Sanitation of domestic wastewater
Verified 12 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The purpose of sanitation is to collection, theevacuation and the treatment of domestic wastewater : waste water (WC) and gray water (kitchen, washing machine, etc.). Sanitation can be collective (connection to the public network, sewer mains) or non-collective (individual installation of the all-water pit type). We present the applicable rules and procedures.
The municipality sets up a sanitation zoning, which allows you to know whether you are in a collective or non-collective sanitation zone. You have the possibility to consult it in town hall.
Collective sanitation
Collective sanitation falls under the competence of the municipality, metropolis or community of municipalities or agglomerations EPCI. It is responsible for collecting, transporting and treating waste water. It also controls the quality of the connection to the network.
The reorganization regulations defines the relationship between the operator and the users of the network. It lists the services provided and the obligations of users and owners.
It exists 2 types network: the network separative and the network unitary.
Separative network
In a separation system, the pipes that collect and transport wastewater and stormwater are separate and disconnected.
The domestic wastewater system carries them to the wastewater treatment plant (STEU).
The storm water system carries them to the natural environment. They can be rejected without treatment.
Unitary Network
The unitary system collects and transports domestic wastewater and stormwater in the same pipe.
The connection is mandatory for buildings that have a access to the public network of sanitation.
Vessels may be exempted from connection in the following cases:
- Technical impossibility of connection
- Building declared unsanitary irremediably with a permanent ban on living
- Building with a peril order prescribing their demolition.
To apply for a bridge waiver, you must send a letter RAR: titleContent to your town hall.
Warning
If it is impossible to connect to the collective network, the construction must be equipped with a non-collective sanitation system.
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Existing community sewerage system
The connection must be made during construction work.
In your building permit file, you must provide a ground plane which shows the connection to the public network.
Establishment of a collective sanitation network
You are 2 years old to connect a building built before the installation of the collective sewerage network. This delay starts when the public network is put into service.
With the agreement of the prefect, the mayor may grant you a extension of connection deadlines within the limit of 10 years if you are in any of the following situations:
- Building permit granted for less than 10 years with a non-collective regulatory sanitation system in good working order
- Regulatory non-collective sanitation system in good working order settled pending the establishment of the collective network.
You can benefit from financial aid for private sanitation works.
To find out more about the eligible works, the forms of aid, the conditions and who can benefit from them, you can ask your town hall.
You can contact a France Rénov' advisor.
Who shall I contact
Consultants specialized in home renovation works (France Rénov')
Allows to be accompanied free of charge in its renovation work by advisors of France Rénov'.
By phone
0,808,800,700
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. You must have your last tax notice.
Free service + cost of a call
You can also contact theAnah: titleContent.
Who shall I contact
As part of its mission to control sanitation, the municipality can sanction you if you refuse the connection, if it is not compliant or if the waste water flows on the public road.
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Refusal of connection
If you do not connect your building to the grid, the city hall may ask you to pay a sum at least equivalent to remediation fee. This penalty may be increased up to 400%. The maximum amount of the increase shall be determined by a decision of the municipal council.
You do not pay this penalty if the connection is made within 12 months of notification of the decision.
After sending you a letter formal notice, the mayor may arrange for the necessary connection work to be carried out at your expense.
Non-compliant connection
When the connection to the public network is not compliant (for example, if, as part of a separation network, the waste water mixes with the stormwater, in violation of the regulation of the sewerage service), the town hall can ask you to pay a sum at least equivalent to remediation fee.
This penalty may be increased up to 400%. The maximum amount of the increase shall be determined by a decision of the municipal council.
Sewage disposal in the public domain
You risk a fine up to €1,500 if you allow sewage to drain onto the public highway.
The connection may give rise to a check automatic. A check can also be imposed by the town hall at any time. In case of sale of the building, according to the municipality, a check may be mandatory.
Automatic control
The public sanitation service monitors the quality of the connection to the communal sanitation network. This check shall be carried out in the event of a new connection or a change to an existing connection. It is valid 10 years.
Control imposed by the mayor
The mayor may, at any time, impose by by-law the control of the connection of a dwelling to the public waste water collection network. This check is carried out by the public service of collective sanitation.
The control gives rise to a report, which is diagnosis collective sanitation, which is given to the owner of the dwelling.
