Member Article

‘Moor’ than meets the eye in Derbyshire Dales

Our sewage treatment travels took us to new peaks in the Peak District last week with Nick and Matthew, RA Dalton Installation Engineers, installing a Klargester BA-X BioDisc for our customer.

We were initially called out to inspect the existing septic tank in the Darley Moor area, north of Matlock. Alan Law, our Contracts Manager for the area, noted that the inlet drainage had been exposed from the tank back towards the property. The drainage depth was shallow at about 500mm, and the internal baffles had collapsed on the septic tank with the internal pipework being dislodged and disconnected. No practical repairs could be effected, and it was also important that the system was fully replaced as the overflow from the septic tank was discharging into a ditch, which is illegal and contravenes Environment Agency regulations.

Therefore, Alan recommended the installation of a sewage treatment tank and specified the Klargester BA-X BioDisc. Central to the operation of each Klargester BioDisc range is the Rotating Biological Contactor, which supports a biologically active film, or biomass, onto which aerobic micro-organisms, naturally found in sewage, become established. Natural breakdown of sewage can then occur via the ‘breakdown process’. The system is also popular because it operates without noise or smell, boasts low energy usage and comes complete with control panel and loss of rotation alarm.

In addition to installing the new vessel, Nick and Matthew were tasked with removing and disposing of the existing septic tank (after we organised for it to be de-sludged), reconnecting both the inlet and outlet pipework and installing armoured cable back to the property to connect the control panel. As the site was very wet, a hydraulic pump was required to pump water from the excavation – definitely a day for waterproof trousers!

Although we have completed the installation, the wet ground means we will return in April to fully reinstate the site, including the vegetable patch and an extension to the soakaway in the customer’s orchard. This will give the system plenty of time to settle in and for the customer to enjoy peace of mind that they have a professional, efficient and importantly, completely legal sewage treatment solution for their site.

If you’re concerned that you may be discharging your sewage illegally, either through a failing system or because you have an old septic tank without a soakaway, give us a call on 01388 537030.

In many cases we can offer a free site visit, report and recommendations to ensure you are fully compliant – well worth it to avoid a fine from the Environment Agency!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrea Stephenson .