Survey or no Survey?

[Stones]

2 hours ago, ProDave said:

I understand the process is simply one of registering an existing system and is pretty much a formality. When we built this house in 2003 there was no requirement to register it with SEPA.  I believe it is the same form we used to apply for their discharge permit for the new house, just a different box to tick.

Yes, spot on.  I think it fair to say it is even simpler now, as they have recently changed the form, and no longer ask for performance figures for the treatment plant you have.

[Jeremy Harris]

The registration of all private sewage treatment and disposal systems was supposed to be mandatory years ago, there's some EU rule requiring that these all be converted to EN 12566-3 2005 compliant units (eventually).  The first stage was supposed to be registration, so that there was a record of every system.  That would then allow the EA/SEPA/NIEA to police them and ensure that all were converted to proper treatment plants (eventually).

For a host of reasons (mainly because it's a Herculean task and the agencies don't have the staff, as I understand it) registration was only mandatory for a new system, but even that isn't complied with, as often only new builds will have any means of being able to enforce that, through building control. 

I am sure that, sooner or later, registration and the conversion of all existing systems to proper EN 12566-3 2005  certified ones will happen.  There's only so long we can hold off on what is supposed to be an EU-wide set of rules.  I have wondered how on earth they propose enforcing this in places like France, Italy, Spain or Greece - if anyone has ever wondered why some rural Greek toilets have a "no paper down the toilet" rule it's because there is no treatment at all, just a hole in the ground (or more often rock).................

[Roger440]

3 hours ago, JSHarris said:

The registration of all private sewage treatment and disposal systems was supposed to be mandatory years ago, there's some EU rule requiring that these all be converted to EN 12566-3 2005 compliant units (eventually).  The first stage was supposed to be registration, so that there was a record of every system.  That would then allow the EA/SEPA/NIEA to police them and ensure that all were converted to proper treatment plants (eventually).

For a host of reasons (mainly because it's a Herculean task and the agencies don't have the staff, as I understand it) registration was only mandatory for a new system, but even that isn't complied with, as often only new builds will have any means of being able to enforce that, through building control. 

I am sure that, sooner or later, registration and the conversion of all existing systems to proper EN 12566-3 2005  certified ones will happen.  There's only so long we can hold off on what is supposed to be an EU-wide set of rules.  I have wondered how on earth they propose enforcing this in places like France, Italy, Spain or Greece - if anyone has ever wondered why some rural Greek toilets have a "no paper down the toilet" rule it's because there is no treatment at all, just a hole in the ground (or more often rock).................

Hmmm, building control enforcement. Rears its ugly head on this house too. Based on what i have seen, the drainage is a disaster area. Simply cant be correct, but its been done anyway!

On the upside, it registered!