Top Tips for sewage treatment plant maintenance

Top Tips for Sewage Treatment Plant Maintenance

There are a few key ways in which you can help keep your sewage treatment plant in good working order. Our top tips for sewage treatment plant maintenance are as follows:

Use biologically friendly household cleaning products. The sewage treatment plant process is known to be the most environmentally friendly because it basically encourages the growth of bacteria to break down sewage by circulating air through the system to produce a much cleaner effluent. If commercial chemicals, medicines or hygiene products enter the system they will kill the bacteria and prevent the breakdown process from working properly.

Similarly using large quantities of biological cleaning products or bleach will also disrupt the equilibrium of the bacteria in the tank. In addition, anything you put down sinks and storm drains can end up in local watercourses or the sea so it is worth thinking about this alongside the fact it will potentially prevent your sewage treatment plant from working properly. Fats, oils & grease cause additional problems as they can block drains and cause backups, as do disposable items such as wet wipes and nappies.

Have the sewage treatment tanks de-sludged regularly, ideally every twelve months. However, some of the lower budget treatment plants will require emptying more frequently. This should be carried out by a licensed waste carrier.

De-sludging your sewage treatment plant will help to maximise the working life of the components and will prevent the effluent quality from deteriorating. You will notice if it has if the final effluent this is cloudy or contains many suspended particles, then the final settlement tank. If this is the case you will need to have your tank checked over but ideally you will prevent this from happening if you carry out our top tips for sewage treatment plant maintenance.

You could also consider carrying out a full service of your sewage treatment plant around every 24 months. However, it would be worth checking over the components of the sewage treatment plant more regularly so you can spot problems early.

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top tips for cesspit maintenance

Top Tips for Cesspit Maintenance

Keeping an eye on your cesspit will ensure you spot problems early. It will also also help to keep it working properly and may save you money if problems are tackled before they get bigger.

Cracked walls and punctures can cause external leaks as will an overflowing tank. The symptoms of an overflowing cesspit or septic tank include slow drainage, horrible smells, greener/lusher grass around the system and wastewater backup.

Here are our top tips for cesspit maintenance which should help you keep yours in good working order:

Check the levels of your cesspit and ensure it is emptied frequently. An overflowing cesspit will not only be a smelly problem, it is offence under the Public Health Act (1936) and Water Resources Act (1991). It will also cause a costly mess to clean up. Don’t lift the lift on your cesspit to check the cesspit though, there is an abundance of toxic waste in there so it is better to have a properly fitted and maintained alarm system within it.

Furthermore, be careful what you dispose of within your cesspit. Don’t allow flammable or hazardous liquids to enter the system. In addition, if you’re going to give your cesspit a clean, make sure you use biologically-friendly household products rather than products such as bleach.

You should also avoid flushing or draining any items which will block drains or prevent biological processes taking place. Basically the only thing which should be disposed of within the cesspit is biological waste.

Lastly, don’t allow the area around the manhole cover to become overgrown or obscured. You will need allow easy access for clearances and a blocked manhole cover will also make sorting a problem out harder.

We hope our cesspit top tips for maintenance will help you remain or become cesspit trouble free!

However, if your cesspit needs emptying or has problems, West Wales Waste are a registered and professional liquid waste handler and disposal service. For a free, no obligation fill out our online form here. Alternatively, give us a call on: 01646 629089. 

What is a cesspit?

Are rats entering your house through your drainage system?

Are rats entering your house through your drainage system?

The Problem

When rats are seen around your property, you can be almost certain there is a bigger issue at hand. This is because a fault in your drainage system could be the reason rats are entering your house. If you have either a damaged pipe, or an blocked opening, they will squeeze through. This kind of issue needs to be resolved almost immediately as rats can plague a building extremely quickly.

Rats look for two things, shelter & food. Once they have found an area which holds both of these things, they tend to reside there for as long as possible. If you can hear rats in your attic or scuttling between your walls it may have found both in your lovely home.

These pests carry diseases as E.coli, Salmonella and in some cases Tuberculosis, so they are extremely dangerous to the health of you, your family and friends.

Even if you haven’t seen a rat on the property, there are many ways you can identify if you have some unwelcome guests. Here are the most obvious:

– Droppings (particularly behind appliances)

– Scratching in walls or under floorboards (primarily at night)

– An ammonia-like smell

– Evidence of gnawing

It’s not uncommon that rats enter a property through a neighbouring building. This is most likely through the drainage system. Drains and sewers provide an effective entry point for the rodents.

The Solution

Fixing your drainage system is going to be the very first thing to action.

Here at West Wales Waste we are able to offer:
– A drain survey to identify where the rodents are entering your property.

– A no-dig drain repair by lining them and so sealing any cracks, holes or displaced joints.

– Installing non-return valves so that rats are unable to enter your property but waste can still leave through the pipes.

So, if you think a fault in your drainage system could be the reason rats are entering your house, please feel free to call us on 01646 629089. Alternatively, Click Here and fill out our instant quote form.

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Top Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance

Top Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance

Your septic tank will efficiently manage your waste water, however, like all things it requires a bit of maintenance to ensure it continues to do so. A lack of maintenance will increase the likelihood of damage to the tank and surrounding environment and it could potentially shorten the tanks lifespan, all of which can be expensive issues to fix. So here are our Top Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance:

Keep an eye on your septic tank and have it regularly pumped to keep it working optimally.

-Carry out regular inspections and keep records to spot faults early. If you are in doubt about whether septic tank is working properly, West Wales Waste will be happy to advise.

-Have the tank de-sludged regularly. The more waste your tank holds, the less efficiently it will run. This should be done ideally every six months but there are factors to consider which will influence this. Check out our guide ‘How to know when your septic tank needs emptying‘, how much it will cost to empty your septic tank will vary too.

