Replacement of septic tank unable to cope with modern living

Would you believe that a majority of the enquiries that we receive are regarding the replacement of alternative failing small package wastewater treatment plants or septic tanks? 

Nikki, like many home owners, urgently needed her failing septic tank replaced as it was unable to cope with the modern wastewater usage of today. Here’s her story…

Nikki, a cottage owner in Somerset, found her septic tank was failing and urgently needed a replacement. Nikki’s request was simple, she explains: “I wanted to stop panicking when it rained too heavily, took too many showers or even had a bath!”

Coming to her aid, WCI Sewage Treatment Ltd, an independent wastewater treatment specialist with over 33 years’ experience, listened to Nikki’s concerns.

Personal assistance

WCI Sewage Treatment Ltd recommended the compact Diamond (DMS) package wastewater treatment plant as they believed that it fitted best with Nikki’s requirements for the following reasons:

• The Diamond is able to cope with today’s increased daily volume of household wastewater as opposed to older options such as septic tanks.
• The Diamond is so compact and discreet, installed completely underground with only a flush lid visible, ensuring that it wouldn’t ruin the visual appeal of Nikki’s property.

• The installation of the Diamond would ensure minimal disruption during installation due to its compact design and minimal excavation.
• In terms of maintenance, the Diamond has no internal mechanical moving parts which means that the plant requires minimal annual maintenance, making it economical to run.

The discreet solution

WCI and Nikki agreed a new location in the front garden where the compact Diamond package wastewater treatment plant would be hidden from view and preserve the natural beauty of the cottage.

Normally a wastewater treatment plant must be sited more than 7 metres from a habitable property and with Nikki’s requirements in mind for an unobtrusive solution, WCI reduced this by gaining permission from Building Control. A relaxation under building control H for the site was granted, meaning that the new plant could be installed 4.2 metres from the cottage.

Arriving on time

All of the installation materials, the compact Diamond package wastewater treatment plant and the machinery arrived on site in good time, with the drainage laid and a new manhole installed.

Minimal excavation

The excavation in the front garden was smaller than required for most wastewater (sewage) treatment tanks due to the conical design of our Diamond.

External pump chamber used for the slight incline

The compact WDiamond wastewater package treatment plant was placed a little deeper than usual due to the slight incline and so that it could be covered in gravel and hidden from view. An external pump chamber was supplied to pump the treated wastewater to the manhole.

An external pump chamber is used if the location of the Diamond DMS plant is:

• on an incline
• in a high water table area
• a long distance away from the designated discharge point (ie. drainage field/water course/ditch)

Connecting and covering

The site electrician connected the air blower and external pump chamber with the tank and then backfilled with concrete.

The whole of the package wastewater treatment system was covered in terram to prevent weed growth and then completely covered by gravel. 

Discreet

And would you believe that Nikki is stood to the right of where the wastewater (sewage) treatment plant was installed? You wouldn’t even know it’s there!

Nikki said of the installation, “After great deliberation, I decided to go ahead with the installation of a sewage treatment plant and was amazed with how efficient, professional and thorough you all were, not to mention good fun too!”

Nikki was overjoyed by how little of the tank was visible, with just the flush lid subtly appearing above ground. She was so pleased with the product and service, that she wrote a letter of thanks…