What is a percolation area?
For a septic tank, the percolation area is an area of soil where treated wastewater is discharged into the ground.
A percolation system is now standard for all new septic tanks installed in Ireland today. These systems are engineered to treat the partially treated effluent from the septic tank and to distribute this treated liquid into the underlying ground water.
The EPA has published a Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (p.e < 10). The code of practice (CoP) establishes an overall framework of best practice in relation to the development of wastewater treatment and disposal systems, in unsewered rural areas, for protection of our environment and specifically water quality.
The code replaces previous guidance issued by the EPA on wastewater treatment systems for single houses (EPA, 2000) and incorporates the requirements of new European guidelines, recent research findings and submissions and comments received during the consultation process.