Sewage treatment plant rules

[Poorprincess]

Hi we are in the process of looking into replacing our septic tank with a sewage treatment plant. The firms we have had out haven't mentioned planning permission, just building regs. We live in Mid Suffolk, would any one know if planning permission is something that we will require. We were hoping to have it installed within the month, so if we need planning permission this will take longer.

Could someone also please explain to me what is required as to where the water has to go once it's gone through the treatment plant. Can it go directly in to a pond or will it need to go into a ditch to then enter the pond? The pond has a pipe that then discharges to a river.

 

[Flyfisher]

https://www.gov.uk/permits-you-need-for-septic-tanks/overview

 

[MikeG]

Your supplier/ installer should have answered these questions for you.

Providing your kit is on the approved list it doesn't need specific Environment Agency approval. However, if you have doubts about the legality of your proposed point of discharge, and given that discharge could ultimately end up in a river, I would contact them and ask for advice. It won't need Planning permission, but it may require Building Regs Approval, so I would suggest you contact Building Control at your local council and have a chat with them. They are almost universally helpful and friendly, despite what people might say.

If your treatment plant is replacing a septic tank, you can generally discharge to wherever your tank was discharging without requiring anyone's say-so. However, as I said, your supplier should be dealing with all this.

 

[Hobden]

There's good information here -

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/small-sewage-discharges-in-england-general-binding-rules