seleandijon

The European certification is in effect currently meaningless still in France. There is no list yet published of French "approved" units - and this will take months to publish despite the "law" giving it time limits - if it happens within these time limits i will eat this laptop - without gravy. Even when the list is published - any unit could be removed at any time - so you order on Tuesday - it is removed on Thursday - Tough. As i said in a previous post - there are rules for how these units must be installed - there are then rules on maintaining them - and EXACTLY THE SAME AS UP TO NOW - the only requirement for any system is whether it performs within specifications. I don't see how any certification of conformity can possibly be validated, ever, as if the unit you have bought is removed from the list - you are uncertified. This is an entirely unworkable and confusing state of affairs that the French have produced. This is even worse than where things have been up to now. At least up to now most local SPANK's have simply shrugged and accepted any system as long as it wasn't polluting. Now they have a set of rules that by nature change every week. IMPOSSIBLE to implement. The bottom line is - if you have to do something about your wastewater treatment choose a unit with a good track record, that theoretically is likely to be "accepted" and using a technology that is known to perform in the circumstances you have. Fit it intelligently, maintain it correctly, don't pollute and see what happens.  Maybe over the next 2-3 years things will be "clarified" if you will excuse the pun . . . . . .  

Well said Pachapapa, Solvit on this one was definitely "right place, right time!" and IMHO can take no credit for this change. HOWEVER - we have also been following this saga - and France has still managed to get the CE to accept that France gets the final say on which units will be specifically AUTHORISED. Including some of their own requirements that will EXCLUDE some EN 12566-3 certified units from complying, AND they have the right to REMOVE a unit/manufacturer from the APPROVED LIST for a whole variety of reasons as they go along. The point being - regardless of which unit you choose, it may be on the list one week - and off the next! Just be certain NOT to buy one that CANNOT EVER appear on the approved list. This would appear to include a certain UK unit that, shall we say, is diamond shaped . . . The internal volumes would appear to be incompatible with the requirements. The Klargester units should be ok - Certainly the BioTec - although the smaller BioDiscs may struggle with the internal volumes requirements too. The Uni system that mayennesat has uses a technology that the French don't currently mention - so this is one that needs to wait to get on the list before considering it! I guess this leaves us with a situation much as we have had up to now - CONFUSION! So if you want to buy and install a mini domestic wastewater treatment unit, do so! Be sure to chose one from a big manufacturer with a long track record, that would seem to have a chance of getting on the approved list at some point and most importantly that you have confidence in to perform to spec in your specific circumstances. If this involves variable loads (ie variable residency) or a lower residency than the unit is designed for (ie if there are two of you most of the time and the unit is rated for 6) then avoid the simple blown air only units (boues activées) as they are known to STRUGGLE to meet MINUMUM requirements. Choose instead a unit with some sort of fixed bed biological reactor . . . . to see and compare the different technolgies try http://www.klar-environment.com/wwtp_comparisons.aspx I'm not saying that the klargester units are the only ones available - just that they are an option that should get on the approved list and that are good value for the stability of results obtained. What EN12566-3 was supposed to acheive was a complete move to an obligation of tested minimum results - leaving the technological side open to any developments as time went along - because lets face it - any of these units have to be maintained or they will not perform to specification. Where France has ended up with these latest regulations is with a poor & complicated adaptation of the rules - some progress - but not great and certainly NOT definitive!   Lots of "jobs for the boys" for many years ahead, at all levels - so the ADMINISTRATION did win, after all!

i would say saltpetre too - and the height you mention would indicate rising damp

For the very latest text in French go to http://www.klar-environnement.com/Fosses_Septiques_Dernieres_Reglementations.aspx for the text in English go to http://www.klar-environment.com/septic_tanks_france_latest_regulations.aspx Bear in mind though that the French are not accepting all CE FR EN12566-3 certified systems - only ones meeting certain criteria etc and that they have verified conform with what they require. This includes minimum chamber sizes - so that is bad news for a certain UK manufactured "pointy" one! They are also insisting that the supplier takes full responsibility for any failed units, so be careful not to order from any old "go between" who could close if things turn bad for them. AND they will only accept outflow direct under special circumstances where there is no other option too - so be careful that you are following the French rules!