Phosphorus is a naturally occurring nutrient that can support aquatic life when present in balanced amounts. However, it’s also widely used in everyday items like cleaning products, industrial materials, and food production. When phosphorus enters the water systems, through household or commercial waste, it can disrupt the natural balance. Phosphorous can also be found in soil around the catchment, which can wash off into rivers and the lake, acting as another source that contributes to this natural balance.
In addition to our own plans to continue to reduce phosphorous from our own operations, we know there is more we can do to support and help others reduce phosphorous such as from private septic tanks.
Many properties in rural areas are not connected to the main public sewerage system. They rely instead on septic tanks or large package treatment plants in the case of businesses, such as hotels or campsites, to process their wastewater. There are several initiatives which United Utilities is delivering or is supporting which help tackle those other sources of pollution.
If your property uses a septic tank or package treatment plant to process wastewater it needs to be maintained and looked after properly to ensure it is working correctly. There are also some binding rules which need to be followed for these systems, regulated by the Environment Agency. You can find more details about those here.
The Lake District Foundation and Love Windermere have put together some very handy information, alongside some tips on water efficiency, lake friendly gardening and food waste.
If you are looking for an alternative to your current private wastewater treatment solution, United Utilities has two options that you can explore. Please note for either of these you must meet the eligibility criteria outlined.
Premises not currently connected to the public sewerage network which therefore must manage their own wastewater, may qualify for a connection to a public mains sewer through a process known as first time sewerage or Section 101a.
This process operates across England and Wales.
Here in the North West
Owners or occupiers of existing premises can apply to United Utilities to provide a connection to a public sewer if the following criteria are met:
- The application is for 2 or more premises already in existence and which use a private wastewater system (such as a septic tank, for example) and on which there are buildings used for living accommodation
- The drains or sewers used for domestic sewerage purposes (such as toilet flushing) do not currently, either directly or through an intermediate drain or sewer, connect with a public sewer
- The effect of the private wastewater system being used is causing, or likely to cause, an adverse effect to the local environment, such as a local watercourse
- The environment or amenity problem cannot be more appropriately resolved by improved maintenance or operation of the existing systems.
More detail can be found at the link below.
What does it mean for me?
If your property met the criteria and a scheme to connect your property to the main sewer network was deemed viable, then there are some aspects of providing this new connection which fall to the property owner:
- You would be responsible for putting in and then maintaining the pipe which would need to run from your property and the new public sewer. The length of that connection and the cost of that can vary between properties.
- You would be responsible for disposing of and decommissioning your septic tank safely. There is plenty of advice available on how best to do this.
- You would also need to pay a one-off connection charge and then be liable for annual sewerage charges, from the day the connection is made. Please see our website for more information on those charges.
United Utilities would be responsible for building and maintaining the new public sewer.
Beyond the initiatives above, United Utilities has made a commitment that it will, through a range of different actions and solutions, help improve the performance of and upgrade privately owned assets including septic tanks and package plants across the Windermere catchment.
This is the first time an initiative like this has been launched within the water sector.
Working with the local community, it means United Utilities can offer a range of interventions that will help improve the performance of these private systems and reduce phosphorous load into the lake.
We will also be able to demonstrate through any improvements we make to private septic systems how much phosphorous has been reduced by such actions. You can view exactly how we would calculate that here.
We may be able to help you improve your existing private sewerage system if:
- You have a septic tank or package treatment plant that you can demonstrate is compliant with the Environment Agency binding rules
- You are happy for a partner supplier (not United Utilities) to carry out an initial site assessment of your system to help identify what might be the most appropriate solution to improve its performance. This would mean taking samples and may include taking photographs of your property/land
- You’d be comfortable if the enhancement meant, for example, additional kit being installed onto the existing septic system. This may require, for example, some minor excavation work
- You’d be comfortable that once upgraded, United Utilities will carry out regular sampling of the system and this data will be shared with interested parties to demonstrate the phosphorous reduction achieved from the improvements made to it
- You’d be comfortable with the asset supplier (or associated third party) carrying out regular servicing and maintenance on the improved system for a compulsory period of five years
The good news is, if you’re eligible and your current septic system is compliant, and the assessment shows how it can be upgraded and improved then United Utilities will cover the cost in full of:
- The initial site assessment
- Any additional equipment or a new treatment system
- The on-going servicing and maintenance of it for the compulsory 5-year fixed period. Thereafter, this would become the responsibility of the property owner and the asset would be assigned to you for its future upkeep, maintenance and compliance with the regulations
Through the Love Windermere partnership, we are actively working to identify sites or properties that could form part of this scheme. If you believe that you would be eligible and would like get involved, please contact us via windermere@uuplc.co.uk