A Compliance Upgrade Near Smallwood
Word travels fast when a job's done properly. After completing a sewage treatment plant installation in Smallwood, the property owner recommended us to several of his neighbours and one of those recommendations has just led to another successful compliance upgrade.
This time, the call came from Mrs H Smith, who was preparing to sell her property. During the sale process, it came to light that her septic tank discharged directly to a watercourse at the rear of the development — a General Binding Rules compliance issue that would need resolving before the sale could complete.
The situation
Septic tank discharging to a watercourse at the rear of the property
Sale of the property already progressing, with completion only weeks away
Prospective purchasers requesting the upgrade be carried out with minimum disruption to the garden and lawn area
A solution needed that addressed the discharge issue without a lengthy or invasive install
Our recommendation
With the sale timeline tight and the garden a priority for the incoming owners, we specified a Marsh Ensign PE06IPS sewage treatment plant, installed within the footprint of the existing septic tank. This kept groundworks to a minimum and avoided disturbing the wider garden area.
The PE06IPS's integrated pumping station (IPS) also brought a practical benefit: it acts as a non-return valve, reducing the risk of surcharging back from the watercourse into the system, an important consideration given the original discharge point.
The work
Installation started on Monday 15th June 2026 and was completed by Friday 19th June, a full working week, in keeping with the tight window before sale completion.
Once complete, the job was signed off through Cheshire East building regulations, with the necessary Part P electrical certification also authorised.
The outcome
Discharge to the watercourse eliminated, bringing the property back into compliance
Installation kept within the original tank's footprint, protecting the garden and lawn as requested
Reinstatement of the site completed to the purchaser's satisfaction
Sale completed, with the property now under new ownership
This job is a good example of why compliance issues are worth catching early in a sale process rather than after completion and why local reputation matters. One well-executed installation in Smallwood led directly to further work with neighbouring properties, each with its own site constraints and deadlines to work around.
Our services
Septic tank to sewage treatment plant conversions
Compliance upgrades for properties discharging to watercourses
Off-mains drainage installations and servicing
Cesspools, water storage, and rainwater harvesting systems
Building regulations liaison and Part P electrical certification
If you're selling a property with off-mains drainage, or a survey has flagged a discharge issue, get in touch before it holds up your sale. Call us on 01270 442442 or email info@envirocareom.com.