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Septic Tank Installation

Septic tank installers get judged on the drainage field as much as the tank. A new septic tank only works as well as the field behind it. We look at the ground, the size of the property and the rules first, then specify a tank and field that fit your site.

Request a site assessment See your options
  • Assessment before any recommendation
  • Written quote that says what's included
  • Building Regulations and permits explained
  • Ground put back as agreed
On this page
  1. Is it right?
  2. Design
  3. Typical projects
  4. The process
  5. Cost
  6. Questions

Is it right?

When a new septic tank installation makes sense

A septic tank is simple, has no moving parts and doesn't need electricity. On a rural site with free-draining ground and room for a properly sized drainage field, it can be the most practical choice.

It isn't right everywhere. A septic tank must not discharge to a ditch, stream or river, so it always needs a drainage field. If the ground drains poorly or there isn't the space, a treatment plant is usually the better answer, and we'll say so.

Design

Getting the design right

SizeThe tank is sized for how many people the property serves, including future plans like an annexe.
Ground testingA percolation test shows how fast the soil drains, which sets the size of the drainage field.
PositionDistances from the house, boundaries, wells and watercourses, and room for an emptying tanker.
StandardsNew tanks should meet BS EN 12566 and drainage fields BS 6297:2007, as the general binding rules require.

Typical projects

Who we install for

Most installation enquiries come from new rural homes, barn conversions, annexes, holiday lets and farm buildings being brought into use. Each needs Building Regulations approval for the drainage, and some need planning permission too. Getting the drainage design agreed early avoids delays later in a build.

The process

How an installation usually runs

The general shape of a project. The exact method depends on your site and the system chosen.

  1. 1

    Assess

    We look at the existing system or the site, how the property is used, and what's needed.

  2. 2

    Investigate

    Ground testing where needed, access for machinery, and where the treated water can go.

  3. 3

    Recommend and quote

    A written recommendation, and a quote that says what's included and what isn't.

  4. 4

    Approvals

    Building Regulations, any environmental permit, and planning where it applies.

  5. 5

    Install

    The new system goes in. Any old system is emptied and removed or made safe.

  6. 6

    Commission and hand over

    Testing where needed, the ground put back as agreed, and the paperwork handed over.

Cost

What affects the price

We don't publish standard prices, because two jobs rarely cost the same. These are the things that move the figure.

The system you needSeptic tank, treatment plant or drainage field, and its size.
Ground conditionsPercolation results set the size of the drainage field.
AccessGateways, slopes and soft ground change the machinery and time on site.
Depth and distanceDeeper digs, longer pipe runs, or a pump where levels don't fall.
PowerA treatment plant needs a permanent electricity supply.
Putting it backTurf, gravel or paving over the work area, agreed in writing.

Read the full cost guide

Who it's for

Septic Tank Installation for homes and businesses

For homes

Farmhouses, cottages, barn conversions and new rural homes. We look at how many people the system serves, the ground and the access, then explain the options in plain English.

For farms and businesses

Holiday lets, farm cottages and rural businesses often need bigger or busier systems, and volume limits matter. Farms and businesses

Planning

Planning your project

Scope

What the system serves, what's there now, and what needs to change.

Access

Room for machinery or a tanker, gateways, slopes and soft ground.

Approvals

Building Regulations, any permit, and planning where it applies.

Aftercare

Emptying, servicing and the paperwork you'll need if you sell.

Not sure which service you need?

Tell us what you've noticed. Photos of the access covers or the area around the system help if you have them, but they're optional. We'll tell you what's worth looking at first.

Start an enquiry

Questions

Septic Tank Installation questions

Do I need Building Regulations approval for a new septic tank?

Yes. The general binding rules say you must have Building Regulations approval for a new septic tank or treatment plant. Planning permission may also be needed.

Can a new septic tank drain into a ditch?

No. A septic tank must discharge to a drainage field. If a watercourse is the only outlet, a treatment plant is needed instead.

What is a shallow dig septic tank?

A tank designed to sit higher in the ground, useful where rock, a high water table or shallow drain levels make a deep dig difficult. Whether it suits your site depends on the levels to the house and drainage field.

How big does the drainage field need to be?

It depends on the number of people the system serves and the percolation test result. Fields are designed to BS 6297:2007 rather than guessed.

Want a clear answer for your property?

Tell us what's happening and roughly where you are. No need to know what type of system you have.

Request a site assessment

From the blog

Septic tank vs sewage treatment plantHow each one works, what they need, and which suits which site.Cesspool vs septic tank: what's the difference?How they work, what they cost to run, and why it matters when you buy.Septic tank regulations explainedThe general binding rules in England, in plain English.Shallow dig septic tanks and treatment plantsWhen a shallow dig unit makes sense: high water tables, rock and awkward sites.Concrete vs plastic septic tanksOld brick and concrete tanks against modern plastic and GRP units, and what matters when replacing one.Septic tank pumps: when you need a pumped systemWhen gravity isn't enough, how a pumped system works, and what it needs to keep running.

Related services

Septic Tank ReplacementWhen a system has failed, is too old, or no longer meets the rules.Domestic Sewage Treatment PlantsHome treatment plants for upgrades and new builds.Drainage FieldsNew and replacement drainage fields, designed from ground testing.Septic Tank & Drainage SurveysFor buyers, sellers and owners who need a clear answer.Septic Tank EmptyingEmptying and desludging for septic tanks, treatment plants and cesspools.Septic Tank & Treatment Plant ServicingRegular servicing and maintenance to keep a system working and within the rules.Septic Tank RepairsBroken pipes, baffles, lids, pumps and blowers, fixed where a repair makes sense.CCTV Drain SurveysCamera surveys of the pipes between the house, the tank and the outlet.