Non conforming Fosse septiques

[NickP]

 After the inspection of our Fosse Septiques it appears that it doesn't conform. The bath, shower and kitchen sink water, has its own grease trap and the de greased water goes straight into the ground, not into the Fosse, there's also is a lack of a conforming vent pipe. Now the question is, can these problems be fixed retrospectively or are we into fitting a new system? Any advice welcome; as although it's been said that I may know a lot about the contents of a Fosse, a (French) plumber I 'ain't. Cheers

[Val_2]

I can tell you that your property now remains on the list of properties to conform for a max of four years, reviewed yearly by SPANC and your local mairie. If the designated repairs/replacement does not occur during that four years you will be fined. We get a list yearly from SPANC at council listing the properties in our commune that are on this list and those who have not done anything so,beware they will be checking eventually.

[NickP]

Thank you Val for your informative and helpful information, but  I already know that and  am trying to remedy the situation; so hopefully someone else out there will come along and offer the advice that will address the question that I asked.  After all I wouldn't want to waste all of my holidays worrying about a pile of #### in the garden? [:D]

[Dave&Olive]

Hi ok

 Nick looks like you only have a small problem  ie  the size of the tank must be OK and so is the filter system should only cost you a few € `s to put the system right .....no new system needed ..  where are you sure I am in debt to you for a few favours

                                     Dave

[AnOther]

Your system sounds to be not a lot different to mine which passed it's SPANC inspection, the main difference being that my grey water goes into a large,  +/- 5m3 as far as I can estimate, underground recuperation tank, as does all the rainwater from the gutters.

May be worth investigating if this could be a solution for you. Handy for the garden too [;-)]

Venting should not be too difficult to arrange.

[NickP]

Cheers Dave, AnOther many thanks; the waste water system sounds good, I will investigate and ask about that. I was worrying about having to get holes punched into the sides of the original concrete tank and of course is it possible.

 

  Interesting conversation with our local Mayor; went as follows.

NickP: do you have a list of  specialists for the Fosse Septiques?

Mayor: Why do you need that?

NickP: My FS doesn't conform

Mayor: Nobody's in the village does

NickP: But Spanc said they will inspect it again in 4 years and I thought I'll make it right

Mayor: Does it work OK?

NickP: Yes perfectly, but I thought!!!!!!

Mayor: Don't worry about it! They will probably change the rules by then,

[:D] [:D]Only in France.

 If I had the same conversation with the Chief Executive of our local council in England he would be too worried about investing his £250.000 annual  salary to even know what a Fosse Septiques is.

[Araucaria]

[quote user="Val_2"]I can tell you that your property now remains on the list of properties to conform for a max of four years, reviewed yearly by SPANC and your local mairie. If the designated repairs/replacement does not occur during that four years you will be fined. We get a list yearly from SPANC at council listing the properties in our commune that are on this list and those who have not done anything so,beware they will be checking eventually.[/quote]

That's coming it a bit strong Val: you could be fined is surely more accurate. Still, let's wait and see.

[Patf]

Nick - I had a similar conversation with our Maire about our system which is much worse than yours, but works.

The only problem could be if you want to sell. You have to produce a report for the potential buyer, and there's a new rule that says new buyers have to update within a year. But whether they will enforce that is another matter.

And there is a current law of "pollution of the waterways", which could involve a fine.

[GDA]

There was an article in FPN a month or two back - which was written by someone who had installed a sealed unit fosse without the need for  a separate sand bed filter. Does anyone have the link, or at least a relevant website? Might be useful if you are into refitting one.

[DraytonBoy]

[quote user="Val_2"]I can tell you that your property now remains on the list of properties to conform for a max of four years, reviewed yearly by SPANC and your local mairie. If the designated repairs/replacement does not occur during that four years you will be fined. We get a list yearly from SPANC at council listing the properties in our commune that are on this list and those who have not done anything so,beware they will be checking eventually.[/quote]

Where does that leave people who don't have the money to upgrade their fosse?

[Patf]

The Spanc where we live is offering grants, up to 3500€, for new system, updating etc. We had a letter on Thursday about this, with the forms. It doesn't seem to be means tested, unless they have access to our tax returns.

But ours would be double this and we can't borrow any more. Might ask if we can just put in a grease trap, as one person suggested.

However this seems tough on those people who have paid for the lot themselves - I daren't tell my friend.

[DraytonBoy]

I have a client who's 'four years' are up next year and the cost of replacing her fosse is 14k which she doesn't have. What's going to happen to her?

[pachapapa]

[quote user="DraytonBoy"]I have a client who's 'four years' are up next year and the cost of replacing her fosse is 14k which she doesn't have. What's going to happen to her?[/quote]

The maire will smack an "insalubrité notice" on her "pigsty" unfit for human occupation....then eviction....problem solved.

[Patf]

^^^^ [:D]

I asked the last SPANC man who came round what would happen if we left things as they are and he said "rien!" I think he knew what he what he was talking about because he was right about the grants.

As I said earlier, if you do nothing the problem will come if you want to sell - you would have to concede a price reduction, or buyers might be put off.

[AnOther]

Blood out of stones !

I seem to recall reading somewhere that interest free loans were available with a charge against the property when sold.

[pachapapa]

[quote user="AnOther"]Blood out of stones !

I seem to recall reading somewhere that interest free loans were available with a charge against the property when sold.

[/quote]

Haven't seen with a charge on property but PTZ available to a maison primaire on the basis of nothing electric, with exception of a pump to elevate to a discharge point if terrain adverse; finishes 31st dec 2014. Mentioned at time of PM an OP with a list of non-electric µSTEPs.

[Bill]

[quote user="DraytonBoy"]I have a client who's 'four years' are up next year and the cost of replacing her fosse is 14k which she doesn't have. What's going to happen to her?[/quote]

 

seems expensive, I don't know the size she needs.

 

Just had ours done at  e  8k, 

 

 I am sure mine could really of been upgraded, but lack of ability to investigate same.

 

Bill

 

 

[DraytonBoy]

The high cost is due to access problems and the type of fosse needed to fit into the small piece of available land. She's had several quotes all of which were within 1k of each other so the price is correct, the problem is that she doesn't have the money to get the work done.