We are investigating whether to redig our drainfield for our septic tank or buy a new Septic Sewage treatment plant (before the £100,000 fines from the new General Binding Rules come in on Hanuary 1st 2020)

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Sep...field_Life.php

The old drainfield has blocked over time, as they do,
but the water table has risen due to the farmer's father (RIP) blocking the watercourse lower down for a new field entrance.

I'm guessing that a higher water table will mean less drainage from the drainfield and a much shorter life for it. Plus as seven properties share it we cant be sure people arent pouring fat etcetera down it.

Do we spend time and money digging holes for percolation tests, or decommission the septic tank and get a new sewage treatment plant?

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe to drain it as it was originally?

A hundred variable here, any advice and experience please?

George

On Sunday, 25 August 2019 11:03:12 UTC+1, George Miles wrote:
any advice and experience please?

It may be easier simply to move house.

Owain

But we cant sell the house with an illegal septic tank...

https://www.tallents.co.uk/septic-tank-regulations/

€œIf youre selling a house with a septic tank that discharges into a watercourse, then the sale of the property will trigger the requirement to upgrade or replace the tank before the deadline of 1 January 2020 and before the sale completes.€�"

SINGS:
Theres a hole in my Bucket, dear Lisa, dear Lisa...

[GEORGE]
On Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 11:48:07 AM UTC+1, wrote:
On Sunday, 25 August 2019 11:03:12 UTC+1, George Miles wrote:
any advice and experience please?

It may be easier simply to move house.

Owain

On Sunday, 25 August 2019 13:03:34 UTC+1, George Miles wrote:
But we cant sell the house with an illegal septic tank...

If you block up the outlet completely it becomes a cesspit and does not discharge into the watercourse.

Owain

On 25/08/2019 11:03, George Miles wrote:

We are investigating whether to redig our drainfield for our septic
tank or buy a new Septic Sewage treatment plant (before the £100,000
fines from the new General Binding Rules come in on Hanuary 1st
2020)

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Sep...field_Life.php

The old drainfield has blocked over time, as they do, but the water
table has risen due to the farmer's father (RIP) blocking the
watercourse lower down for a new field entrance.

Do the new regulations actually apply to you anyway? Since ISTR they
were aimed at owners of septic systems that did not discharge into a
drainage field, but instead directly into a watercourse.

From your description it sounds more like changes to the watercourse
have resulted in a reduction in performance of the drainage field.

I'm guessing that a higher water table will mean less drainage from
the drainfield and a much shorter life for it. Plus as seven
properties share it we cant be sure people arent pouring fat etcetera
down it.

Do we spend time and money digging holes for percolation tests, or
decommission the septic tank and get a new sewage treatment plant?

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe
to drain it as it was originally?

Has anyone tried asking nicely rather than "forcing" etc? It does seem
like its something that would be worth doing.



--
Cheers,

John.

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On 25/08/2019 11:03, George Miles wrote:
or decommission the septic tank and get a new sewage treatment plant?

Yes.

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe to drain it as it was originally?

At greater exoense then a sewage plant

A hundred variable here, any advice and experience please?


--
If I had all the money I've spent on drink...
...I'd spend it on drink.

Sir Henry (at Rawlinson's End)

On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 03:03:08 -0700 (PDT)
George Miles wrote:

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe
to drain it as it was originally?

Could you arrange to have it done yourselves, quickly and without asking
anyone else?

In article 20190825184720.6e902143@Mars,
Rob Morley wrote:
On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 03:03:08 -0700 (PDT)
George Miles wrote:

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe
to drain it as it was originally?

Could you arrange to have it done yourselves, quickly and without asking
anyone else?

Have you contacted the Environment Agency?

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 05:50:00 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

If you block up the outlet completely it becomes a cesspit and does not
discharge into the watercourse.

The OP says it's draining into drainage field that is now blocked.
It's not drianing directly into a water course. So the 1st Jan 2020
compliance doesn't apply.

Just replace the drainage field. But with seven other housholds all
sharing it getting everyone to agree to share the cost, how much to
spend and then stumpup the dosh is another matter. Who said move?
It's simpler...

A higher water table doesn't necessarly mean that the drainage is any
less than it was before. Water does move downhill through the ground.

--
Cheers
Dave.

I'd have thought that the local council should take the farmer to task over
his changes, I guess though he would not want to admit responsibility, for
to do so would leave him open for your claim to pay for thee remedial
action.
Brian

--
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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Note this Signature is meaningless.!
wrote in message
...
On Sunday, 25 August 2019 11:03:12 UTC+1, George Miles wrote:
any advice and experience please?

It may be easier simply to move house.

Owain

On 25/08/2019 20:19, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 05:50:00 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

If you block up the outlet completely it becomes a cesspit and does not
discharge into the watercourse.

The OP says it's draining into drainage field that is now blocked.
It's not drianing directly into a water course. So the 1st Jan 2020
compliance doesn't apply.

Just replace the drainage field. But with seven other housholds all
sharing it getting everyone to agree to share the cost, how much to
spend and then stumpup the dosh is another matter. Who said move?
It's simpler...

A higher water table doesn't necessarly mean that the drainage is any
less than it was before. Water does move downhill through the ground.

I was dubious about that claim too. There's a standard meme about
someone digging a ditch at the bottom of a sloping field to improve
drainage. You should normally dig the ditch at the top, to intercept
run-off *into* the field.

You might find it useful to spend some time trawling through riparian rights and responsibilities legislation.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-a-watercourse
One of the tenets relates to not obstructing watercourses.

charles posted
In article 20190825184720.6e902143@Mars,
Rob Morley wrote:
On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 03:03:08 -0700 (PDT)
George Miles wrote:

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe
to drain it as it was originally?

Could you arrange to have it done yourselves, quickly and without asking
anyone else?

Have you contacted the Environment Agency?


Perhaps the very last thing they ought to do.

--
Evremonde

On Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 7:19:06 PM UTC+1, charles wrote:
In article 20190825184720.6e902143@Mars,
Rob Morley wrote:
On Sun, 25 Aug 2019 03:03:08 -0700 (PDT)
George Miles wrote:

Could we force the farmer to dig out the watercourse and bury a pipe
to drain it as it was originally?

Could you arrange to have it done yourselves, quickly and without asking
anyone else?

Have you contacted the Environment Agency?

not yet ...

[g]