Sewage Treatment Plant declared outdated

Posted on by

Officials in Jersey have declared the islands sewage treatment plant in Bellozanne as outdated. The treatment works needs to be replaced in the future in order to meet the requirements for notrogen levels set out by the EU.

A recent BBC report shows the treatment works still functional but in need of an overhaul – the plant itself is said to have been in place for more than 50 years, but currently doesn’t meet the EU nitrogen level requirements.

Of course, this mass sewage treatment works is large scale and for the use of the whole island, but if you are looking for a private treatment system then MTM can assist with this.

Maintenance of your sewage treatment equipment is an important part of ensuring it is in working condition and many systems need (and benefit from) an annual treatment plant service.

Whether your system was installed by us or is an existing system we have not seen before we are able to assist. Our engineers will provide a report of any repairs needed as well as providing a price and interval requirements for future services.

Arranging regular services and completing necessary maintenance and repairs will help your treatment to work well and last longer.

For more information on Treatment Plant maintenance and servicing, call MTM Drains today.

Treatment Plant Installation – MTM always do that bit extra

Posted on by

With the constant lowering and tightening of prices in business it is very easy for installers to start to cut corners on the quality of installations. A big element of any treatment plant installation is the use of concrete to backfill around the plant.

Although many treatment plants can be backfilled with shingle is it vital that the sub spoil is porous and will NEVER surcharge with ground water. Although this is a very rare sight, MTM have always taken the view that if it CAN happen it WILL happen. As a result, the plants installed by MTM will always have a concrete surround to them as well as a concrete base.

Treatment Plant Installation

Treatment Plant Installation

The photo to the right shows a concrete surround being placed over the upper section of a plant on a previous job completed by MTM. This prevents any risk of floatation in wet weather periods and reduces the risk of damage during the life of the tank.

The semi dry concrete mix is compacted in stages giving a uni form strength to the whole installation.

Although times are becoming increasingly difficult some things are simply not worth reducing the quality on and a good firm concrete surround to any plant installation will guarantee that system for its life span as well as protecting it from external forces causing any damage to its structure.

For more information on MTM Treatment Plant Installations, please call us or email us.

MTM undertake sewage treatment over an old mine!

Posted on by

An interesting site was encountered towards the end of 2011 for the MTM team, a homeowner in Haytors vale, Dartmoor, Devon had beneath his property an old mine working. This mine was annually inspected with a geologist walking the mine to monitor the water flow within the old workings.

The client had a standard septic system with an ineffective soakaway, the tank and soakaway being located in a low point of the garden and with a heavy sub soil at that part of the garden a soakaway system was always destined to fail.

The location of the mine not far below the surface prevented any normal excavation to take place to install a sewage treatment system, the client having consulted various treatment plant installer’s placed an instruction with MTM using a UNI Saf above ground system.

Sewage Treatment System Installation

Sewage Treatment System Installation

The foul drainage was already being pumped to the existing septic tank via a single crude pump well and MTM (as always) were able to offer the most cost effective solution to the site, reusing the pump well and installing the UNI Saf plant at the highest point of the garden. This then allowed for a soakaway system to be laid at a higher level in more pourous sub strata.

No deep excavation works were needed and the main house structure was safe from any movement within the old mine workings. As the garden was well established then the MTM team used a Hyab Crane system to deliver the UNI Saf plant directly onto a preformed concrete base preventing any passage over the garden surfaces with conventional machinery.

The system was then fitted with a simple de acceleration system to take the energy out of the inflow from the pumping main.

A sample point was then installed near to the plant outlet before being discharged to a conventional soakaway system. Finally all the site surfaces were reinstated to the Hugh Standard that MTM maintain for all there installations.

The UNI Saf unit can be seen at the far end of the clients garden, a screen of small confers is planed and the site works were all completed within a three day time frame.

For more information or assistance on specialist sewage treatment systems like these, contact MTM drains.

Septic Tank registration rules vary the world over

Posted on by

For anyone who has a domestic sewage treatment works we would always recommended that the equipment is inspected and maintained on a regular basis.

In some countries all sewage treatment works and septic tanks have to be registered however, if you look at the Environment Agency website you will see that small domestic sewage charges from septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants in England are not currently required to be registered, although these rules are under review and you can opt to register if you choose.

A recent news publication highlighted that in some areas of the world, residents are blissfully unaware of the old septic tanks that are located in and around their homes and the health risk they might pose.

The Athens news reported at the end of last year that:

Athens residents may be unaware of a potential environmental threat buried in their own backyards. An unknown number of aging septic systems are buried near Athens homes, creating the risk for long-term environmental damage.

