We have a parallel problem coming up in France, concerning the famous French fosses septiques or 'septic tanks'. There are some 4.5 million of these in France, and it's reckoned that 3.5 million are defective in some way.
Changes effective 2006, forced by EC directive(s), will mean much stricter rules on the size of the tank, the drains etc. and what happens to the effluent after anaerobic digestion. M. le Maire tells me me he can't force me to upgrade my system, but he can ( and will! )prosecute me if I pollute the environment outside my property, or annoy my neighbors with bad smells. My system is old, but previously complied. If I continue to pollute/annoy, then that's an on-going action not connected with the design or condition of my sewage plant, so the new arrete ( regulation ) applies. This is fair and we have just paid a specialist to design a new system, which hopefully will be installed spring 2006, after getting planning permission. I see no excuse for retaining any system, electrical of water, if it can be shown that a real danger exists to others by its continuing use. Now, are regulations, directives and the like actually 'laws'? - if not, then making updates mandatory is easier, since sidestepping the retro-applicable legislation cornerstone is possible. The French have decided that the directive is a 'law', but other countries may take an opposite view.
Alan
[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 10-13-2005).]
