Keeping it clean!

For anyone responsible for the management or sale of properties with septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants, you should note that there are now some new rules for sewage treatment.

In 2011 the Environment Agency proposed new regulations requiring registration of these systems.

It was decided, after discussion, that this may add unnecessary regulation without major benefit and a DEFRA review followed to establish a better way forward.

A new approach to sewage systems has now been decided by the new regulations (The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Amendment (England) Regulations 2014) and are as follows:

• ‘General Binding Rules’ (legally binding requirements which set minimum standards) set out limits on maximum discharges, require that maintenance must be carried out by ‘someone who is competent’ and, if the property is sold, require that written notice of the sewage discharge must be given to the new owner (or operator) with a description of the system and its maintenance requirements.

• New discharges after 1st January 2015 which are within or close to a “sensitive area” will need to have an environmental permit.

• Sensitive areas include Ancient Woodlands, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) designated for biological reasons, Local Nature Reserves/Local Wildlife sites which are aquatic in nature amongst others.

• Any sites which are located within a ground source protection zone 1 (areas designated to protect drinking water supplies) will continue to need a permit.

If you would like to discuss how these changes might affect you, please contact Rupert Harrison or Adam Jaeban of our Rural Department on 01509 243720 or email propertyprofessionals@andrewgranger.co.uk .