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Wastewater Legislation
All you need to know about Sewage LEGISLATION
PACKAGE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS (under 50 population) INSTALLED UNDERGROUND WHICH ARE NOT SUBJECT TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
The new Standard for packaged underground sewage treatment units under 50 persons sold in most of Europe is the EN12566-3 2005. The EN12566-3 is required for CE marking, however, CE marking is not mandatory in the UK until 2013.
The Construction Products Regulations 1991 require Package Sewage Treatment Plants offered for supply in the UK to be watertight, structurally stable, durable, to have sufficient treatment capacity and to offer effective treatment for the development in which it is to be installed.
Manufacturers wishing to market underground PSTPs in the UK must be able to provide incontrovertible evidence that their plant satisfies these criteria. This evidence is usually provided by proving compliance with Clauses 5, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 of BS EN 12566-3, although alternative equally robust independent evidence may be considered up until 2013.
The British Standards Institute have advised us that, in their opinion, ONLY package plants which have the EN12566-3 2005 Certification are legal in the UK.
The EN 12566-3 2005 is also required for sewage plants which are sold to other European nations. Only sewage treatment plants which have the EN 12566-3 Certificate are allowed by the Environment Agency for the Exemption Certificate.
The EN 12566-3 only tests the percentage reduction of the influent pollutants in the sewage and gives no guarantees that the final effluent quality will satisfy the Environment Agency Consent Standard that you have to adhere to. Another anomaly is that the manufacturer can decide how many litres of sewage the plant treats each day and some plants are only tested for 4 people when they are sold as 6 person plants.
Again, BEWARE - before purchasing any sewage treatment unit we would strongly recommend that you see the manufacturers INDEPENDENT final effluent test report to make sure that the unit produces an effluent standard of no greater than 20:30:20(BOD:SS:NH3) on a 95 percentile basis as this is the Standard required in the UK and many sewage treatment plants which have the EN12566-3 do not meet this Standard in practise.
DEMAND THE TEST REPORTS, NOT THE CERTIFICATE! - you may be surprised when they are refused!
The EN 12566-3 2005 does not cover the systems below, some of which have their own EN 12566 category:
Septic tanks - EN 12566-1 or 4
Septic tank conversion add-on units - EN 12566-5 or 6, but these are only in draft form at present
Above ground sewage treatment plants - No EN 12566 for these
Sewage treatment plants under driveways - No EN 12566 for these
Sewage treatment plants over 50 persons size - EN 12255 parts 1 to 16
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A = Wastewater B = Pre-treated Wastewater (Septic Effluent) C = Treated Wastewater (Cleaned Effluent) 1= Prefabricated Septic Tank 3= Packaged Wastewater Treatment Plant 4= Septic Tank Built in situ 5= Pre-Treated Wastewater Filter System (in draft at present) 6= Pre-Treated Wastewater Treatment Unit (in draft at present) (2 = Drainage Fields but the UK has the BS 6297 2007 which covers this) |
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IF IN DOUBT - FIND OUT!
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The "Permit Exemption" and "Permit to Discharge" are legal requirements attached to the property. Not to have one can pose problems in the event of a sale of the property. |
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THE APPLICATION CAN TAKE UP TO 4 MONTHS |
It is highly illegal for anyone, other than a licensed waste disposal contractor to empty and dispose of all effluent from septic tanks and sewage plants. The effluent must be taken to fully recognised and licensed sewerage treatment works. The regulated water companies operate these works. It cannot be spread onto farmland. The fines are substantial if the Farmer is caught, and as livestock does not use toilet paper, the source of the manure is highly evident.. Documents issued by the DTLR and CIRIA all point out that septic tank soakaways are a major cause of sewage treatment system failure. Often, these failures result in septic effluent finding its way into watercourses. It is also stated in Part H2 of the 2000 Building Regulations that "Septic tank effluent can be harmful" This refers to septic tank effluent in both watercourses and groundwater. If your septic tank system malfuctions and discharges effluent (no matter how clean) to a watercourse you are committing an offence under Section 85 of theWater Resources Act 1991, rendering you liable on conviction in the magistrates' court to up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £20,000. On conviction at the Crown Court, you face to up to six months in jail and an unlimited fine. You could apply to the Environment Agency for a Permit to Discharge, but Consent would not be given for septic effluent, only for effluent from a sewage treatment unit. You also cannot discharge into a watercourse or ditch anything poisionous or injurous to fish under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Septic Tank effluent is extremely poisionous to aquatic life. If, as defined by the Act, the watercourse is a "main river" , the outfall structure may also require consentunder S.109 Water Resources Act 1991. Think very hard before installing a septic tank as sewage treatment units are always the better choice The choice of sewage system and the obtaining of all permissions and Permits should be done very early in your projects development. Environment Agency Discharge Permit can take 4 months to obtain. Some sites with clay soils and no access to a watercourse, prove very difficult, if not impossible to sustain any form of drainage or wastewater treatment at all, so it is vital that this area is addressed before purchase. The Planning Authority consults with both the Environment Agency, or SEPA, Building Control and Environmental Health in order to determine whether your planning application can be passed or not. But BEWARE as some sites sold with planning permission have foul drainage as a RESERVED MATTER and it may not have been finalised. The Environment Agency or SEPA is responsible for the quality of both groundwaters and wastercourses and you will need Consent to discharge from them for ANY drainage discharge you make from your sewage treatment system. Building Control is responsible for ensuring that your site drainage and sewage system complies with section H of the building regulations. Download it from Links. The NHBC etc.warranty is only given for the sewage system if it is designed and installed to their standards and some Mortgage providers will insist on the property having such a warranty. In any case, they will insist that the treatment system is adequate and sustainable. You only install a sewage treatment system once - DO IT RIGHTBuilding Regulations - relevant to sewage treatment plants and Septic Tanks.
The Building Regulations 2000
Drainage and Waste Disposal 2002 edition
Part H-H2 Package Sewage treatment Works
The main provisions of these regulations are:
Emptying Septic Tanks and Sewage Plants
