Policy paper

Small sewage discharges in England: general binding rules

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Part of: Water quality and Environmental permits
• Published: 27 October 2014
• Last updated: 21 January 2015, see all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

General binding rules for small sewage discharges from septic tanks or sewage treatment plants in England, from 1 January 2015.

Documents

General binding rules for small sewage discharges in England

PDF, 79.7KB, 4 pages

Additional information on the new approach to regulating small sewage discharges

PDF, 83.7KB

Details

We have changed the regulations to simplify the laws controlling small sewage discharges from septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants in England. New regulations Environmental Permitting (England and Wales)(Amendment)(England) Regulations 2014 came into effect in January 2015.

The general binding rules set out the conditions in the regulations that allow a septic tank or sewage treatment plant to be used without an environmental permit.

We have also provided additional information about the new approach and how it will apply.

Document information

Published: 27 October 2014

Updated: 21 January 2015

+ full page history

1. 21 January 2015 Updated two general binding rules (8 and 17) in 'General binding rules' document: added ‘mean spring’ to make clear the rule relates to a known indicator for low tide. Included screening distances for aquatic local nature reserves and aquatic local wildlife sites.
2. 27 October 2014 First published.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Part of: Water quality Environmental permits