Septic Tank Ban 2020

🚱 What changed on 1 January 2020?

Under the General Binding Rules (GBRs), any septic tank discharging into surface water—like streams, rivers, canals, ditches, or any watercourse—must be upgraded or replaced by this date 

You have three legal compliance options:

Install a drainage field (soakaway) so effluent discharges into the ground following BS 6297:2007 standards.

Replace the tank with a compliant small sewage treatment plant (BS EN 12566-3).

Any system causing pollution, or when selling or buying a property, must be compliant by sale completion—even before 2020

📜 Why this ban?

The ban addresses the environmental harm from untreated effluent entering waterways.

Direct-to-surface-water discharges are no longer considered clean enough and are illegal post-2020 without proper treatment

🛠️ What you must do:

Identify your discharge type:

If discharge is to a watercourse, action is required.

If to a drainage field, check it meets current standards and Key maintenance duties are met 

Choose your upgrade path:

Connect to sewer, convert to drainage field, or install a modern treatment plant.

Ensure compliance documentation:

Must meet appropriate British Standards (BS EN 12566‑3 or BS 6297 2007) and be CE marked/registered

Maintain and empty annually, ideally by a registered waste carrier, to avoid enforcement actions

✅ Summary Table