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Septic tank inspection checklist
An inspection checklist for septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants in England. Record the system and where it discharges, whether it is near a private water supply, the lids, sludge level, when it was last desludged and by whom, defects in the tank, the motor, pump and alarm, and signs of trouble at the drainage field. The form flags a septic tank discharging to a watercourse, desludging more than a year ago and a failing system. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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What should a septic tank inspection check?
A septic tank inspection should check what the system is and where it discharges, the condition of the lids, the sludge level and when it was last desludged by a registered waste carrier, cracks, leaks, baffles and blocked pipes, the motor, pump and alarm on a treatment plant, and the drainage field or outlet for pools of water, sewage smells and, at a watercourse, overflowing sludge or white scum. It should end with whether the system is working, needs maintenance or is failing.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against GOV.UK: general binding rules, small sewage discharge to the ground, GOV.UK: general binding rules, small sewage discharge to a surface water and GOV.UK: septic tank and sewage treatment plant permits, checking for pollution.
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Every question in the septic tank inspection template
A septic tank and sewage treatment plant inspection: system and discharge, tank and lid, sludge, desludging date and waste carrier, baffles, pumps and alarms, the drainage field and signs of pollution. 4 sections and 41 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
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Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
System
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Inspection date*Date
- TimeTime
- Owner or operator responsible for the system*Short answer
- Inspected by*Short answer
- System*Choose one
- Septic tank
- Small sewage treatment plant
- Cesspool (no discharge)
- Discharges toChoose one
- Ground through a drainage field
- Surface water (a watercourse)
- Nowhere (holding tank)
- WarningA septic tank must not discharge to a watercourse. Under the general binding rules, as soon as possible connect to a public foul sewer, replace the tank with a small sewage treatment plant, or install a drainage field, with plans to do the work within a reasonable time, usually 12 months.Shown when “System” is “Septic tank” and “Discharges to” is “Surface water (a watercourse)”
- GuidanceGeneral binding rules (England). The sludge must be removed before it goes beyond the maximum capacity, and the guidance says to do this at least once a year or in line with the manufacturer's instructions, using a registered waste carrier. The system must be repaired or replaced if it is not in good working order. These rules apply in England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules: check with Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Is the discharge point within 50 m of a private drinking water supply, or in a groundwater source protection zone 1?Yes or NoShown when “Discharges to” is “Ground through a drainage field”
- WarningA discharge to ground in a source protection zone 1 (other than SPZ1c) needs an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. An SPZ1 can also be any area within 50 m of a private water supply for human consumption.Shown when “Is the discharge point within 50 m of a private drinking water supply, or in a groundwater source protection zone 1?” is Yes
- Weather captureAnswer
Record estimated current conditions and add what you observe on site.
Tank
- Tank position (GPS)Short answer
Stand over the tank lids and tap Mark current location. Buried tanks are easy to lose under a lawn, and the pin helps the next visit and the emptying tanker. Mark current location works on web forms today; the app version is on its way.
- Could the tank be opened and inspected?Yes or No
- Lids and coversChoose one
- Sound and secure
- Damaged
- Missing
- Sludge levelChoose one
- Low
- Moderate
- Near capacity
- Over capacity
- Date last desludgedDate
- Days since desludgingWorked out by the formShown when “Date last desludged” is answered and “Inspection date” is answered
- CheckMore than a year since the tank was desludged.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckThe desludging date is after the inspection date. Check the dates.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Was it emptied by a registered waste carrier?Yes or No
- Next desludge dueDate
At least once a year under the general binding rules guidance, or as the manufacturer says.
- Days to the next desludgeWorked out by the formShown when “Inspection date” is answered and “Next desludge due” is answered
- CheckThe next desludge date is before the date of this record. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Tank defectsTick all that apply
- Cracks in tank walls
- Leaks
- Damaged inlet or outlet baffles
- Blocked pipes
- Roots in the tank
- None seen
- Motor, pump and alarm (treatment plant)Choose one
- Working
- Fault
- Not applicable
- Photos of the tankPhotos
Drainage field and pollution
- Drainage field or outlet (GPS)Short answer
Mark the distribution chamber and each end of the drainage field, or the outlet to the watercourse, one point at a time.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant - Signs at the drainage field or outletTick all that apply
- Pools of water
- Sewage smells
- Overflowing sludge
- White scum or foam on the water
- Slow-draining toilets or sinks in the property
- None seen
- Photos of the drainage field or outletPhotos
- Problems found at the tankWorked out by the form
- Signs at the drainage field or outletWorked out by the form
- Desludged in the last yearWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckProblems are recorded above but the result is Working. Check the result, or note why the problems do not affect how the system works.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Result*Choose one
- Working
- Needs maintenance
- Failing: repair or replace
- WarningThe general binding rules require the system to be repaired or replaced when it is not in good working order, for example with leaks, cracks in tank walls or pipes, blocked pipes, poor drainage, sewage smells, or a failed motor, pump or electrical supply.Shown when “Result” is “Failing: repair or replace”
- Are maintenance records and the manual kept, to pass on if the property is sold?Yes or No
Actions and sign-off
- Are further actions needed?Yes or No
- Further actionsRepeat for each action. Each one asks:Shown when “Are further actions needed?” is Yes
- What needs doing?*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
- Urgent
- High
- Medium
- Low
- Who will do it?Short answer
- Due dateDate
- StatusChoose one
- Open
- In progress
- Completed
- Inspector name*Short answer
- Position or companyShort answer
- Inspector signatureSignature
- CheckSigning records what was found on the day. It does not make unsafe equipment safe or replace a thorough examination, design check or service by a competent person.
See it filled in
A completed septic tank inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Septic tank inspection FAQs
How often should a septic tank be emptied?
Under the general binding rules in England, the sludge must be removed before it goes beyond the maximum capacity, and the guidance says to do this at least once a year or in line with the manufacturer's instructions. The company that takes the sludge must be a registered waste carrier. The form warns when it is more than a year since desludging.
Can a septic tank discharge to a stream?
No. A septic tank must not discharge effluent to a watercourse. Under the general binding rules, as soon as possible you must connect to a public foul sewer, replace it with a small sewage treatment plant or install a drainage field, with plans to do the work within a reasonable time, usually 12 months. The form warns if you record this.
What are the signs of a failing system?
Leaks, cracks in tank walls or pipes, blocked pipes, waste water not draining properly such as pools around the drainage point, sewage smells, and a failed motor, pump or electrical supply. The general binding rules require the system to be repaired or replaced when it is not in good working order.
What records should be kept?
Maintenance records and the manual, so they can be passed on. If you sell the property, you must tell the new owner about the sewage treatment system. The form asks whether the records are kept.
Does it cover sewage treatment plants?
Yes. Choose small sewage treatment plant and the form also checks the motor, pump and alarm. Cesspools are included as holding tanks with no discharge.
When is a permit needed?
Under the general binding rules, a discharge to ground in a groundwater source protection zone 1 (other than SPZ1c) needs an environmental permit. An SPZ1 can include any area within 50 m of a private drinking water supply. The form asks whether the discharge point is in one and shows a warning.
Related
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Templates that go with the septic tank inspection form
Planned maintenance visit: records seen, asset by asset tasks, water temperatures, work done and next visit.
Build or update an asset register: each asset with its tag, make, model, serial, position (GPS outside), condition, life and photos, totals by condition and life, and changes to the register.
Inspection round for plant: asset condition, refrigerant and leak checks, pressure vessels, next due dates.
Job sheet for a reactive or planned job: safety before starting, work done, parts used, tests, outcome and customer sign-off.
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