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  • Maintaining your private sewage treatment system

Maintaining your private sewage treatment system

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Maintaining your private sewage treatment system is one of the conditions of your registration. This is important to prevent pollution.

Your responsibilities

If your property has a private sewage treatment system, it is your responsibility to maintain it. This includes any pipes going to and from the systems and any outfall pipes.

If your property has a shared private sewage treatment system, responsibility for maintaining it will be shared with you and your neighbours that are connected to it.

How to maintain you system

To maintain your system and ensure it works properly, you should:

  • Check all pipes that discharge into a burn, river, or the sea are in good working condition.
  • Empty or de-sludge your system regularly or at least once a year.
  • Package treatment plant systems must be maintained regularly following the manufacturer's instructions and by an accredited service technician
  • Check soakaways are draining properly and that there are no pools of sewage or other blockages.
  • Prevent any water or runoff, including rainwater, from entering the system. Extra water can effect the treatment process causing a pollution incident.
  • Fix leaks, pump failures, or warning light faults as soon as possible
  • Only use your system for toilet waste and washing water. Do not use to dispose of any grease, oil, or chemicals, and only use cleaning products that are safe for your system.

For more information and guidance on maintaining private sewage treatment systems, read this NegRegs fact sheet or visit the British Water website.

Seasonal use considerations

If your property has seasonal fluctuations in use, like a campsite or caravan park, you may need to adjust how your sewage treatment system operates throughout the year. Changes in sewage volume and usage patterns can affect system performance.

  • For package treatment plant systems we recommend installing additional units to help match the demand during high flow periods
  • During low-flow periods, recirculate effluent to keep sewage moving and maintain healthy bacteria
  • Consider temporary shutdowns if the system won’t be used for long periods of time. Be aware: Restarting systems can cause a pollution incident. If you are unsure how to restart your system safely, contact a qualified person from the British Water list of accredited service technicians. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Additional information