A septic tank is used to treat and dispose of small volumes of wastewater, usually from single houses or a number of households that are located relatively close together. Septic tanks are part of the family known as “septic systems” which includes package sewage treatment plants, also called off-mains wastewater treatment systems, private sewage treatment systems, or individual sewage disposal systems. Septic tanks are usually installed where there is no access to the mains drainage network.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website.
Septic tanks are a cheaper option for wastewater treatment as they don’t need an electricity supply, are cheaper to buy, run and maintain on a short-term period. Small sewage treatment plants are normally powered by electricity which is needed to aerate the wastewater. Sewage treatment plants are also more expensive, but the final effluent is of a higher quality than the effluent from a septic tank which will always require further treatment in a soakaway.
These systems are considered off-mains because they are not connected to the sewerage network/mains drainage.
A typical septic system includes a septic tank and a soakaway system. The septic tank digests the solid organic matter and separates oils and grease (floatable matter) and larger solids from the sewage. The liquid (effluent) is then discharged into the ground from the septic tank via a soakaway system designed to slowly release the pre-treated sewage water into the soil. Alternatively, a pump can be used to help septic tank effluent trickle through the soil to remove pollutants such as disease-causing contaminants such as nitrogen or phosphorus.
The performance of a septic tank depends on whether it has been sized correctly. The tank must be of adequate size for the daily flow produced by the users connected to the septic tank. (number of people connected to the tank)
In a good septic tank environment, the biomass will be “self-sustaining” which means that new bacteria will replace those that die. The regular addition of so-called “bio-augmentation” products is not normally necessary but might help the development of bacteria inside the septic tank.
Ignore the historical stories about placing a ‘dead animal’ inside your septic tank to get it started, this is not the correct solution.
Most septic tank failures are related to inappropriate maintenance; examples being when soil-based disposal such as soakaways are installed in inadequate ground conditions, on excessive slopes, or in areas with high groundwater tables… These poor septic tank designs cause hydraulic failures leading to water resource pollution. Poor maintenance such as irregular septic tank emptying (every 3 to 5 years in general), may cause solids in the tank to block the soakaway and clog the complete system.
Avoid pouring bleach into the toilet or into sinks. Limit the amount of fat disposed of to a minimum. Your septic tank is a biological solution for treating biological waste. Avoid putting the following items into your toilets or sinks: coffee grounds, disposable diapers, animal litter, hygiene products, and sanitary items, cigarette ends, fats and greases, paper towels, paints, detergents, and pesticides….these products may have a negative impact on the bacteria in your septic tank.
If sewage from your septic tank backs up you must avoid contact with the sewage. Wastewater may contain harmful pathogens. Cleanup personnel should wear protective clothing and wash and disinfect all equipment used in the cleanup thoroughly when the cleanup is complete. The polluted area should be dried out and not be used until it has been completely dry for at least 48 hours.
If you have bad smells from your septic tank, this may be a sign that the biomass has died. First, find out what may have killed the biomass, this is likely to be a product you have poured down your sink or toilet. If this is the case you may have to add bacteria to the septic tank.
For any problem related to your septic tank or if your system needs servicing or emptying please contact your local septic tank specialist. We can provide a list of local professionals upon request.
Properly sized and designed septic systems can provide acceptable sewage water treatment. However, systems installed that exceed the treatment capacity of the ground or poorly designed, poorly installed, operated or maintained systems can be a source of problems. The most serious problems involve surface water pollution and groundwater contamination by nitrates, excessive nitrogen discharges, or phosphorus pollution.
Some of the settled solids (sludge) at the bottom of your septic tank will be digested by the anaerobic action of the bacteria and will disappear. The remaining sludge will build up over time and will need to be pumped out of the tank. Your septic tank won’t be totally emptied but “desludging”: A specialized contractor will pump the sludge together with the total water volume of the tank and then put the watery effluent back in. This effluent contains the necessary bacteria for the proper functioning of the tank.
This scum consists of FOG “Fat, Oil and Grease” from daily domestic activities such as cooking washing up, etc. The enzymes will break down this scum over time. The scum in your primary tank can dry out and get too thick, stopping the air from reaching the liquid effluent. The bacteria need oxygen for the aerobic degradation of the pollutants in the sewage. A hard and dry scum (crust) means that it is the right time to get in a contractor to desludging your septic tank.
Your tank should be dislodged following the manufacturer's recommendations. For septic tanks, empty the tank when the level of sludge reaches 50% of the tank’s volume. For sewage treatment plants, empty the primary tank when the level of sludge reaches 30% of the primary tank's total volume.
