rules on old septic tanks

babyblade41

An earlier post prompted me to find out about the new rules coming in next year.

My 2 previous houses had the new water treatment ones that fully conformed to new regulations and my house now has mains drainage.

My MIL however has an antiquated septic tank that wouldn't pass any environmental rules and regs.

It is the same thing as the one put into the house when built 50 years ago .

After reading several articles about the new regs and I'm slightly confused.

Will she have to upgrade ASAP before the 2020 time scale or is she excluded from upgrading until she sells or dies?

The whole house would probably be condemned but she refuses to get anything done so needed to explain that this particular health hazard is something she has no choice in or by law she doesn't have to do a thing.

I won't visit because of this and everything else that is unsafe but she is totally stubborn and refuses any suggestion put to her

Davesnave

I think for most of us with older tanks, it's still business as usual, unless any outflow from the drainage field is into a watercourse of some kind.

There have been changes in the regs over the years, prior to this 2020 thing. For example, a neighbour's drainage field on our land ends within 7m of a watercourse, which is already verboten, but so far as I know, they are OK while it continues to function and they don't try to sell. If it packs up, or if they need to move, they're blissfully unaware of the problems they'll have.

There are far too many septic tanks around for the EA to target all of them, so it will be a gradual squeeze, with the worst cases being dealt with first. What happens at the end of your MiL's drainage field, or does she not have one? :eek:

G_M

Unless outflow/discharge is to a water course, an existing (pre-2015) tank is likely to comply. Check the 1st list of the General binding rules here.

Also found this:

If your treatment system was installed before 1983 there was no British Standard in place. You do not need to do anything to meet the British Standard requirement. You must still meet all the other general binding rules.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-binding-rules-small-sewage-discharge-to-the-ground



But you can't be too careful...........
https://www.foxnews.com/us/toilet-explodes-in-florida-home-after-lightning-strikes-septic-tank

martindow

G_M wrote: »

But you can't be too careful...........
https://www.foxnews.com/us/toilet-explodes-in-florida-home-after-lightning-strikes-septic-tank

Great story, but it is reported by Fox news which is even less reliable than the Daily Mail or the Express ...

babyblade41

THANKS ALL..MIL has 12 acres and it runs onto her land but it really isn't great.

I thought I could show her something that would prove that it has to be changed as I wasn't au fait with the new regs.

Still could be worse at least I don't have to visit .. so not all bad !!

G_M

babyblade41 wrote: »

......needed to explain that this particular health hazard is something she has no choice in or by law she doesn't have to do a thing.

I won't visit because of this and everything else that is unsafe but she is totally stubborn and refuses any suggestion put to her

You appear to be over-reacting! I see no reason not to visit.


Why do you assume there is a healh hazard? She has 12 acres so plenty of room for run-off (though depends what else is in those acres).


Does she get the tank emptied periodically? If so, by a reputable firm? Have they commented?