Full Answer
What is the Fosse Septique?
What are my options if I need to replace my Fosse Septique system?
What is the SPANC France inspection?
Why should I be concerned about my fosse septique or lack of one?
What do I do if my sewage treatment system fails the SPANC inspection?
What are my options if my fosse septique is passed but the filtration system needs upgrading?
How does a fosse toutes eaux filter bed work?
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How much does a Fosse Septique cost?
In short, the cost of installing a Fosse toutes eaux is around 6000 to 7000 Euros for a 5 roomed house with at least an extra 1000 euros for every additional room. Your fosse will be inspected by the Mairie every four years, but during this time you should check it regularly and take any necessary action.
How much does a septic system cost in France?
The prices of a sewage treatment system, for a house with a maximum occupancy potential of 6 people (6 PE or EH (link to article on French Entrée), can vary greatly, from 3,000 to 10,000 euros, including its installation in many cases.
How much does it cost to empty a Fosse Septique in France?
The cost of the operation will depend on the size of the system, but averages between €150 and €250. The charge might well be higher if access is difficult or you live in an isolated area. Request a certificat de vidange on completion of the work.
How long does a Fosse Septique last?
Traditional sewage systems or fosse septiques remain popular, but it's important to consider their long-term maintenance – sand filteration needs to be replaced each 10 to 20 years, and the expense of doing this could be as high as €10,000.
How does a French Fosse Septique work?
The conventional “fosse toutes eaux” with filter bed works by collecting all waste water in the fosse itself where it is separated and the lighter suspended solids are digested by aerobic bacteria and the heavier sludge waste digested by anaerobic bacteria.
How do you install a septic tank in France?
The septic tank must be installed at least 7 metres away from your house. If your septic tank is installed more than 10 metres away from the kitchen, you will need to install a fat trap/grease trap to avoid blocking the system. Your septic tank must not be installed within 3 metres of any neighbouring properties.
How often should I empty my Fosse Septique?
once every three to five yearsAs a general rule, you should only need to empty your septic tank once every three to five years. That being said, the actual frequency will vary depending on your usage and how many people are living in your home. For larger households, your tank may need to be emptied more frequently.
How does a micro station work?
How do they work? Micro Stations biologically treat the dirty water with naturally occurring bacteria which feed on the waste and clean the water. Primary separation, where the solids settle to the base of the tank and anaerobic breakdown begins.
What is Spanc in France?
The SPANC (Public Service for Non-Collective Sanitation) is a local public service that is the responsibility of the municipality. Its missions can also be entrusted to service providers within the framework of a service contract or a public service delegation.
Are septic tanks common in Europe?
In Europe, septic systems are generally limited to rural areas.
What is a septic system?
A septic tank or fosse septique is designed to filter and treat your household sewage and wastewater. All waste from your kitchen, toilets, and bathroom will be directed into the tank, which will typically be buried in your garden. The sewage system is designed to filter and pre-treat the waste-water, transforming it into gas, carbon dioxide, and water, and removing any toxic particiles, before draining the water into the ground without causing damage to the environement.
How often do you need to inspect a septic system?
Your septic tank or sewage treatment system is subject to inspections a minimum of every 10 years (typically every four years) carried out by SPANC and if your inspection report (a vis de contrôle) shows defects or violations of protocol, you will have up to four years to carry out the necessary work to bring your system within the legal guidelines.
What is DDT in France?
If you are buying or selling a property in France, there are a number of Diagnostic Surveys, known as a Dossier de Diagnostic Technique or DDT that are legally required to be carried out on the property. The seller is responsible for carrying out these surveys (and paying the associated fees) and among them is a report on Waste Water Drainage (Assainissement Non Collectif) carried out by SPANC.
Do you need a septic tank in France?
If however, you are not in an area with connection to the mains sewerage system, your property must have a fosse septique (septic tank) or non-collective sewage treatment system in order to manage your wastewater and sewage. Some 5 million rural properties throughout France have non-collective sewage treatment systems in place and there are strict rules and regulations in place to ensure that they comply with EU standards.
Can you flush toilet paper in a septic tank?
Be careful over the amount of toilet paper you use and what gets flushed down your toilet. Septic tanks do not deal well with solid waste (such as sanitar y products, for example) so you shouldn’t flush anything other than toilet paper. You should also avoid pouring oil or greasy products down your kitchen sink.
Can you connect a property to a sewer system?
If your property is located in an urban area or close to a large country town, there is a good chance you will be connected to the mains sewer system. In this case, your sewage and waste-water management will be taken care of by your commune’s water supplier or syndicat d’eau (water syndicate), and the applicable costs will be added to your water bill. Read more about this in our article French Water Supply and Drainage.
Do you need a fosse septique?
The first thing to note is that it is a legal requirement of all homeowners to install and maintain a fosse septique or sewage treatment system if your French property isn’t connected to the mains sewer system.
What is the Fosse Septique?
Anyone who has a home in France and is not connected to mains sewage will be affected by the rules, requirements and legislation affecting the Fosse Septique – the alternative means of treating waste water.
What are my options if I need to replace my Fosse Septique system?
There are two options, either purchase the conventional “fosse toutes eaux” with its large filter bed or purchase one of the newly approved integrated sewage treatment plants or micro-stations.
What is the SPANC France inspection?
When SPANC perform their compliance inspections they will examine various elements of your system including:
Why should I be concerned about my fosse septique or lack of one?
Fosse septics and the treatment of waste water generally is a big issue at the moment due to recent rules and regulations which are forcing many home owners to install, upgrade or change their present sewage treatment systems.
What do I do if my sewage treatment system fails the SPANC inspection?
Firstly do not panic! Not only do you have 12 months to rectify the problems, SPANC can guide you regarding the best course of action, there will usually be several rectifying options available to you and there are even financial schemes available to assist with replacement and upgrading costs. You can even continue with the sale of your house as long as you have your inspection report and the purchaser is well informed regarding any problems. The purchaser is then given 12 months to remedy the situation (this may however be a price negotiation tool that may or may not work to your advantage).
What are my options if my fosse septique is passed but the filtration system needs upgrading?
You could look at replacing or installing a new filter bed. However, the land space required and the installation costs involved tend to make this a relatively costly option.
How does a fosse toutes eaux filter bed work?
The conventional “fosse toutes eaux” with filter bed works by collecting all waste water in the fosse itself where it is separated and the lighter suspended solids are digested by aerobic bacteria and the heavier sludge waste digested by anaerobic bacteria.
