The Environment Agency has updated the regulatory position ahead of new registration and permit requirements for small sewage discharges in England coming into force next year.

The new regulations will come into force on 1 January 2015 for small sewage discharges in England such as septic tanks and small package treament plants. The regulatory position statement sets out the registration and permit requirements for small sewage discharges until the new regulations are in place.

The government recently consulted on proposals for reforming the regulation of small sewage discharges (SSDs) from septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants (also known as package treatment plants) in England, which aim to reduce the burden on households and businesses who have such systems rather than being connected to mains sewerage.

The government has now decided to take forward changes to the Regulations proposed in the consultation which include replacing the current registration system with general binding rules. The general binding rules will be similar to the existing exemption conditions and are designed to prevent pollution and to protect water resources, drinking water supplies and the environment.

Until the new regulations take effect,  SSD will not need to be registered provided the requirements for exemption are met .

However, anyone making (or planning on making) a discharge to ground in a groundwater source protection zone 1 identified in the Environment Agency groundwater map, will still need to have a permit.

The key requirements needed in order to be exempt from needing an environmental permit are as follows:

• the discharge is to ground (but not in a groundwater source protection zone 1) and is of 2 cubic metres per day or less from a septic tank or package sewage treatment plant and infiltration system (soakaway). As a guide, this is approximately equivalent to 2 five-bedroom houses or 10 people occupying a single property
• the discharge is to surface water and is of 5 cubic metres per day or less from a package sewage treatment plant (discharges from septic tanks to surface water are not allowed). As a guide, this is approximately equivalent to 7 three or four-bedroom home the discharge does not cause pollution of surface water or groundwater
• the septic tank or package sewage treatment plant is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and a record of all maintenance is kept. In the case of septic tanks maintenance includes regular emptying (desludging)
• the sewage is only domestic which means effluent from residential properties and services that originates predominantly from human metabolism and household activities e.g. from residential homes, restaurants, takeaways and nursing homes
• new discharges are not in or near to a designated habitats or wildlife site