TABLE OF CONTENTS All plans for building work need to show that drainage of refuse water (e.g. from sinks) and rainwater (from roofs) have been adequately catered for. Failure to do so will mean that these plans will be rejected by the local authority.
All plans for buildings must include at least one (or more) water or earth closets unless the local authority are satisfied that one is not required (for example in a large garage separated from the house).
Good Idea If you propose using an earth closet, the local authority cannot reject the plans unless they consider that there is insufficient water supply to that earth closet.
The Building Act requires that all drains are connected either with a sewer (unless the sewer is more than 120 ft away or the person carrying out the building work is not entitled to have access to the intervening land) or is able to discharge into a cesspool, settlement tank or other tank designed for the reception and/or disposal of foul matter from buildings.
The local authorities view this requirement very seriously and will need to be satisfied that:
satisfactory provision has been made for drainage;
all cesspools, private sewers, septic tanks, drains, soil pipes, rain water pipes, spouts, sinks or other appliances are adequate for the building in question;
all private sewers that connect directly...
