CLA welcomes Government’s plans to simplify septic tank regulatory system
The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers, and rural businesses, has welcomed the Government’s plan to replace the current registration system for septic tanks with a risk-based system as a step in the right direction.
The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers, and rural businesses, has welcomed the Government’s plan to replace the current registration system for septic tanks with a risk-based system as a step in the right direction.
This change resulted from a call by the CLA for a reformed system that reduced the regulatory burden of managing small sewerage discharges.
The revised system will come into force on 1 January 2015 and means owners will not have to register their septic tanks and small sewerage treatment plants in return for complying with a set of standard requirements applying to the whole of England.
Permits will still be needed in the most sensitive areas where a higher level of protection is needed to prevent pollution and protect public health, drinking water supplies, and sensitive habitats.
The recently published results of a Defra consultation held earlier in the year has also shown strong support for a regulatory system based on a much simpler approach.
However, the Association, which lobbied for the review of the system which affects over 500,000 people with rural properties and businesses not connected to mains sewerage networks, said it was disappointed with the ambiguity that still remains over who is responsible for maintaining existing systems.
CLA President Henry Robinson said: “We are pleased Defra has clarified who is legally responsible for maintaining new small sewerage systems. Yet many landowners will be left in a difficult position by the uncertainty surrounding responsibility for existing systems where the discharge from a septic tank occurs on their land, but the tank itself belongs to another property. We hope Defra will swiftly reconsider this and offer some much-needed clarity.”
The CLA’s Chief Land Use Policy Adviser, Damian Testa, said: “For the vast majority of existing small sewerage discharges, the Environment Agency will not expect people to upgrade older waste water systems that are functioning satisfactorily and meet the requirements for small sewage discharges.
“Any new installations will need to meet the British Standards in force at the time, but the cost of this can be financially disproportionate for those who simply have to use a septic tank because they are not connected to mains sewerage.”