In case of non-compliance, the owner must realize, at its expense, the work required to bring the connection up to standard. This work must be done within 2 years of notification of diagnosis.
Control in connection with the sale
In the event of a sale, the mayor may issue a municipal by-law to impose on the seller owner to make control the connection of the dwelling to the public network waste water collection. In theabsence of municipal by-law, the control is not required.
In Ile-de-France, this check is mandatory if the dwelling is located on certain territories.
If the building is in condominium, it is the syndic of condominium which is responsible for controlling its connection to the public waste water collection network.
Participation in the financing of collective sanitation is also called PFAC or CAP.
The CAP finances the creation and development of the network.
She is decided by a deliberation of the municipal council or theEPCI: titleContent.
To find out if the CAP applies to your municipality, you must contact the town hall.
The CAP is paid by the owners of all buildings subject to the connection obligation the public wastewater system.
It is due from the following dates:
- Connection to the collective network
- Extension of the building or the refurbished part of the building if this connection generates additional wastewater.
The CAP takes into account the savings made by the owner who avoids settling or upgrading a non-collective system. The amount also includes the cost of the work on the public part of the connection.
The maximum amount is 80% the cost of supplying and installing the installation which the connection makes it possible to avoid.
The collective sanitation charge finances the operation of the public sanitation service, the collection and treatment of wastewater. It shall be established by city council that sets the rate.
Part of the fee is calculated based on your water consumption. It is due for any construction that can be connected to the sewage network, whether or not this network is connected to a sewage treatment plant. It is most often included on the water bill.
It can be perceived either by theEPCI: titleContent, either by the private company managing the sanitation, or by the drinking water distributor if the billing for water and sanitation is grouped.
FYI
As soon as a dwelling is connectable to the sewerage system, the owner pays an amount equivalent to the fee.
You must first address a written complaint to the service whose address appears on your water bill.
If you cannot reach an agreement, you must then enter the water mediator to settle your dispute amicably.
If the mediation fails, you can refer the matter to the protection litigation judge.
This judge is competent for the following disputes:
- Billing
- Collection of the fee
- Damage caused in the course of providing the service (design defect, execution of public works, maintenance of public works)
- Denial of authorization to connect to the public network.
Non-collective sanitation (ANC)
If your building cannot be connected to the public grid, it must be equipped with an individual sanitation system such as all-water pits or microstation.
Warning
When a collective sewerage network is set up in your municipality, you have 2 years to connect an existing building.
In each commune or group of communes, there is a public non-collective sanitation service (Spanc).
The Spanc regulation defines its services, the obligations of the operator and users. It is given to each user.
The service carries out compulsory inspection tasks and provides optional maintenance, emptying or works. It monitors the conformity of installations and connections. The user cannot choose another service provider to carry out the checks.
The SPANC's control missions consist in:
- Review design proposals for new or rehabilitated facilities
- Check the execution of the work
- Monitor the proper operation and maintenance of existing facilities.
The frequency of inspection visits to existing installations is defined by the municipality. It is specified in the service regulations and may not exceed 10 years.
Buildings not connected to the public sewerage system must have a non-public sewerage system.
2 types of buildings concerned:
- Building located in non-collective sewerage area
- Building disconnected from connection, in a collective sanitation zone.
The installation of a non-collective sewerage system concerns new constructions and the rehabilitation of the sewerage of existing buildings:
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New construction
You must attach to your building permit one ground plane on which the sanitation system is shown. The City Hall will check the compliance of your future installation with the regulations.
The municipality shall lay down technical rules for the location of installations such as soil studies or the choice of the type of installation depending on the permeability of the soil. The additional costs shall be borne by the owner.
You must also provide a attestation of conformity the non-collective sewerage installation project with regard to regulatory requirements. This attestation is made by the Spanc: titleContent.
Rehabilitation of the non-collective sanitation system
The municipality shall lay down technical rules for the rehabilitation of installations such as soil studies or the choice of the type of installation depending on the permeability of the soil. The additional costs shall be borne by the owner.
Before starting the work, the project must be submitted to the Spanc: titleContent of your commune. They can provide information on how to proceed and make recommendations for your project.
Spanc shall carry out the following tasks:
- Design Control of your future installation based on the study of your file
- Writing a certificate of compliance with regulations that you will attach to your application for a building permit
- Checking of good execution work during a site visit, before backfilling.
