“We are exploring funding and other support options to improve septic tanks that pollute the water environment.”
“We are exploring funding and other support options to improve septic tanks that pollute the water environment.”
Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has recently published its plan for delivering clean and plentiful water.
One of the focus areas of the plan is improving the regulation of private sewage discharges in rural areas of England. Within their plan, defra estimate that there are 700,000 private sewage systems in England.
If these private sewage systems are not maintained properly, they can release pollutants into the surrounding soil and water. This can lead to contamination of local water supplies, which can have serious health consequences for both humans and wildlife.
To address this issue, defra’s plan aims to:
- manage the risks from private sewage discharges by reviewing existing regulatory arrangements including, for example, better registration;
- explore funding and other support options for improving septic tank activities.
Overall, if defra’s plan is realised, it could be an important step towards helping to ensure our water resources are clean for generations to come.
You can view the plan here.
