Septic tanks and sewage treatment plants: what you need to do
Your property has an existing discharge
There are things you must do if your property has an existing discharge where you release sewage to the ground or to surface water.
You have an existing discharge if it started before 2 October 2023 and all of the following apply:
- it has not changed in discharge type (from ground to surface water, or the other way around)
- it has not been moved more than 10 metres from the original location
- the discharge has not increased in volume since 2 October 2023
- if the discharge has increased it is still less than 2 cubic metres (2,000 litres) a day if it goes to ground or less than 5 cubic metres (5,000 litres) a day if it goes to surface water
Check if you meet the general binding rules
If you already have a septic tank or sewage treatment plant check if it meets the ‘general binding rules’.
If you do not meet the general binding rules
If your sewage treatment system does not meet the general binding rules, you must either:
- connect to a public foul sewer if it’s ‘reasonable’ to do so - contact your sewerage undertaker for advice
- change your system so that it meets the general binding rules
If you cannot do either of these things, you must apply for a permit.
If you did not get planning permission or building regulations approval
If your current system did not get building regulations approval when it was installed, you may need to apply for it. You might also need planning permission.
If your system was installed before 1 January 2015, contact your local council for advice on planning permission.