 |
New regulations tighten
from December 2005
|
 |
On January 3 1992,
all towns and
villages in France
saw their
responsibilities
increased. The Maire
is now responsible
for every aspect of
water treatment, be
it collective or
individual.
Your Maire is
directly responsible
for the control and
regular maintenance
of your septic tank
but because Maires
are not generally
specialists in the
field of waste water
treatment, they have
in many cases
appointed a
syndicate or a
professional body to
enforce the law.
They are generally
known as SPANC
(Service Public
d’Assainissement Non
collective) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Application of the 1992
waste water law
|
|
The body selected by
your Maire has until
December 2005 to put
in place a plan of
action.
This plan will
identify what is the
best way to treat
the waste water
based on population
level, cost and
other factors. It
will also identify
every single septic
tank in order to
control them.
This action plan
must also provide a
sound financial
structure for the
body chosen, to
remain profitable
whilst enforcing the
law.
Many of you will
have noticed that
your water bill
contains a line
called “ Redevance
Service Public
d’Assainissement non
Collectif”.
Basically this is a
charge applied by
your water company
to help finance the
implementation of
the law. The cost
does vary depending
on where you live.
Many of you have
also been invited to
attend a public
information meeting
organised by the
body appointed to
implement the new
rules.
In almost every
region the action
plan is already in
place and “control”
of the septic tanks
has started. |
| |
|
|
|
|
What is a septic tank?
|
|
A septic tank is a
large tank, where
all the waste water
from your home is
stored. There it
receives very basic
treatment.
The initial concept
was to create an
environment that was
both aerobic and
anaerobic in order
to deal with the
various matters
present in the tank.
The invention of the
septic tank is
attributed to a
Frenchman named
Jean-Louis Mouras
who built the first
septic tank in
Vesoul in 1860. The
official use of a
septic tank in
France dates back to
1881. |
| |
|
|
|
|
How do they work?
|
|
Once in the tank the
waste starts to
divide itself.
The lightest parts
of the waste (fat,
oil, grease) start
to float to the
surface where they
form a crust. This
is called Suspended
Solids. They will be
digested by aerobic
bacteria and
transformed into
carbon dioxide and
water. (Aerobic: a
life form that
required oxygen to
live)
The heavier solids
will drop and settle
to the bottom of the
tank. This is called
the sludge. They
will be digested by
anaerobic bacteria.
(Anaerobic: opposite
of aerobic)
The liquid will
circulate in between
the two masses.
A septic tank does
not really treat
waste. Its main
purpose is to store
the waste for a
period during which
the waste will
undergo its first
transformation. This
is called the
pre-treatment.
It is fair to say
that, at this stage,
70% or more of the
pollution contained
in the waste coming
into the tank goes
out again.
This pollution
contains germs and
pathogens, which
pose real threats of
contamination and
disease, and is
therefore very
dangerous to human
life.
This is why the law
is now coming into
force. Now, waste
coming out of the
septic tank into the
ground must be
filtered. This is
called “the
treatment”.
There are many types
of filtration
systems available,
but the choice is
completely dependant
on the soil
composition. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Tout eaux
|
|
This type of septic
tank known as a
“fosse toutes eaux”
is the most commonly
used. It receives
the waste water from
the bathroom, the
toilets and the
kitchen. Other
systems have a
separate fat trap,
which only receives
the waste water from
the kitchen.
The waste undergoes
a digestion process.
The bacteria present
in the tank feed on
the waste,
transforming it into
gas, carbon dioxide
and water. This is
called the
pre-treatment. The
second stage is to
treat the waste
coming out of the
septic tank, which
contains a large
number of germs and
pathogens. This is
achieved by using a
filtration system.
This system will be
chosen after a soil
test has been done.
This is called “the
treatment”
Please note that it
is a serious offence
to release untreated
waste water directly
into the soil or
into a water stream.
The risk of disease
and contamination is
very high.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The “control”
|
|
The main purpose of
the control is to
ensure that all the
systems which are
not, or which cannot
be, linked to the
main sewage system
are in good
condition, function
properly and are
capable of dealing
with the amount of
waste water to be
treated. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
So what will happen?
|
|
The body responsible
for the control will
contact you to set
up a meeting at a
time convenient to
both parties. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The visit
During the visit an
engineer will:
|
|
Verify the access to
the tank |
|
The condition of the
tank. Is it leaking? Is
it cracked?
|
|
The location of the
tank |
|
The ventilation of
the tank |
|
The volume of the
tank |
|
The sludge level |
|
The drain going to
the filtration system |
|
The nature of the
soil |
|
The proximity of
water source, above and
underground |
|
The filtration
system |
|
Depending on his
findings, the engineer
will give you a report,
which will indicate
whether or not your
system is working
correctly |
|
If your system does
not function correctly
or if it needs some
modification the
engineer will explain to
you how to proceed with
the required changes. |
|
|
|
|
What is a septic tank?
|
|
A septic tank is a
large tank, where
all the waste water
from your home is
stored. There it
receives very basic
treatment.
