Massive inspections of septic tanks and home sewage treatment plants began throughout Poland. Municipal officials knock on the residents' door, verifying the key papers and method condition of the installation. Not only a clean environment is at stake, but besides advanced financial penalties that can scope up to 5000 PLN. This is the effect of the amendment of the rules, which requires local governments to monitor the sewage economy more closely. The owners of the property without an adequate contract for the export of impurity and proof of regular charges must have serious consequences. Checks are unannounced and include both single-family houses and recreational plots. It is worth checking now whether we have complete documentation, due to the fact that officials will not be indulgent. Negligence can prove very costly.
Why the abrupt wave of control? fresh rules and severe penalties for municipalities
Sudden increases in control are not accidental. It follows straight from the amendment of the Water Law Act and the Act on the maintenance of cleanliness and order in municipalities. These provisions imposed on local authorities the work to keep detailed records of wasteless tanks (szamb) and home sewage treatment plants. Moreover, the municipalities must carry out regular inspections at least all 2 years. The aim is to seal the strategy and fight illegal waste water disposal, which poses a serious threat to groundwater and the environment.
The officials' motivation is double. Firstly, it is about the fulfilment of statutory obligations and the care of ecology. Secondly, municipalities which neglect to comply with the control and reporting obligations may be imposed financial penalties of up to PLN 50 thousand. It is so in the interests of local governments to effectively enforce the law from the inhabitants. An example is the municipality of Józefów, which officially informed about the beginning of intensive control activities in its territory, which is simply a signal that akin actions become the norm throughout the country.
What papers do you gotta prepare? That'll be checked by the clerk.
During the audit, the authoritative will focus on verifying 2 key documents. Each owner of a property equipped with a cesspool or a home treatment plant shall have:
- Written contract for the export of liquid waste concluded with a company authorised to operate in the municipality concerned.
- Evidence of payment of fees for these services, i.e. bills, invoices or confirmation of transfers.
These papers must confirm the regularity of waste water exports. Checkers will verify that the rate of emptying of the tank is adequate to the number of inhabitants of the property and water consumption. Keeping accounts alone without a valid contract is not enough. It is crucial to usage only the services of entrepreneurs who are on the authoritative list maintained by the municipality. A list of specified companies can usually be found on the website of the city or municipality. The usage of the company’s services “with an announcement”, which is not authorised, is besides an offence and may consequence in penalties.
The punishment is PLN 5000 for not only deficiency of contract. You'll pay for that too.
A maximum fine of PLN 5000 threatens not only for deficiency of a set of documents. The rules supply for equally severe penalties for another offences related to the sewerage management. Officials pay peculiar attention to the illegal disposal of uncleanness. It is strictly prohibited to pour the contents of the septic tank into your own field, into a ditch or forest and treated as a serious environmental offence. specified action is besides threatened by a mandate of up to PLN 5 thousand.
Importantly, the punishment may besides be imposed on the property owner, who impedes or prevents checks. Under the law, officials have the right to enter the premises to verify papers and measure the method condition of the installation. Refusal to let controllers to enter the property may be treated as an effort to hide the irregularity and consequence in the imposition of a fine of the same maximum amount. So it is worth working with officials to avoid additional problems.
Owners of home treatment plants and plots are besides targeted
Responsibilities do not circumvent owners of home sewage treatment plants. Although this strategy is more ecological than conventional cesspools, it besides requires supervision and regular maintenance. The owners of specified installations must bear in head the work regular disposal of sewage sludges. This process must be carried out by an eligible company and each export should be documented. As with septic tanks, it is essential to have a contract and proof of service charges.
A peculiar group that may be amazed by checks are owners of plots in the household Land Garden (ROD). Many of them do not realize that the rules on septic tanks apply to them to the same degree as homeowners. If there is simply a toilet with an outflow tank on the plot, its owner must have a contract and payment for the export of the waste. Controls on the grounds of the Rod are increasing, and ignorance does not relieve work and does not defend against advanced penalties.
Better to check than pay. How to avoid punishment?
In the face of ongoing controls across Poland, prevention is the best solution. Any property owner with a cesspool or a home treatment plant should verify its documentation as shortly as possible. delight make certain that we have a current written agreement with the licensed company and a set of accounts confirming regular waste water exports. If we are missing any of the documents, it should be completed immediately – sign the contract or find evidence of payment. The investment of time in the order of documentation is incomparably little than the hazard of paying a fine of up to PLN 5000. Action is already the only effective way to avoid unpleasant and costly surprises erstwhile officials visit.
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Officials went with controls across Poland. Do you have a cesspool? Check these papers or you will pay PLN 5000