Research shows that underground septic systems can cause damage to the local ecosystem, particularly to nearby water sources. A properly placed and prepared modern septic system has little chance of doing harm to the environment. However, the majority of septic systems in Athens were installed before the 1950s during a time when little was known about ecological conservation.

Reports like these are not uncommon and show how important it is to ensure your own septic tank is maintained and good working order.

MTM drains provide a Septic Tank inspection service using specialist equipment and can provide a maintenance report of any current or arising issues with your system.

Septic Tank Surveys – when is the right time?

Posted on by

Like many things in our homes, if you have a septic tank then getting it surveyed might be something you have put off in the past. But septic tank surveys could save you time and money and will help you to understand what (if any) repairs or alterations are needed to get your system working as effectively as possible.

Typical Septic Tank

Typical Septic Tank

Unfortunately for some, the bad weather can cause unpredicted problems with various styles of septic tank, and completing an inspection might assist with preventing costly repair work afterwards.

I read a report recently that was written by an American resident whose home was situated in the path of Hurricane Irene. Unfortunately for some of these homeowners, the high winds and destruction of the storm left their septic tanks in a poor state of repair and many were unaware that the aftermath of problems might have been prevented had they fully researched and inspected the system prior to the event. The article reads:

“Irene tore the above-ground cover off our pump, destroying the pump and filling the tank with sand and rocks. Not all systems have pumps, and most with pumps do not have above-ground covers, but only after the storm did our septic engineer reveal that he had gone with this particular system—one every installer I talked to considers peculiar in the extreme—in order to save money. (Because of the nature of our agreement with the homeowner regarding the cost of installing the system, it had been their money, not ours, that was saved.) Clueless about septic systems at the time, I was in no position to evaluate or argue about the plan, and no one put any choices in front of me.“

Although these are extreme circumstances and outside of the UK, it does show that maintaining both the system and your understanding of how the system works is a fundamental part of owning and running a septic tank.

MTM Environmental and Civils provide a comprehensive inspection service, using our quality drain survey epuipment and a clear understanding of drainage and building construction we can locate problems, investigate your septic tank, check your pipework and advise accordingly. We have specialist equipment available (such as CCTV drain survey kits) to look at those hard to reach areas and provide our recommendations for your system.

Septic tank solves ski-goers desperation!

Posted on by

Local newspapers have been reporting recently that skiers in the lake district will no longer be caught short during their ascent thanks to the installation of a new septic tank for one of britains highest toilets.

The Lake District Ski Club built the facility for members earlier this year to celebrate their 75th anniversary so skiers will now be able to visit a toilet whilst at 2,897 feet before beginning their descent.

Reports suggest it took 7 members of the club more than 2 hours to roll the tank up the hill and although the task was said to be “epic”, i’m sure many visitors will be grateful for the efforts of the team when they reach the top of the hill.

Maintenance of Septic Tank Systems

Although this is not one of our own installations, like many other septic tank systems it will require regular maintenance and inspection and the regularity might be impacted by cold and windy weather amongst other considerations.

Septic Tank Emptying

Septic Tank Emptying

Besides this, the tank will need to be emptied on a regular basis (this is usually completed annually) to ensure there are not an abnormal amount of solids leaving the tank and entering the soakaway system. This is a service normally completed by a local waste disposal company.

These considerations are even more important on a project like this, and using a team of septic tank maintenance experts is vital where the completion of work is in a difficult place and external factors such as high public use and weathering need to be taken in to account.

RSPCA call in Sewage Treatment experts

Posted on by

Hungry donkeys could have been making life quite difficult for a local RSPCA centre in Surrey recently.

MTM were recently engaged by the RSPCA to assist with the refurbishment of four sewage treatment plants at their Donkey Centre near Godalming Surrey. Although the existing units were functioning, improvements were needed to the air driven blower units. New alarm systems were also needed so the systems would meet the requirements of the new EN 12566 standard for sewage systems.

Sewage Treatment works completed

We were able to carry out a cost effective rebuild of the blower units by installing new internal diaphragm components resulting the existing blower systems being retained but with the main moving parts being replaced. This is a service that is provided to all MTM customers to offer a long term internal rebuild to any blower system instead of waiting for units to fail and then have the high cost of a total replacement.

New water resistant alarm modules were also provided together with a battery back up and a mains electrical supply. Warning beacons were also erected to each new alarm control unit to provide sound.

