This project aims to tackle the impacts of phosphorus-rich waste-water on our environment.

The waste water from our homes and businesses contains the nutrient Phosphorus. In various formats, it comes from the food we eat, and the products we use to clean our homes.

Travelling either through the wastewater treatment network or via private sewerage systems like septic tanks, this waste water ultimately ends up in the environment, where the nutrients it contains can upset the balance of plants and animals that live in our rivers and streams. But by being careful about the products that we use, and by managing our waste water systems well, we can reduce the damaging impact that Phosphorus can have on our wildlife and our countryside.

During 2015-16 this project is disseminating appropriate advice on best-practice useage and maintenance of private sewerage systems (Small Sewage Discharges, SSDs).

Whilst all of this points to the benefits of tackling inputs from non-mains sewerage, Source Apportionment Work has identified that SSDs are not the sole contributor of Phosphorous.

The project is taking a dual approach to awareness raising, looking not only at septic tanks, but at Phosphorus inputs more generally. By developing materials which compliment information being developed by EA around septic tanks, the project will target areas both on non-mains drainage, and those on mains drainage but which are not served by Sewage Treatment Works with nutrient stripping facilities.

We have now produced two leaflets, one about phosphates and one about septic tanks and updated the Best Practice Section of our website with loads of good advice.

This project is co-ordinated by Natural Enterprise. For more details please call 01983 296244 or email carol.flux@naturalenterprise.co.uk