Septic Tanks

A septic tank’s life expectancy can vary due to several factors, including the material it’s made of and the environment it’s situated in. Septic tanks should last anywhere between 15 to 25 years if they are maintained correctly.

If the septic tank has been neglected, damages such as leaks, cracks, or blockages, will materialise and in the event of the problem being too severe for repair, a septic tank replacement will be needed.

The other cause of a septic tank replacement is to ensure you comply with regulations. In the UK, these are called the General Binding Rules. The General Binding Rules regulate small sewage discharges and apply to operators of septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants.

Older septic tanks often discharge into watercourses like rivers, streams, brooks either directly or indirectly. The General Binding Rules protect watercourses from pollution such as the untreated wastewater discharged from septic tanks.

As of January 1st, 2020, it is now mandatory for all septic tanks to discharge into a compliant drainage field or sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment plants effectively break down solid waste to remove contaminants, producing a cleaner, more environmentally friendly effluent which can then enter the watercourse. If your septic tank discharges into a watercourse, it must be replaced as soon as possible.