You can carry out the work yourself, but it is advisable to call on a specialist company or the municipality if it provides this service. They carry out all the work (excavation, digging, plumbing, connections ...).
Please note
You can rehabilitate your land after the proper execution check.
The owner is responsible for the regular maintenance of his facility.
The purpose of the interview is to check the following:
- Proper operation and condition of installations and structures, including ventilation and degreasing devices
- Good sewage flow
- Normal accumulation of sludge and floats and their removal.
Maintenance consists mainly of drain the septic tank and the degreasing tank. The emptying is carried out by the municipality if it offers this service, or by a company approved by the prefect of department.
You can use this search tool to find a drain:
The periodicity of the emptying of the system must be adapted as a function of the height of the sludge which must not generally exceed 50% of the useful volume.
The control of the non-collective sewerage facility is mandatory and paying.
The Spanc: titleContent notified to the owner and, if necessary, to the occupant of the building, at least 7 working days before. Sanitation officers have a right of access to private property to carry out the checks.
The Spanc checks the proper operation and maintenance of the installation at least every 10 years.
The periodicity of the checks in your municipality is set out in the regulation of the public sanitation service.
The controls concern principal residences, second homes, seasonal or temporary dwellings such as mobile homes and light recreational dwellings.
Spanc assesses the sanitation facility taking into account the following points:
- Proper functioning
- Adaptation of the installation
- Dangers to health
- Proven risks of environmental pollution
- Maintenance and wear defects
- Lack of accessibility.
In the event of a health hazard or an environmental risk, the owner of the installation must, at his own expense, compliance work within 4 years.
FYI
In case of sale, the owner-seller must provide the notary with a diagnosis sanitation (Spanc inspection report, dated less than 3 years) attesting to the verification of the conformity of its installation. This document is appended to the promise to sell.
The work to bring the installation into conformity before the sale is the responsibility of the owner-seller. If he doesn't, the works can then be part of the financial negotiation on the price. In any case, they must be made no later than 1 year after the signing of the deed of sale.
As part of its mission to control sanitation, the municipality can sanction you if the building permit has not been respected, if you have refused a control of the Spanc: titleContent, if you refuse to connect to the public sewerage system or if the waste water flows into the public domain:
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Building permit not respected
One minutes noting theinfringement is prepared and your work may be interrupted by court order or by arrested from the mayor.
The judge may also order the restoration of the premises under on-call duty.
Refusal of SPANC control
The municipality may ask you to pay an amount at least equivalent to the remediation fee. This amount may be increased in a proportion fixed by the municipal council within the limit of 400%.
Refusal to connect to the public sewerage network
The town hall may ask you to pay an amount at least equivalent to the remediation fee. This penalty may be increased up to 400%. The maximum amount of the increase shall be determined by a decision of the municipal council.
You do not pay this penalty if the connection is made within 12 months of notification of the decision.
After sending you a letter formal notice, the mayor may arrange for the necessary connection work to be carried out, at your expense.
Sewage disposal in the public domain
You risk a fine up to €1,500 .
The fee is a tax paid by the holder of the water subscription. It is most often charged with the drinking water charge.
The fee shall include a share intended to cover the costs of Spanc: titleContent and, if necessary, a share to cover the maintenance costs of the installations.
The owner of the building is charged the share corresponding to the control of the installation.
The part corresponding to maintenance services is only due in the event of use of the maintenance service by the user holding the water subscription.
The pricing of the services is set by the municipal council.
If you do not pay the fee within 3 months and after a formal notice by letter RAR: titleContent, the fee shall be increased by 25%.
You must first address a written complaint to the service whose address appears on your water bill.
If you cannot reach an agreement, you must then enter the water mediator to settle your dispute amicably.
If the mediation fails, you can refer the matter to the protection litigation judge.
This judge is competent for the following disputes:
- Billing
- Collection of the fee
- Damage caused in the course of providing the service (design defect, execution of public works, maintenance of public works)
- Denial of authorization to connect to the public network.
On the same subject
Powers of the municipality
Sewerage areas
Powers of the community of commune
Water and sanitation
Sanitation of buildings and agglomerations
PFAC or PAC
Easement on another owner's land
Contravention for the disposal of waste water in the public domain
Disputes with the public sanitation service
Search tools
Prime Minister
Ministry of Urban Planning