SEPTIC TANKS treatment plants: Cesspool with a discharge, or a clinker bed treatment

Septic tanks are a reliable and long-lasting solution for household wastewater treatment. They’ve been in use for decades, and many homeowners are satisfied with their performance.

Septic tanks work through three main processes: separating solids from liquids, limiting bacterial growth, and absorbing the waste. They typically have at least two chambers (or a single chamber with a separation wall and dip pipes). The wastewater enters the first tank, where larger solids are separated from the liquid. Fats float to the surface.

Unfortunately, septic tanks are becoming less common. Treatment plants are often recommended now, and tanks can sometimes be upgraded. Upgrading can improve the quality of the treated water, making it safe to discharge into ditches, rivers, and streams.

Many customers prefer a well-known treatment plant with a good reputation.

Here’s a quick overview of the binding rules for septic tanks. If you’re planning to buy or sell a property with a septic tank, it’s important to know the rules. It’s illegal to discharge sewage to the ground or surface waters without an environmental permit. However, most domestic sewage discharges will be allowed if certain requirements are met.

The current law is in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, which came into effect on January 1, 2017. These regulations include the General Binding Rules for small sewage discharges. The General Binding Rules were once again updated on January 1, 2015. They include the conditions in the regulations and the technical requirements specified by the Environmental Agency in guidance to operators. The operator is the person in charge of running the septic tank or sewage plant (“the system”). This could be the owner, someone who uses it (like a neighbouring landowner), or someone who agreed to take care of it in writing (like a tenant).

The General Binding Rules were made to make it easier to regulate small sewage discharges. Septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants no longer need to be registered, and there’s no legal requirement to keep records of maintenance (though it’s a good idea).

Here are the key points

After a successful test, you can discharge up to 2 cubic meters per day to the ground (like your backyard) using either a septic tank or a small sewage treatment plant. The Environment Agency has a calculator for homeowners to figure out how much you can discharge each day.

You can discharge up to 5 cubic meters per day to surface water (like a river or stream), but you can only use a small sewage treatment plant, not a septic tank. If you have an old septic tank that discharges to surface water, you’ll need to replace or upgrade it by January 1, 2020. You’ll also need to replace or upgrade the system if you sell the property.

If you have an old septic tank, a cesspool with a discharge, or a clinker bed treatment system that discharges into a watercourse, you’ll need to register it with the Environment Agency.

Warning: Homebuyers’ surveys may reveal:

• The property might have a sewage system that’s completely outdated and needs a major upgrade.
• The property might have the completely wrong system.
• The system might be discharging into an area that’s changed over the years, causing pollution.
• The system might not meet the new regulations or the binding rules.
• The house has a cesspit with an illegal discharge that needs to be capped off, the ground is nonporous (made of solid clay), and it’s polluting the nearby woods.
• If the ground is not suitable for an old, existing septic tank, i.e. there is no room for land drains, no main drains, or nowhere to discharge from a treatment plant, the only option for the sewage disposal May end up using a sewage tanker, regularly from the property.

What is a cesspit?

A cesspool or cesspit is typically around 18,000 litres. A huge tank for storing raw household sewage. It is below ground and watertight, no discharge allowed.
 
A cesspit. It is your legal right, although not recommended.
 
A cesspit does not need an environmental exemption, or a permit from the environment agency, nor does it need to be registered. Although it does need a building notice. It is containment only, which will require emptying every 9 to 13 weeks depend on usage, size of family etc. 

To serve a modern family, cesspits are only installed when nothing else is available or possible. 
 

Our typical charge to install a 4000-gallon cesspit is more than £20,000.00 plus VAT. This does not include sheet piling, de-watering and mucking away. This is, of course, subject to a test hole and a proper detailed estimate.

Cesspits for a house with family of five

The minimum requirement as per building regulations is 4,000 gallons.

Although you are allowed to have a cesspit, it’s not recommended as it is containment only, and needs to be emptied every 8-13 weeks. It can be a shorter or longer period depending on usage.

In the future when you sell your house, a cess pit, in our professional opinion, will de-value the property by probably £20,000. In our experience, buyers avoid houses with cesspits because of high maintenance costs.
To carry out the installation of a cesspit is currently around £35,000.00 plus VAT, subject to a survey and access. The price does not include de-watering if it were necessary.

One of the most important decisions is the choice of the right sewage disposal system for your home, or site. The choice of solutions is quite varied, and there are many factors to be considered, including current legislation and any potential environmental impact.

A survey of a private drainage system is financially vitally important, if you are purchasing a house which is not connected to the main sewer.

If you are selling a house with a private sewage system, the vendors can prepare for the sale, and may be able to increase the value of the property, or the purchase price by having a survey carried out with a full report of our findings. Both parties will be able to make an informed choice i.e. it may be possible to revise/reconsider the purchase price or offer, as well as gaining knowledge.

It would also be possible to organise and plan when to move in or out, whether to have any work required carried out prior to moving in, or, in the worst-case scenario, walk away from the deal. If the drainage survey reveals the wrong system has been installed, or it’s out of date, and it could cost 10,000 or £20,000 to replace it, with enormous disruption; a decision can be made whether to go through with the purchase at all.

A prospective vendor may choose to prepare for the sale because of a professional, in-depth visual inspection of the private sewage system. Our report provides an expert account, validating the condition of the system and highlighting any problems in a clear and easy to understand written and verbal report.

Get in touch with ASL today to discuss any requirements for a septic tank or cesspit.