Desludging should be carried out by a registered professional in the wastewater industry. The local farmer (unless registered!) is not an option: use a licensed waste disposal contractor for the removal of sludge.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Wansheng sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
The Environment Agency has developed permits and consents to discharge to regulate the installation and operation of septic tanks assisting local communities in improving water quality and protecting public health.
Some water resource-protected areas benefit from more detailed regulatory programs, involving site assessments to determine the porosity and capacity of the soil for adequate treatment, ensuring that groundwater tables will not be threatened.
For more information about the reform of the regulatory rules to control small sewage discharges from septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants in the UK, or Environmental Permitting Programme Second Phase (EPP2) please read: http://www.biorock.co.uk/blogs//04/epp2-water-discharge-consent-exemption-permit-legislation-for-septic-tanks-and-off-mains-systems
The Consent to Discharge has been replaced by the Permit to Discharge under this Environmental Permitting Programme “Second Phase” (EPP2). Unfortunately, very few inspections of septic tanks are conducted after they are installed.
As part of the continuing Government program set up to improve environmental protection and health issues, EPP2 affects any septic tank and sewage treatment plant installation, maintenance, and operation.
EPP2 applies to any sewage treatment plant or septic tank (including septic tank replacements) and focuses on areas where better operation can be achieved by significant improvements in overall septic system performance. Criteria include the volume of discharge, the type of septic tank or treatment plant (EN -3 Certified), the location of the plant, the treated water discharge point, commissioning and maintenance contracts. EPP2 also states that desludging of the septic tank or sewage treatment plant should be done by a licensed company and according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
A joint initiative between the Environment Agency and the Department for Energy and Climate Change in cooperation with DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly developed the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). The Environmental Permitting Programme “Second Phase” or EPP2, which are the guidelines for the management of wastewater treatment systems in the UK, is part of the Environmental Permitting Regulation.
Whether you need to register your septic tank or sewage treatment tank with the Environment Agency (EA) or not depends on many factors. Contact the Environmental Agency to find out and make sure you follow the right procedure and comply with the law. Don’t worry: the registration of your septic system is free of charge.
Treatment plants remove impurities contained in wastewater so that the treated wastewater can be safely returned to the environment. This same stabilization process occurs in nature to break down wastewater into its most basic components of carbon dioxide and water. Common methods of treatment include physical, biological and chemical treatment steps to stabilize the wastewater. Norweco wastewater treatment plants are designed to accelerate and control nature’s process to insure proper treatment is provided.
Treated wastewater is returned to the environment by a number of different methods. Depending on the degree of treatment and local regulations, it may be absorbed into the soil, discharged directly into a surface waterway or reused by a method like spray irrigation.
Your grandparents also had to worry a lot more about typhoid, cholera and other infectious diseases that are transmitted by unsanitary water. Wastewater treatment systems serve primarily to protect the health of the general population by insuring that water supplies remain clean. In today’s world, people live a lot longer than they used to and higher population concentrations result in increased organic loading to the waterways from a variety of sources. Modern wastewater treatment systems contribute to a safer, cleaner environment by reducing this organic load and controlling the presence of bacteria and waterborne diseases.
A sewer system is a series of pipes that collect wastewater and transport it to a remote location where the wastewater is processed by a municipal treatment system. An onsite treatment system collects, treats and disposes of wastewater from a single source in the same location that it is generated. Municipal and onsite treatment systems utilize many of the same treatment processes, but a municipal sewer system collects and treats wastewater from many different locations.
Population density, the topography of the area, soil conditions and numerous other factors are involved in the construction and operation of a sewage collection system. Increasing migration to suburban and rural areas make municipal sewers more difficult and costly to build and maintain. Onsite treatment systems are often the most practical and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment and disposal.
A good rule of thumb is don’t put anything into your wastewater treatment system that is not biodegradable. Your local health department can provide you with guidance on the operation and care of your onsite treatment system. Just as a municipal treatment plant requires a staff to provide operation and maintenance, your onsite system will require periodic inspection, service and maintenance. Remember, your onsite treatment system is an asset that you own. Like any other asset (such as a car, furnace, etc.) the better you take care of it, the better it will serve you.
Your local health department should have information regarding the location of your septic tank. Also, a local septic tank pumping service or your Norweco distributor can employ several different types of technology to verify the tank location.
All wastewater treatment systems require periodic service and maintenance. A service contract from a local company or regulatory agency is an economical insurance policy against premature system failure and forced replacement. This type of service contract is usually much cheaper than paying municipal sewer bills.
The company is the world’s best wastewater treatment tanks supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.