc
k pi
pes
and
soak
away
s. U
se a
kitc
hen
sink
stra
iner
to
prev
ent f
ood
was
te fi
lling
up y
our t
ank,
or i
t will
need
to b
e em
ptie
d m
ore
frequ
ently
. Pai
nts,
sol
vent
s an
d ch
emic
als
can
kill
your
tank
bac
teria
and
sho
uld
be d
ispo
sed
of a
t a
civi
c am
enity
site
. Med
icin
es c
an a
lso
kill
your
bac
teria
.
Don
’t o
ver-
wat
er!
Larg
e vo
lum
es o
f wat
er c
an o
verw
helm
you
r tan
k,
fl ush
ing
out u
ntre
ated
sew
age.
Ens
ure
that
roof
gut
ters
ca
rryin
g ra
inw
ater
are
n’t c
onne
cted
to y
our s
yste
m,
and
avoi
d ru
nnin
g di
shw
ashe
rs a
nd w
ashi
ng m
achi
nes
seve
ral t
imes
in o
ne d
ay.
Kee
p go
od r
ecor
dsKe
epin
g a
reco
rd o
f mai
nten
ance
, em
ptyi
ng a
nd
serv
icin
g w
ill he
lp c
ontra
ctor
s to
fi x
any
prob
lem
s th
at
aris
e, a
nd w
ill be
use
ful i
f you
wan
t to
sell
your
hom
e.
7 8 9
5
Ther
e ar
e m
any
thou
sand
s of
priv
ate
sew
erag
e sy
stem
s in
the
rura
l par
ts o
f sou
ther
n En
glan
d an
d th
eir c
olle
ctiv
e im
pact
on
loca
l wat
ers
can
be s
ubst
antia
l. Bu
t fol
low
ing
the
10 s
teps
abo
ve
can
ensu
re th
at y
ou’re
min
imis
ing
the
nitro
gen,
ph
osph
orus
and
oth
er p
ollu
tant
s in
visi
bly
ente
ring
our w
ater
s fro
m y
our h
ome.
Tak
e ca
re o
f you
r tan
k,
and
avoi
d co
ntrib
utin
g to
our
rive
rs’ ‘d
irty
secr
et’.
10B
uyer
bew
are
If yo
u se
ll yo
ur p
rope
rty, y
ou m
ust i
nfor
m th
e bu
yer i
n w
ritin
g th
at it
has
a s
eptic
tank
or
smal
l sew
age
treat
men
t pla
nt.
Bein
g ab
le to
pro
vide
them
with
re
cord
s an
d a
mai
nten
ance
gu
ide
will
reas
sure
them
that
th
e sy
stem
isn’
t a li
abilit
y.
10
FOR
SA
LE
Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 3Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 3 14/03/2016 14:16:2914/03/2016 14:16:29
The CATCHMENT BASED APPROACH (CaBA) is a community-led approach that engages people and groups from across society to help improve our precious water environments. CaBA Partnerships are now actively working in 100+ catchments across England and Wales.http://www.catchmentbasedapproach.org/
More InformationFor further information about phosphorus or other local projects, contact your catchment partnership. www.catchmentbasedapproach.org/catchmentIf you are unable to follow the new rules, are worried your system may be causing pollution or want to check if your system needs a permit, visit www.gov.uk/small-sewage-rules or contact The Environment Agency on [email protected] or Tel 03708 506 506 (8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri)For emptying services, look online or in the Yellow Pages under: Septic Tanks Drain and Pipe Cleaning Plumbers Sewage ConsultantsTo fi nd an accredited engineer and further guidance, visit www.britishwater.co.uk/engineers
Catchment
Based
Approach
Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 4Septic Tank Leaflet 4.indd 4 14/03/2016 14:16:2914/03/2016 14:16:29
