A smell from the septic tank: what the rules say

A smell is a sign it needs repair

Under the general binding rules, you must have a septic tank or small sewage treatment plant repaired or replaced if it is not in good working order ¹². The signs gov.uk lists are ¹²:

• leaks
• cracks in tank walls or pipes
• blocked pipes
• pools of water around the drainage point, a sign the waste water is not draining properly
• sewage smells
• a failed motor, pump or electrical supply

Gov.uk does not list the causes of smells, and we do not guess at them here.

Who can work on it

Anyone who maintains your system must be competent. Competent people include those on British Water’s list of accredited service engineers, and there may be others ¹. You should have the system maintained in line with the manufacturer’s instructions; if you do not have them, ask a local maintenance company for advice ¹.

Emptying

You must have the sludge removed before it goes beyond the tank’s maximum capacity, at least once a year or as the manufacturer’s instructions say ¹. If the tank is not emptied often enough, solids can be carried into the drainage field or soakaway, causing damage and pollution ¹. The firm that takes the sludge away must be a registered waste carrier ¹.

If you have a cesspool

A cesspool must be emptied regularly, for example once a month, and must not leak or overflow ³. The Environment Agency or your council can make you repair or replace one in poor condition ³.

If sewage is reaching a stream or river

Report sewage in a river, stream or other watercourse to the Environment Agency online, or call its 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 ⁴. If your own discharge causes pollution you may be committing an offence; the Environment Agency will give advice to help you fix it, and may take enforcement action if it continues ¹.

If the smell is from next door

If a smell is coming from a neighbour, contact your local council and ask for its environmental health department ⁵.