Septic Tank Tax?

[Penners]

In yesterday's Telegraph there was a letter referring to a new charge on septic tanks being demanded by DEFRA. The letter implies that all septic tank owners must register by the end of the year for a £125 p.a. permit, or face a fine of up to £20k.

This is all new to me. Does anyone know anything about it?

 

[Flyfisher]

I've not heard about such things, but surely the relevant water authorities would have to write to all affected properties, i.e. those on their database as not having a mains sewage connection. I've had no such communications.

A quick search suggests that such a thing was proposed around 2006 in Ireland. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055725129
This suggests it was introduced in 2010: http://www.politics.ie/forum/environment/117261-440-000-must-buy-septic-tank-licence-gormley.html

I didn't spend much time searching but there were some rather, shall we say, 'disapproving' comments on some forums. One suggestion was that sales of this book might increase as people sought ways to avoid such a 'tax'.

 

[Flyfisher]

OK, not so much a 'tax' as a one-off, free, registration (in most cases).

http://www.broadland.gov.uk/environment/4543.asp

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/118753.aspx

 

[Pford75]

Interesting.

I can't see any positive benefit for the housholder in registering their sewage but the potential for lots of aggravation. In our situation, no one really knows where the sewage goes (we just know that it has been this way for 100+ years without problems.) I'm not about to incur survey charges etc to enable me to register.....and I can't see how the EA will police this.

 

[Penners]

sales of this book might increase

I thought only bears were permitted to do that.

Thanks for that, FF. I've read the EA blurb and will, as they say, take it under advisement. :wink:

I wonder where the Telegraph reader got the info!

 

[JoceAndChris]

A scare story loosely founded on a rumour then? I am sure we'd hear pretty promptly if such a thing were to occur, we heard very quickly here when they changed the legislation on private water supply.

Like Pford, I don't know if ours is a septic tank or not and would hate it to be pried into!

 

[robgil]

So , if you register and you have a system that doesn't meet their standards they will make you put in a system that does?
Perhaps they need to focus their energy in trying to save the millions of litres of water wasted everyday by their own ageing and badly maintained systems.

 

[robgil]

One suggestion was that sales of this book might increase as people sought ways to avoid such a 'tax'.

You could read it whilst sitting on Uncle Boogers Bumper Dumper.

http://www.bumperdumper.com/

 

[Penners]

There are some great tag lines on the website that sells that product:

"From urge to purge - in seconds!"

"When it comes to Number Two, we're Number One!"