Building regs and septic tanks

[david2]

My septic tank discharges into a ditch. Which I believe would not comply with building regulations now. It seem to work perfectly with only a little trickle into the ditch.

Whilst the tank is very old, I am worried that if undertake any repairs to it I shall have to then comply - can anyone provide some practical advice.


Thanks

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

First of all, if it isn't bust, don't fix it! Having said that, for environmental reasons it would be good to have a more appropriate system for dealing with the effluent.

Are you sure it's a septic tank, rather than a leaky cess pit?

The effluent from the second chamber of a septic tank should discharge into free draining soil through a network of land-drain (leaky) pipes, thus dispersing the waste over a large area. Bacterial action in the soil provides the final treatment to the effluent.

If you keep quiet about it you could carry out minor repairs and improvements, but if you do any major work you really should apply for building regs approval, and as you guessed that means complying with all the current standards. Then you might be looking at replacement rather than repair.

I suppose it depends on how bothered you are - see my first point!

 

[biffvernon]

It seems to work perfectly

That's all right then. You can go mow the lawn.