Septic Tank Emptying Intervals

SEPTIC TANK | Emptying Intervals | Regulations

All septic tank systems should be emptied at least annually. Annual septic tank emptying is important for all sizes of tanks.

Septic Tanks can only be emptied by Waste Disposal Contractors who are licensed for the removal and disposal of sewage wastes. The sludges and liquids must be taken to a sewerage works for further treatment and sterilisation before it can be discharged or spread on agricultural land.

You are not allowed to pay a 'local farmer' to empty your tank as both you and him are breaking the Law and the fines are prohibitive.

As explained in Septic Tank Systems, the solids settle and build up as sludge in the bottom of the septic tank. These need to be removed annually in order that the soakaway is protected from blockages. Failure to remove them will result in the following problems:-

The depth for settlement in the septic tank decreases as the depth of sludge increases, reducing the efficiency of the tank.

Clogging of the soakaway due to the increase in small particles exiting the tank and entering the drainfield system.

In order to avoid future septic tank and soakaway system problems, the money spent on de-sludging is well worth it as soakaways are very expensive to replace and once ruined, there is little you can do to remedy the problem.

You may not even have enough land to install a new soakaway, as it cannot occupy the same site as the old one and it is likely to involve at least 60 metres of pipework which must be at least 15 metres from a building.

Please return to Septic Tank Problems Page

Treatment Plants and Information

Septic Tanks

Crystal ClearFlo

Crystal Cube

BIOROCK

Treatment Options

Cesspit Problems

Wastewater Legislation

Cesspit Conversion

Septic Filters

Consent to Discharge