Obligation to connect to the public sewerage system
If your local authority has defined a zone to be connected to the public sewerage network, you are obliged to connect your house within two years of the network being brought into service.
Exceptions: possible exemptions
In some cases, exemptions may be granted by municipal by-law, particularly if :
- The house is equipped with a non-collective sanitation system that complies with the regulations.
- The property is located in an area that is difficult to connect.
Connection and costs for the owner
Once a house has been connected to the public sewerage system, the municipality may ask for all or part of the costs incurred for the work to be reimbursed. The owner remains responsible for the work carried out on the private part of the property and must pay the Participation pour le Financement de l'Assainissement Collectif (PFAC), a local tax payable to the local authority responsible for collective sewerage (commune or community of communes), formerly known as the Participation pour Raccordement à l'Egout (PRE).
Special situation: work in progress in the collective sewerage zone
It is possible that a house is located in an area classified as a collective sewerage system, but that the connection has not yet been made because work by the commune is still in progress.
What happens if I sell my property?
If you are selling a house with an on-site sewage treatment system, here are the steps to follow:
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SPANC inspection report: The seller must have a compliance inspection report drawn up by the Service Public d'Assainissement Non Collectif (SPANC).
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Non-compliance of the installation: If the report concludes that the installation is not compliant, the buyer will, in principle, have to carry out work to bring it up to standard within a year of the sale.
Flexibility when it comes to upgrading
Although the purchaser is responsible for carrying out the work, some flexibility may be allowed. According to Ministerial reply no. 17653 MASSON, local authorities are invited to be pragmatic if :
- The non-compliant sewage system poses no major risk to the environment or public health.
Connection to the public sewerage system
In this type of situation, the local authority will generally facilitate connection to the public sewerage system as quickly as possible. The aim is to ensure that the purchaser does not have to bear the following costs at the same time:
- The cost of bringing the off-site sewage system up to standard.
- The cost of connection to the public sewerage system.
