More septic tank waste storage for Cornwall

Across Cornwall, many homes depend on septic tanks or cesspits instead of the public sewer network. Waste operators empty these tanks and take the waste to authorised treatment sites. Untreated septic waste carries harmful pathogens and pollutants, so it must go to facilities that can process it safely.

Most septic tank waste in Cornwall is taken to South West Water (SWW) wastewater treatment sites. SWW must comply with their environmental permits, which means they cannot accept more waste than they can safely treat. During heavy rain or the busy summer season, sites can reach full capacity, and SWW may not be able to accept extra waste. When this happens, operators often have to travel long distances to dispose of waste safely, increasing their costs and carbon impact.

To help the industry manage these pressures, we have been working with South West Water and the septic tank waste hauliers to explore solutions.

We are pleased to see that South West Water has refurbished an additional storage tank at their Hayle treatment plant, adding another 50 000 cubic litres of storage for Cornwall. There is now more capacity to dispose of these waste types in the county than there is demand.

We remain committed to supporting this sector over the longer term and helping find solutions that better protect people and the environment.