Septic tanks - Sewage treatment systems.

Kills 99.9% of all known Bacteria

Chris White — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:22:00 +0100

Over the last couple of years we seem to have become obsessed with killing bacteria. Both on us and on our clothes. A recent study stated that 47% of people interviewed were concerned about bacteria on themselves and in the washing.

So what happens? Detergent manufacturers have more and more produced products that kill 99.9% of all known bacteria. Advertising campaigns during the Bird Flu campaign used this line to push products that do just this. Just recently we have Vanish coming out with a additive for your washing machine that is said to kill 99.9% of all known bacteria in your clothes.

Our question, and one that does not seem to be answered, is what happens when these products go into your septic tank or sewage treatment system that rely on bacteria to do the work of cleaning up the sewage and producing clean water to discharge to the environment.

Our company has tried to contact Vanish for an answer with no reply. We are seeing more and more systems poisoned through the use of products poured down the drain that affect the bacteria in the system.

If it says "Biocide" or "Kills 99.9% of Bacteria" on the can or box, do you really want it in your septic tank or sewage treatment system? Simple answer is no! There are many products that masquarade as safe products for a septic tank that do harm in aerobic sewage treatment systems. They are designed to a European standard that allows for them to be broken down in the septic tank in 28 days. This is of course no use in an aerobic treatment system where the product will pass completely through it in less than 2 days killing every bacteria on its way.

There are products that you really don't want anywhere near your system. Blobs that you attach to the toilet, blocks that you toss in the top of your toilet, liquids that you squirt all around the rim of your toilet and now additives that you put in your washing machine. Don't use them if you are on a septic tank or treatment system. They will do more harm than good.

Biotank Ltd. Expanding product range

Chris White — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:36:00 +0100

Biotank Ltd. The online sewage treatment company, are expanding our product range to include Sewage Treatment Tanks from Conder and Kingspan Environmental.

The Conder product range includes the single tank Clereflo ASP range. With sizes from 6PE to 20PE these tanks are the easy solution to domestic sewage treatment. Fully certified and tested to EN 12566-3: 2005 they provide a simple way of dealing with domestic sewage from one to four houses. For larger systems than this Conder produce a range of solutions developed to individual requirments.

The Kingspan Environmental range of products includes the Klargester Alpha Septic tank and the renowned Biodisc system. Again, fully certified and tested to EN 12566-3:2005 standard.

Both of the above systems have been proven to meet the BSI standard for use in the UK. (The BSI standard contains a foreward specific to use of these products in the UK.)

Comply with Building Regs H2 when specifying a treatment system

Chris White — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:42:00 +0100

There has been very little publicity about BS EN 12566 of late. But did you know that in order to comply with Building Regulations part H2 in England and Wales you now have to install a treatment system that complies with the new European Standard. Don't just take my word for it, here is what WPL say on their website:

DON’T FLUSH YOUR REPUTATION DOWN THE DRAIN!

Architects, Consultants, Installers and Merchants are advised that there is a significant change to legislation, regarding small wastewater treatment plants, of up to 50 population equivalent.

The introduction of the BS EN 12566-3, means that only products which have been type tested and approved to this new European standard, will be available to the market.

Products which are described as either ‘designed in accordance with’, ‘compliant’ or ‘conforming with the requirements of’, but are not CE marked as a complete system, will not demonstrate full evidence of successful type testing at a European approved test house will not be legal, and will be the subject of a trading standards investigation.

One way to avoid potential embarrassment when specifying equipment for future projects is to ensure you are recommending package sewage treatment plants which are fully compliant, and already carrying the CE marked in readiness.

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BS6297 has been modified to detail how water from sewage treatment systems should be disposed of. It details the use of soakaways, reed beds and mound filtration systems but does not now detail the equipment design as it used to.

The upshot of all of this is that if you are involved in putting a new sewage treatment system into a property make sure that it is CE marked to BS EN 12566 standards. Any system that is not certified to this European Standard is not legal in the UK.

All Biokube models up to 50 PE are CE marked and have been through the strict testing procedure laid down by BS EN 12566 - 3 2005.

SBR Sequenced Batch Reactor technology in Biokube

Chris White — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Here at Biotank we strive to sell products that are the best of breed. The Biokube system is one such system. Unlike most sewage treatment systems on the market it is similar to the SBR treatment system produced by Balmoral. In order to produce top quality effluent throughout the day in a sewage treatment system you have to even out the flow through the system. This means that the peak times for sewage production of early morning and evening time get evened out through a system that only adds a certain amount of sewage to the treatment tank on a regular basis. This is acheived in the Biokube by having an integral balancing tank from which the effluent from the settlement tank is stored in. It is then pumped into the first treatment tank on a regular basis. This evens out the flow through the Biokube to give a superior treatment level of less than 10 mg/l BOD, 15 mg/l SS and less than 5 mg/l ammonia.

The other factor that affects the level of treatment is the quality of the bacteria that inhabit the tank. These bacteria need to be distributed throughout the treatment tanks. In the Biokube system this is acheived by having fixed biomedia matrices within the treatment tanks. The flow of air bubbles coming up from the aerators continually moves the highly oxygenated water amongst the bacteria held on the biomedia. Any surplus bacteria fall to the bottom of the tank and are recycled on a daily basis back to the Pre-Settlement tank.

A highly efficient system controlled by a microprocessor control system. With up to 4 compressors on the system depending on the number of PE it is designed for. Recycling to enable the system to work during holiday periods.

The main advantage the Biokube system has over other sewage treatment tanks is the two tank system. Septic tanks work very efficiently at removing solids from sewage water. Employing a septic tank as a pre-settlement tank removes the possibility of solids interferring with the treatment process... Nowadays this is very important as anything that can go down a 4" pipe will end up in the treatment system.

All in all a great product for treating sewage.