Overview
If your house or business is not connected to the mains sewer, your sewage will go to one of the following:
- a septic tank – an underground tank where the solids sink to the bottom and the liquid flows out and soaks through the ground
- a small sewage treatment plant (also known as a package treatment plant) – a part-mechanical system that treats the liquid so it’s clean enough to go into a river or stream
- a cesspool (also called a cesspit) – a sealed tank that collects the sewage
- a non-standard system, such as a reed bed or trench arch system
There are different rules for septic tanks and treatment plants in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
You have a non-standard system
You must contact the Environment Agency to find out if you need a permit.