Sewage Treatment Plant Maintenance
What is a Sewage Treatment Plant
It is a system for treating sewage through a biological process so that treated liquid waste is of an acceptable standard which subject to Environment Agency consent can be discharged into a watercourse.
Where is a Treatment Plant Needed?
Any sewage waste from domestic, commercial or industrial premises that is not connected to Mains Drainage requires a sewage disposal system.
The options are a Simple Storage tank (cesspool) which is emptied as required by a tanker (tankerage).
A Septic Tank which settles out solids for disposal by tankerage and allows polluted liquid to percolate away through a system of sub soil drainage pipes. This approach can only be employed if the surrounding ground conditions are suitable and the Environment Agency approves.
Treatment Plant which treats the sewage to an acceptable level to allow liquid waste discharge under licence and a reduced level of tankerage of decomposed sludge waste.
How does it work?
Most modern treatment plants are based on a package design which incorporates a number of chambers.
The first a primary area settles out solids which organically decomposes producing a sludge that requires periodic tankerage to remove.
Liquid flows through to the main treatment area where biological oxidation is promoted by creating an oxygen rich environment for naturally occurring micro –organisms to feed off organic material. This reduces the Bio-chemical oxygen demand of the effluent (BOD is a measure of effluent polluting strength).
A final area known as a Humus or Clarifier chamber settles out particles carried through from the treatment zone before treated effluent discharges generally to a water course.
The whole process reduces the pollutant content by up to 95%
What needs maintenance?
Whilst the process is natural, treatment plants (dependant on manufacturer) use a variety of methods to promote the growth of micro organisms. The process employed can be air blowers, sprinkler pumps, rotating media discs, filter media or recirculation systems.
These pumps, blowers, drum motors and associated timers and controls require regular attention. Failure of equipment will compromise the treatment process and final effluent quality, with the potential for prosecution by the Environment Agency for serious pollution offences.
In addition to the mechanical and electrical service requirements periodic emptying of the primary settlement and humus chambers are required.
Maintenance quotation
We maintain treatment plants from small scale private to large scale commercial installations. Given the diverse process and sizes before tendering we need to undertake a site survey. This survey is undertaken and subsequent quotation is provided free of charge. Please Contact us to arrange a site visit.