Properly dispose of waste and use biologically friendly cleaning products.

-Don’t allow commercial chemicals, medicines or hygiene products to enter the system

-Don’t use large quantities of biological cleaning products or bleach

-Bacteria in the tank is vital to the biological process and can be harmed if you dispose of anything other than human waste, toilet paper and a small amount of biologically friendly cleaning products.

Think about how much water you are using.

-Overloading your septic tank system with too much water can the septic tank to become weakened, damaged or blocked.

-Fix leaky taps or toilets, install energy efficient toilets and shower heads, and only put that washing machine or dishwasher on when they’re full. Try and space your use of the washing machine and dishwasher use out over a few days or use a small load settings for small loads.

-You could also try and spend less time in the shower, think before you flush and use toilet tissue which breaks down easily when wet too!

Protect Your Drain Field.

-The drain field of a septic tank is as important as the tank itself because the tank works as a system rather than a storage facility for your waste water.

-Prevent backlogs and overflows by not parking on your drain field and avoiding planting trees to ensure roots don’t interrupt the flow of the waste water.  Talk to a septic tank professional if you are unsure as to how far away would be an appropriate distance.

-Try to keep other drainage systems away from your drain field. The location of roof and rainwater drains and sump pumps should be thought about to prevent it slowing or stopping the wastewater treatment process.

West Wales Waste offer septic tank pumping services. If you would to find out more about our septic tank services, please click here to fill out our contact form.

 

How do you know when your septic tank needs emptying

How to know when your septic tank needs emptying

Septic tanks are an effective way to store liquid waste, but when they fill up, they have to be maintained and emptied to prevent any damage to the environment around them.

Understanding the signs your tank is full is extremely important in order to prevent costly issues.

The answer to ‘how to know when your septic tank needs emptying’ will be indicated by the following signs, and should be acted on as soon as possible:

Seeing puddles around your tank:

This is a good indication that the solids within your tank have blocked up the system and is forcing the liquid waste to the surface. The problem needs to be investigated as soon as possible and emptied swiftly if need be.

Unpleasant smells:

One of the clearest signs is an increase in the amount your tank will smell. You can envision the kinds of scents to expect and they will become worse/more noticeable when the cesspit needs to be emptied.

This will usually indicate that your system is due an empty.

Slow working drainage:

It’s not uncommon for us to be called out to a blocked drain to discover a full septic tank is the cause. The best way to know if you have either a septic tank issue or a blocked drain is to identify the number of drains affected by slow draining fluids. If only one drain is affected, then this is an indication that you have a small blockage. But, if all of your drains seem to have the issue, then most likely you have a full septic tank.

Greener grass:

As much as it’s great to see a nice lawn, lush green grass around your septic tank could spell trouble. You will most likely see the grass greener in patches rather as the septic tank will leak in various directions.

Drains backing up:

The biggest headache of them all is when your drainage backs up. This will leave you with a very unpleasant clean up and a costly bill on disinfectant and cleaning materials. The tank will usually affect the drains at the lowest parts of the property first, but it is obviously good to identify the issues before it gets this way.

Keeping tabs on your septic tank is important as overflows will become a regular issue if the problems aren’t addressed. It is also important to maintain contact with your local waste management company in order to keep a record of how often they have emptied your tank.

If you would like to choose West Wales Waste as your provider, please feel free to contact us at any time or fill in one of our instant quote forms.

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how to know when your cesspit needs emptying

How to know when your cesspit needs emptying

Cesspits are a smart way to store fluid waste, yet when they fill up, they need to be maintained to forestall any harm.

Understanding the signs which indicate your tank is full is critical to avoid any further issues.

The ‘how to know when your cesspit needs emptying’ signs are listed below:

Seeing puddles around your tank:

This is a generally the first sign that your tank is full to capacity and is brimming with effluent waste. It should be emptied as quickly as time permits as not to further cause a pollution to the ground around your cesspit.

Foul smell:

One of the clearest signs is an increase in the amount your tank will smell. You can envision the kinds of scents to expect and they will become worse/more noticeable when the cesspit needs to be emptied. 

Slow draining toilet / sink / shower or bath:

It’s normal for us to be called out to a blocked drain to find a full cesspit is the cause. The most ideal approach to know whether you have a cesspit issue or a blocked drain is to distinguish the number of drains affected. In the event that just one drain is affected, this usually means you have a small blockage. However, if the entirety of your drainage system appears to have the issue, in all probability you have a full cesspit.

Greener grass:

If you observe the grass is greener in patches around your cesspit, but not your whole garden, this is a key indicator that the cesspit is either full and surcharging, or you have a leak. The grass will be greener/more lush because it will be benefiting from the nutrients from the wastewater being leached into the soil.

Drains backing up:

The sign your cesspit needs emptying which causes the greatest headache of them all, is when the drainage system backs up into your property. This will leave you having to tidy up and an expensive bill on disinfectant and cleaning materials. The tank will, for the most part, influence the drains at the lowest parts of the property first and it is obviously more ideal to recognize your cesspit needs emptying before this problem arises.

Keeping an eye on your cesspit is a significant task as a full tank can become an ongoing issue. It is additionally imperative to keep in touch with your local waste management company to track how regularly they have emptied your tank.

Why not choose West Wales Waste as your waste management company? We will be more than happy to answer your questions and help prevent your cesspit from becoming a headache. You can fill in one of our instant quote forms, call us on 01646 629 089 or email info@westwaleswaste.com.

What is a cesspit?

How much does a cesspit cost to empty?

Drainage and wet waste specialists

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01646 629089