SepticTank Advice

[John Anderton]

Probably, the way things are going, although it may take many years for the pen-pushers to visit every rural house in the country. :-(

The dumb thing is that I used to have something similar and if I'd left things as they were I could have gone on pumping all my dubious effluent into a stream for many years to come.

Because I thought it best to do the job properly and put in a modern septic tank with a decent soakaway I now run the risk in eleven years or sooner of being told I can't continue with a septic tank because the environment agency now know I have one.

My advice is keep quiet about your sewage arrangements and feign ignorance and surprise if you get a knock on the door :-)

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Dave Liquorice]

I tend to make trips to the compost heap dual purpose...

[mich]

I missed the beginning of this and cant seem to pick it up. They changing rules on septic tanks or something?

I recently heard that a number of new houses at the bottom of my village are connected into the storm drain sytem. Must have been cheaper than putting in sewers or septic tanks I guess. Maybe the environment agency should deal with that sort of thing first?

But of course they wont will they - when it comes to the big boy builders ( like barrat, persimon etc) they can do anything they like.

[John Anderton]

It seems they did change the rules a couple of years ago but this thread actually started with a fairly benign question about how far a septic tank should be from a house and snowballed from there :-)

I wouldn't be so sure. My guess would be either that whoever told you this got it slightly wrong or the environment agency just don't know about it.

If you feel strongly about it just send them a letter asking for clarification. Like all government agencies, once something is in writing they don't seem to be able to ignore it (as long as you get it to the right person)

Cheers,

John

[mich]

Thanks for the information. I pretty sure I do not have it wrong because there are no sewers and according to the spec of a recent house sale, they are apparently connected to these mains and there isnt a septic tank! Make of that what you will.

My best guess is that it having come to the attention of the village gossips its also aroused the attention of the local environmentalists by now. In short, if I have heard it so has everyone else and like as not someone has complained.

But it remains to be seen if anything is done. Personally I have to say I am something of a selfish cow. I dont care what anyone does as long as no one gets onto me!

As for me, I have one of those old fashioed brick built jobbies from way back in the time of the dinasaurs. Well, septic tanks are not exactly dinner table conversation are they? ;-)

[Dave Liquorice]

Maybe the EA don't know, (yet) or the story isn't quite accurate.

I wouldn't be surpised if it wasn't the "professional" builders subcontracted to do the work that simply connected all the foul water drains to the nearest pipe that looked like a sewer rather than look at the sire plans find the real one. Though I thought the local BCO wanted to inspect this sort of stuff before it is covered over...

A note to the EA could be in order otherwise, if it's left, the poor mugs who buy the houses will end up footing the bill to correct it (and a pollutiion fine) or the one for a legal battle.

[Dave Liquorice]

If your village is like ours everyone will know and complian but no one will actually get of their collective bottoms and do anything or will think that some else has...

[Owain]

"Dave Liquorice" wrote | I don't think the EA are particulary worried about human waste, | thats fairly bio-degradeable. However the same can't be said | for the chemical cocktail that also goes down the normal | household drain.

But people with septics are much more cautious/responsible about what they put down the drain, because they know they will have to pay if they foul it up.

Owain

[Owain]

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote | > You ought to piss on your compost heap. | I would, if it wasn't such a beastly long walk.

Piss out of an upstairs window? Wear one of those swirly tap nozzles to extend your range? Use a water pistol as an intermediate receptable?

Owain

[Peter Stockdale]

Difficult to keep quiet when one advantage is that the local water authority don't make a charge for waste water disposal if you confess to having a septic tank system.

Pete

[John Anderton]

I more meant keeping quiet about ones knowledge of the exact mechanics of disposal and the legalities thereof,

Cheers,

John

[The Natural Philosopher]

We are talking the best part of 80 yards here Owain :-)

[Andrew McKay]

Weak bladder TNP? ;)

Andrew

[Phil Addison]

KKKKatie's "Septic Tank FAQ" (from Feb 1997)

uk.d-i-y FAQ is at NOSPAM from address to email me

[Dave Liquorice]

I was only really thinkimg of ordinary household soaps, detergents and cleaning agents. I know people put almost anything down the drains from old engine oil to paint striper and old cooking fat, none of which will do a septic tank any good but i don't do that anyway...

[The Natural Philosopher]

Definitely if you expect me to pee 80 yards.

I never saw anyone apart from my freind Paul who could exceed 10 meters, and that was from the roof of mmy college rooms straight down onto a pasing cyclist.

[The Natural Philosopher]

My tanks had all of that and is fine.