Environmental Agency Septic Tank

Kerr environmental research laboratory ada oklahoma 74820 and james f.

Environmental agency septic tank.

Epa 600 3 77 096 august 1977 environmental effects of septic tank systems marion r. You have a non standard system you must contact the environment agency to find out if you. Your septic tank includes a t shaped outlet which prevents sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling to the drainfield area. There are different rules for septic tanks and treatment plants in northern ireland scotland and wales.

Information published by the environment agency for households and businesses with septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants. Seepage pits may endanger ground water quality fact sheet on the prohibition against and hazards of using cesspools for the disposal of sewage. Kerr environmental research laboratory. On the whole this is not true you may be able to have a septic tank and still conform to the environment agency s regulations.

If the bottom of the scum layer is within six inches of the bottom of the outlet or if the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet your tank needs to be pumped. Discharge is to ground and is of 2 cubic metres per day or less via a septic tank and infiltration system soakaway and is outside a source protection zone 1. The septic tank digests organic matter and separates floatable matter e g oils and grease and solids from the wastewater. Fact sheet to help regulators determine which septic systems to regulate as class v wells.

If the soil absorption field is clogged with silt a new system may have to be installed. However septic tanks and pump chambers can fill with silt and debris and must be professionally cleaned. Only trained specialists should clean or repair septic tanks because tanks may contain dangerous gases. The web site provides guidance and technical assistance for homeowners government officials industry professionals and epa partners about how to properly develop and manage individual onsite and community cluster systems that treat domestic wastewater.

When is a septic system regulated as a class v well. In january 2015 new rules were introduced that simplify the way septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants are regulated in england protecting the environment and improving water quality. Soil based systems discharge the liquid known as effluent from the septic tank into a series of perforated pipes buried in a leach field chambers or other special units designed to slowly release the effluent into. Dunlap ground water research branch robert s.