PLANS to simplify the rules and regulations around septic tanks have been welcomed by rural businesses.

The change in the rules follows calls from the Country Landowners Association, which represents land owners, farmers and rural businesses, for reforms to a system which penalised people with no alternative drainage system.

From January 1 most property owners with septic tanks will no longer be subjected to the regulatory burden of managing small sewerage discharges from septic tanks or being threatened with hefty fines for failing to do so.

Until now the regulations required everybody with a septic tank which discharged either to a soakaway drain or to a water course to either apply for a permit to discharge or for an exemption from the permit.

All septic tanks also had to be registered with the Environment Agency.

The CLA campaign has led to a review and a revised system which will mean owners will no longer be compelled to register their septic tanks and small sewerage treatment plants and will, instead, have to comply with a set of standard requirements applying to the whole of England.

CLA South-West director John Mortimer said the organisation was pleased that Defra had clarified who was legally responsible for maintaining new small sewerage systems – but ambiguities remained.

“Many land owners could still be in a difficult position because of uncertainty surrounding responsibility for existing systems where the discharge from a septic tank occurs on their land, but the tank itself belongs to another property.

“We hope Defra will swiftly reconsider this and offer some much needed clarity.”