Sewage Treatment Plant and Septic Tank Installation Legislation -
EPP2 (Environmental Permitting Programme second phase)
There are legislative procedures that surround the installation of Septic Tanks and Sewage Treatment Plant. The most fundamental is the requirement for site owners to obtain a Permit to Discharge. This is authorization from the Environment Agency allowing the buildings sewage system to discharge into the ground or to a surface water resource, for example, a river, stream or soak away.
Up until April 6th 2010 this applied to all septic tanks and sewage treatment plant.
The good news is, as of April 6th, 2010, EPP2 enables small treatment plant and septic tank owners to simply register for an exemption from obtaining a Permit to Discharge. This exemption is free of charge: Registering exempt water discharge and groundwater activities
EPP2 applies to all small sewage treatment plants and septic tanks up to a certain discharge capacity:
- Sewage Treatment Plants only, discharging up to 5m per day or less into surface water (equivalent to a 25 population)
- Septic Tanks / Sewage Treatment Plants discharging up to 2m per day or less into groundwater soak away (equivalent to12 population)
If you will be discharging the volumes above, you can register for exemption from obtaining a Permit to Discharge, if you also meet the criteria below:
- You are not within 30 metres of a mains sewer connection.
- You must have necessary planning permission and building regulations.
- If discharging into a water course, that water course must have a minimum dilution ratio of 8:1 at all times of the year. The point of discharge into that water course must not be less than 1 km up stream of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or bathing water.
- You are not discharging any commercial waste.
- The treatment plant or septic tank must be maintained by qualified contractors.
- The treatment plant or septic tank you are installing must comply with EN12566
Part 1 or 3
Only products that have undergone the EN12566 Part 1 or 3 test procedures are approved under EPP2 for an exemption for a Permit to Discharge.
Below is a link to the British Water website showing plants certified to EN12566 - Part 1 & 3:
Certified Sewage Treatment Plants
Cotterill Civils Limited only supply and install EN12566 part 1 or 3 septic tank and sewage treatment plant.
The EPP2 registration procedure requires owners to stipulate what specific product is being installed (i.e., the manufacturer and model of tank).
Installation
EPP2 does not directly state that a professional installer has to install the unit, but it does stipulate that industry best practice needs to be adhered to. EPP2 also states that manufacturers installation instructions must be followed and that specialist installation engineers should be used for the work.
Experience shows that correct installation is a prerequisite for the long-lasting and successful operation of any wastewater treatment product. Errors made at this stage can often resurface at a later date, leading to inconvenience and expense to rectify the problem. Furthermore, assistance can often be supplied in registering for the necessary exemption and gaining building approvals from the appropriate local bodies with whom the installer will have a good, regular working relationship.
Kingspan Environmental and Biopure have their own network of Accredited Installers located across the UK who specialise in their products. Cotterill Civils Limited are Accredited Installers for both these manufacturers.
Klargester Accredited Installers
Application/Registration
In a bid to streamline the process, new applicants can register online for an exemption using a form available to download from the Environment Agencys website.
Environment Agency Registration
By completing the form and meeting the criteria there in, you are agreeing to do what you say you will do. The Environment Agency is entrusting owners to carry on without long delays or threat to the environment.
If your waste water system does not fall within the exemption criteria we will be pleased to advise or help you apply for a Permit to Discharge.
For more information covering Sewage Treatment Plant and Secptic Tank installation and applications, please follow this link to EPP2.