Who regulates septic tanks in Herefordshire?
Herefordshire is in England, so private sewage discharges are regulated by the Environment Agency. In England, small sewage discharges (up to 2 m³ a day to ground, or 5 m³ a day to surface water) don't need a permit if they meet the general binding rules. Under those rules, septic tanks must not discharge to surface water such as a ditch or stream, systems must meet the relevant British Standard and be sized correctly, and new discharges can't be in or within 50 metres of protected sites or in Source Protection Zone 1. Any new septic tank or treatment plant needs building regulations approval.
Building approval for a new or replacement system comes from Herefordshire Council building control or a registered building control approver. Read more in our England regulations guide.
Ground and soil conditions
Herefordshire is mainly Old Red Sandstone country with reddish marls and clays that vary in permeability, so some sites drain well and others very poorly. A percolation test is the starting point for any design.
Protected waters and environmental checks
The River Wye and River Lugg are Special Areas of Conservation suffering from phosphate pollution. Nutrient neutrality has had a major effect on development in the Lugg catchment in particular. A well-performing system, often a treatment plant, matters here.
Local practicalities
Farms, cottages, holiday lets and barn conversions make up a large share of off-mains homes. If you're extending or converting, check with Herefordshire Council about phosphate requirements before you choose a system.
Towns and villages covered
Installers we work with cover Herefordshire, including:
- Hereford
- Leominster
- Ledbury
- Ross-on-Wye
- Kington
- Bromyard
- Weobley
- Pembridge
- Ewyas Harold
- Peterchurch
The list isn't exhaustive. Enter your postcode and we'll find installers who cover your property.
What it typically costs
The figures below are national guide prices from installers' published guides and merchants' list prices, because there's no reliable published data for Herefordshire on its own. Expect your quote to reflect the local ground, access and discharge route described above.
- Like-for-like septic tank replacement: roughly £3,000–£7,000
- New septic tank with drainage field: from about £5,500; commonly £5,000–£15,000
- New drainage field: £3,000–£7,000
- Sewage treatment plant unit only: about £2,190–£2,700 inc VAT (equipment only)
- Sewage treatment plant, supplied and installed: commonly £7,500–£15,000
- Emptying: priced by volume. One private tanker firm charges £170 for up to 1,000 gallons and £380 for up to 4,000 gallons
Other areas in England
Norfolk · Suffolk · Lincolnshire · Devon · Cornwall · Cumbria · North Yorkshire · Northumberland · Shropshire · Somerset · Dorset
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a phosphate-stripping treatment plant in the Lugg catchment?
For some new development and planning applications, systems that reduce phosphorus may be needed to show nutrient neutrality. For a straight replacement of an existing system, the requirements are usually simpler. Check with the council and the Environment Agency.
Can my septic tank stay if it discharges to a ditch?
No. In England septic tanks must not discharge to surface water. You'll need a treatment plant, a drainage field or a mains connection.
How much does septic tank replacement cost in Herefordshire?
We don't publish made-up local prices. Installers' published guides put a like-for-like replacement at roughly £3,000–£7,000, a new tank with a drainage field at commonly £5,000–£15,000, and a treatment plant at commonly £7,500–£15,000 fitted. Ground and access in Herefordshire can move your price either way, so compare site-visit quotes.