When buying a property one key part to look at is the drainage. You should be looking to see if it is a mains system or a private system like a septic tank. A non mains drainage system is where the properties waste water doesn’t drain to the mains sewage system and instead drains to a private system. Private systems may be for just the subject property or it may be shared between a number of properties.
Non Mains Drainage
There are three main types of non mains systems, these are septic tanks, sewage treatment plants and cess pits.
Septic tank
A septic tank is a large chamber where the waste is collected. Unlike the cess pit, the septic tank does drain. The solids sink to the bottom of the tank and the fluids are then drained out of the tank, usually into a specifically designed drainage field of some sort (a drainage field is special piping which further treats the waste water and releases it back into the ground).
Sewage treatment plant
A sewage treatment plant works to filter and clean the waste so it can be released safely into the surroundings. These systems vary in technique, it should be noted most use electricity and can be costly.
Cess pit
A cess pit is a large container usually sunk into the ground where the waste is stored. Cess pits don’t drain anywhere and instead has to be emptied at regular intervals to stop it overflowing. These kinds of system are expensive due to the constant upkeep and are usually only used in circumstances where the other methods are not possible.
Rules
New rules came into force in January 2020 and have significantly limited the acceptable drainage methods. The new rules are stricter on the ways you can discharge your waste, just a few of the new rules are listed below:
- To release waste into surface water such as a stream or river you must use a sewage treatment plant, a septic tank is unacceptable.
- An appropriately sized and constructed drainage field must be installed to release into a ground for both septic tanks and sewage treatment plants.
- A permit must be obtained to release into the ground if you release more than 2 cubic metres per day, drain to a deep structure or are in a groundwater source protection zone.
- You must apply for building regulation approval and possibly planning permission to install a new system.
Non mains drainage systems can be costly to upkeep and require regular maintenance. It is therefore important to identify what kind of drainage system you are dealing with. You should get a specialist drainage company in to inspect the system prior to purchasing your house.
For more information on the new rules and non mains drainage visit the sites below:
Information on the rules for non mains drainage click here.
Information on non mains systems click here.
A brief look at non mains drains!
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