A septic tank should not emit a foul odour and should not be a source of pollution. Smart Flow NE service, repair, install, and upgrade / replace problem septic tank systems.
Septic tank and sewage treatment plant. Pumping station - septic tank and cesspool emptying. Pumps and pumping systems. Water and wastewater solutions. Land drainage - soakaways and liquid waste removal.- Rebecca Snaith, Sunderland.
Here, we spotlight our work in septic tanks and sewage treatment. Dedicated to effective waste management, we use advanced technology to ensure clean, safe water. View our residential and commercial case studies below.
In response to environmental regulations, one of our loyal customers, for whom we regularly service and maintain pumping stations, acquired a cottage in Ponteland facing compliance issues. The existing septic tank system, which discharged directly into a watercourse, was no longer permissible under the Environment Agency's General Binding Rules established in 2019. This necessitated a transition to a more sustainable and compliant waste management solution.
Smart Flow took the initiative to design, supply, install, and commission a state-of-the-art package sewage treatment plant tailored to the cottage's specific needs. This modern system aligns with current environmental regulations. It ensures effective sewage treatment, preventing pollution and safeguarding the local ecosystem.
Our comprehensive approach provided the client with a seamless transition to a sustainable sewage management system, demonstrating Smart Flow's commitment to delivering environmentally responsible and regulation-compliant solutions.
The most common alternatives to a sewage line connection include a septic tank or a sewage treatment plant. A septic tank is a tank that is installed into the ground which collects the sewage and wastewater coming from a building or home. They can contain a single chamber or multiple chambers, and they utilise the power of gravity to separate solid waste from liquid waste. The liquid then flows out of the tank into a soakaway or drainage field where the liquid naturally disperses into the surrounding soil. The solid waste is left behind and over time bacteria will break down the remaining solid waste. Again, gravity works its magic where the lighter solids float to the top and the more solid waste sinks to the bottom for the process to continue with liquid dispersing to the surrounding soil leaving behind the sludge.
Over time as solid waste builds up, the septic tank will need to be emptied occasionally. But due to the naturally occurring processes, it will need to be emptied far less frequently than a typical cesspool. There are stringent environmental and building control rules that regulate where septic tanks can be used and how they are used, therefore it is advisable to consult a professional when installing one.
The other common waste disposal method is to use a wastewater treatment plant. This may sound complex, however, there are many small-scale domestic units as well as larger units for commercial properties, and many at an affordable price. These systems work in the same way that a septic tank does, but with some additional processes. A sewage treatment plant has a holding chamber where the solids and liquids separate. The liquid then flows into a second chamber where oxygen is introduced to the chamber which promotes the growth of bacteria. The bacteria break down the sewage into a cleaner effluent which travels into a final chamber where the liquid and bacteria separate. The liquid is then discharged in the same manner as in a septic tank, and the bacteria is recycled back into the first chamber for the waste treatment process to continue.
A less common wastewater and sewage disposal option is the use of cesspools. These often cost less to install, however, need ongoing maintenance and management. The big difference between a cesspool and a septic tank or sewage treatment tank is that the waste is not treated in the tank but simply stored to be removed at regular intervals. This may sound much less convenient, however, there are circumstances where a cesspool must be used for example in scenarios where the building is located on a sensitive site or close to drinking water supplies and the soil is unsuitable to soak away wastewater. The big downside to cesspools is the cost of disposing of the waste. The tank will need to be emptied regularly and this can cost in excess of £300 each time the cesspool tank is emptied.
Another consideration when installing a septic tank is the use of a pumping system. A septic tank pump or a sewage treatment plant pump is often required when the effluent from the tank needs to be pumped to a higher level. Or perhaps the soakaway or drainage field is located on the upper side of a slope. With gravity naturally sending wastewater and sewage downslope, the use of the pumping system pumps the effluent upslope to the soakaway.
A septic tank is a two or three chamber structure that retains sewage from a property for sufficient time to allow solid materials such as human and food wastes to form into sludge at the base of the tank. The remaining liquid then drains from the tank by means of an outlet pipe, which carries it through an open pipe called a leach drain, and into a soakaway where it percolates down through layers of gravel, sand, and soil.
Domestic treatment plants are usually made of glass-reinforced plastic, and they treat sewage to a higher standard than septic tanks. These units, which are more complex than septic tanks, require electrical connections and may also need compressed air. They discharge through an outlet pipe and soakaway in the same way as septic tanks.
A cesspool is a tank connected by a series of pipes to drains in a property. The tank collects sewage from the property and when it is full it must be emptied by a tanker and the waste water taken to a disposal point. Cesspools have no outlet pipe.
A septic tank is a container used to treat and dispose of small volumes of wastewater from houses or other small buildings that are located close together. Septic tanks are commonly used where there is no access to the mains drainage network.
Some of the sludge at the bottom of your septic tank will be digested by anaerobic bacteria and will disappear. Over time, the remaining sludge will build up and it needs to be pumped out of the septic tank. The tank never needs to be totally emptied, but you should have it "desludged" regularly.
According to the manufacturer's recommendations, you should empty your tank when the level of sludge reaches 50% of the tank’s volume. For septic tanks, this should be done when the level of sludge reaches 30% of the primary tank’s total volume.
Septic tank failures are often related to inappropriate maintenance, such as when soakaways are installed in inadequate ground conditions or on excessive slopes. Poor maintenance, such as irregular septic tank emptying, can also cause solids to block the soakaway and clog the complete system.
Do not pour bleach into toilets or sinks. Avoid disposing of too much fat in your septic tank. Your septic tank is an environment where biological waste is treated biologically. Do not put 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 harm the bacteria in septic tanks.
If your septic tank smells bad, this may be a sign that the biomass has died. First determine what may have killed the biomass, as this is likely to be a product you have poured down your sink or toilet. If this is the case, you may need to add bacteria to your septic tank.
Please contact your local septic tank specialist for any problem related to your septic tank or if your system needs servicing or emptying.
Scum, composed of FOG (fats, oils, and grease) from daily domestic activities such as cooking, washing up, etc., forms on the surface of septic tanks. The enzymes in bio-degradation septic tank treatment will break down this scum over time. However, if the scum in your primary tank dries out and gets too thick, air cannot reach the liquid effluent. The bacteria need oxygen for aerobic degradation of pollutants in sewage. A hard and dry scum crust means that it is time to get in a contractor to desludge your septic tank.
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