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New stipulations on sewage discharge: what you need to know

Written by Posted On Thursday, 17 August 2017 02:16

New stipulations on sewage discharge: what you need to know

Building or renovating a house? Ensure you meet the new guidelines on drainage.

Septic tank regulations have been in place for quite a while, and where most people would rather avoid the topic of sewage, it is an important consideration for any contractor, renovator, or designer. Where the stipulations for 2015 have allowed for the waste water to use a drainage field, soakaway system, or a watercourse, new stipulations which will take place in 2020 will change the method in which waste water can drain from a septic tank system.

What is new in the 2020 guidelines?

The General Binding Rules of 2020 state that water cannot discharge into a watercourse. A watercourse is a means of discharge which is accomplished when water flows through a sealed pipe into a local stream or river. The 2015 regulations do allow for the use of the watercourse, and as such some contractors have been able to get by with this method of sewage disposal. However, due to the changes which will be enforced in 2020, it is strongly recommended that builders and designers refrain from any use of a watercourse and instead use a drainage field.

A recalculation of values

Current systems may need to be recalculated as the volume of waste is apt to increase with the new stipulations. This means that traditional systems with capacities to provide for 13 persons, or a 2,000L tank, would need to be larger for the drainfield. A sewage treatment system may be able to be implemented as a legal alternative to replacement. However, engineers should contact the EA prior to doing so to ensure that the flow of waste meets the requirements set forth for 2020.

Can you be grandfathered in?

No, even if you have a tank which was installed just days before January 1, 2020 you will have to fix the system. There will be no acceptance for systems which use a watercourse as the EA (environmental agency) has deemed that such disposal of waste is a pollutant and harmful for the general public. Both residential and commercial properties with a septic tank and a watercourse must perform one of these two actions:

  • A BS EN 12566-3 certified sewage treatment plant must replace the system. The tank that you choose will have a CE mark, documentation of the British Standard Compliance, and/or will be on the British Water’s list of approved equipment. If you have questions about replacing your system you should contact local zoning.

  • The watercourse must be stopped and diverted to a drainfield. We have witnessed the blocked drains kent, and understand for the field must be calculated to correspond with the estimated occupants of the building and rooms of the building. This could result in a drainfield which is longer than the pipeline for the watercourse in some instances. All Drainfields must be designed and constructed according to the stipulations of BS6297 2007 to follow the new regulations.

Keep in mind that any renovation or replacement of a system must be done with a BS EN 12566-3 Certified tank. It is illegal to install a system which is not.

Renovation considerations

Septic systems which are part of renovation projects should first be checked for compliance with the 2020 stipulations and then evaluated for their functionality with the renovation at hand. Tanks must be free of cracks and damage, the drainage of the sewage should flow downward and away from the property, and renovations should not cover or encroach upon the septic tank or the drainfield. Additionally, contractors and designers should consider the fact that older systems may have outdated connectors or inefficient materials on the drainfield. While the system may pass the EA stipulations, the system may be counterproductive to the renovation. New equipment and plumbing lines coupled with an old septic tank is a formula for costly fixes in the future. Should you be renovating the plumbing of the property, it is best to replace the septic system completely to avoid such costly repairs in the future.

Unsure? Get a second opinion

The best way to ensure that your septic tank for your construction project or renovation meets the stipulations which will be enforced January 1, 2020 is to have a drainage professional who is certified to inspect your blocked drains and install BS EN 12566-3 regulation products, to inspect your tank. Another method would be to purchase the BS EN 12566-3 guildelines and check the system yourself (if you are a contractor or an engineer who has the authority to do so). As a final means of checking your septic tank, you could contact the EA or local zoning to see if there is any record about the sewage drainage for your property.

Regardless of how you go about ensuring that your septic tank is properly disposing waste, it is critical that you have your tank inspected and fixed as soon as possible. Yes, 2020 is a few years away, but it is better to get this problem taken care of now while the demand is small than to wait and find yourself in a bind in the future.

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