The initial concept
was to create an
environment that was
both aerobic and
anaerobic in order
to deal with the
various matters
present in the tank.
The invention of the
septic tank is
attributed to a
Frenchman named
Jean-Louis Mouras
who built the first
septic tank in
Vesoul in 1860. The
official use of a
septic tank in
France dates back to
1881. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The causes and
risks of a
malfunctioning septic
tank
|
|
Modern life does not
facilitate your
septic tank’s life.
In many cases it is
too small to deal
with the volume of
waste water it
receives.
Toilets, showers,
baths, washing
machines and
dishwashers have
considerably
increased the volume
of waste water. In
France a family of
three produce on
average 2.6m3 of
waste water per
week.
This is compounded
by the over use of
detergents,
disinfectants,
antiseptics and
antibiotics, which
slow or completely
stop your septic
tank. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Regular
maintenance of your
system
|
|
Do not dispose of
any toxic products
in any of the pipes
and drains linked to
your septic tank.
You must ensure that
the bacterial
activity of your
septic tank, fat
trap and filtration
is replenished
regularly by using a
top quality product,
such as a septic
tank activator.
Every four months do
a visual check of
your system.
When the sludge
content of your
septic tank is more
than two thirds of
the total volume,
pump out a third to
half of the sludge.
Never empty your
tank completely.
A septic tank
without any sludge
in it will not work
and will start to
smell. 20-30% of the
sludge must remain
in the tank at all
times. It can take
up to a year for an
emptied tank to get
back to normal.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
For new build houses or septic tank replacement
For a new installation
or a replacement you
will need to go to your
Maire and ask for an
application form. (Demande
d’installation d’un
Dispositif
d’Assainissement Non
collectif). Provide all
the information
requested on the form.
The application
addresses two points:
|
|
The pre-treatment of
the waste (the
septic tank or MWWTP).
This is the waste
water arriving from
the house into the
septic tank. |
|
The treatment of the
waste (the filtration).
This is the waste water
coming out of the septic
tank. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Information required
|
|
On the drawing,
mark the area and
the location of the
land reserved for
the waste water system (septic tank
and filtration) |
|
The topography of
the land- is the land
flat or on a slope? |
|
The nature of the
soil between 50 and
100cm deep. Does the
ground absorb water
slowly, quickly, or not
at all? |
|
Is the land at
risk from flooding? |
|
Is there any
drinkable water source
on the land be it public
or private? |
|
Number of people
living in the house? |
|
Does your commune
have an existing waste
water system or methods
in place? |
|
The type of system
you would like to use
and its size |
|
A soil test to
ensure that the
filtration system chosen
is compatible with the
soil on your property |
|
|
|
|
The size of your septic
tank
When choosing a septic
tank you must take
account the following
parameters:
|
|
Water consumption in
France is on an
average 175 litres
per person per day |
|
You need to add to
that 50% in order to
take into account the
space occupied by the
waste already present in
the septic tank |
|
The water height in
the septic tank must be
1 metre |
|
The width must be
1.20 metres |
|
The length of the
septic tank is equal to:
capacity in sqm/water
height x width |
|
The retention period
must be of two to three
days |
|
|
Therefore the minimum
septic tank size for a
property occupied by
three people is 2.36 sqm
or 2360L, while for six
people it is 5.67sqm
However, it is always
advisable to choose a
septic tank larger than
required as this will
give the following
advantages:
|
|
Reduce the number of
pump outs required |
|
Reduce the impact of
accidental release of
toxic products in the
septic tank |
|
A longer retention
time will seriously
reduce the risk of
blockages of the drain
going from your septic
tank to the soakaway. |
|
|
| Please note
that the current regulation
governed by document (DTU 64
– 1) requires the
installation of a septic
tank with a minimum capacity
of 3000L |
|
|
|
Waste water layout
system
|
|
Key to above: |
| |
|
| |
1. Fat trap
(optional) unless your
septic tank is more than
10m away from the house
2. Septic tank
3. Filter
4. Rainwater (must never
come in contact with
your waste water system)
5. Drains ventilation
6. Septic tank
ventilation
7. 7m distance between
the house and septic
tank. If the distance
between the house and
the septic tank is over
10m you must install a
fat trap
8. 35m minimum distance
between the filter and
water source
9. Neighbouring fence
minimum 3m
10. Large trees and
shrubs must be at least
3m away to ensure that
the roots system does
not damage the septic
tank and the filter.
11. Access and
observation points for
fat trap, septic tank
and filter.
|
|
|
|
|
Information
|
|
If you are planning
to upgrade your
existing system or
install a new one,
you should consider
using a mini waste
water treatment
plant. There are
many benefits in
using a mini WWTP
instead of a
conventional septic
tank.
Author: Jean-Claude
Bardot
To receive further
technical data or
general information
free of charge,
contact BIO-SOLV
E-mail:
info@bio-solv.net
Web site:
www.bio-solv.nett
This article is the
copyright of
Jean-Claude Bardot
and has been
reproduced courtesy
of FrenchEntrée
www.Frenchentrée.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