The hungry donkey

However, engineers did encounter one problem – during the alarm installation one beacon was placed too close to an area where donkeys were housed. It soon became clear the beacon would need to be moved so they weren’t eaten at dinner time!

The alteration was soon made, but we were all surprised at the rather diverse diet that a Donkey has, having been told they would be more than willing to try plastic!

Ensuring your sewage treatment works meets the current legislative standards is crucial and completing a regular maintenance programme for the system may also save you money in the long term. MTM Drains provide these services to commercial and private customers and would be pleased to help you further.

Irish septic tank owners could face high fees!

Posted on by

In a controversial move, the Irish Department of the Environment have today released the legislative documentation relating to the inspection and registration of all septic tanks in the country.

Septic Tank survey equipment

Septic Tank survey equipment

The Irish Times reported earlier today that some experts have been shocked by the increase in expected charges for the inspection services. Although the first inspection is said to be free, each subsequent inspection is expected to cost €200 despite the Environment Minister assuring the Irish public that there would not be charges for mandatory inspections. This is on top of the €50 registration fee required for every tank.

Here in England there are many rules surrounding the maintenance and upkeep of a septic tank system and you will need to consider building regulations and environmental matters before constructing a new one.

If you are selling your home then a Septic Tank survey might be required as part of your Home Information pack (HIP), but keeping a regular check of the order of your tank and its pipes is also crucial.

Septic tank surveys are not a simple undertaking and as they are commonly located underground so it is likely to be difficult to pinpoint a fault without specialist equipment.

Trained professionals will often use tools such as remote controlled cameras and portable screens to inspect the tank for faults. The inspections themselves are normally completed after an initial survey has been carried out to determine the best and safest way of accessing the tank and completing the inspection. The availability of newer technologies today means this is likely to be done remotely.

Of course, keeping the inspection and maintenance record of your tank up to date can be a valuable investment in the longevity of your tank whether you are moving home or not and ensuring you have a full and thorough inspection report afterwards is also an important consideration.

Sewage Treatment for Renewable Energy?

Posted on by

Sewage treatment works are used by homes around the UK and on a far larger scale by utilities providers. A treatment plant service normally needs to be completed around once a year to keep the system running efficiently and with effective maintenance procedures in place there is no reason why your treatment works can’t last for many years.

Utilities and energy companies operating larger treatment facilities have been utilising its contents to supply homes in Oxfordshire with a renewable energy source.

About 1 year ago British Gas announced they would be using gas from waste water treatment works to energise more than 200 homes in Didcot and this recycling process is one the company hopes to roll out into other cities such as Manchester in the future.

A plant installed in 2010 at the Thames Water sewage treatment works in the town cleans up the spare biogas that is produced. The sewage left behind in large treatment works is separated and provides biogas that is sent to a newly constructed plant for cleanup and dispersal. Once the process is completed the Biogas will have been transformed into biomethane, suitable for household hobs and in gas central heating.

Domestic Sewage Treatment

Sewage Treatment Domestic

Sewage Treatment Domestic

Domestic sewage treatment systems are becoming the preferred method of water treatment for many homes as the effluent water created is almost clear. Many of the old style septic tanks have failed to stand the test of time with blockages and untreated water causing maintenance issues in the long term.

The ways in which we can clean, renew and recycle our waste seem to become broader year on year and this can only mean good things for the environment both locally and globally and who knows what the future will hold? Maybe domestic sewage treatment works will soon be able to provide homes with their own “self-made” gas!

MTM Drainage News

Posted on by

Welcome to the MTM Environmental & Civils News Page where you will find news and information from our world including interesting work, new products and services and other industry info.

MTM based in Kent can assist in all aspects of Environmental and Civils works, including:

  • Septic tanks
  • Soakaway systems
  • Rainwater harvesting systems
  • Sewage treatment
  • Homes that are not attached to mains drainage
  • General Drain Problems & Blockages

We also have a specialist merchant department that can also assist with the supply of equipment for Sewage Treatment Plants, Septic Tank & Pump Stations.

Most drains are built with either clay or pitch fibre and both are easily damaged over the course of their lifetime. With this in mind, we 2 different styles of drainage services torepair and maintain these types of sewer using conventional repair methods or lining systems.

Prior to deciding what type of work is required on your drain MTM will undertake a survey of the drain to confirm the details of the leak. A survey includes:

  1. A simple water test to check if pipework is leaking, ideal as a pre-purchase survey.
  2. A Look See CCTV drain survey to allow a visual examination of the internal pipeline surfaces.
  3. An advice survey for a possible new drainage scheme, a new septic tank/treatment plant or alterations to a building.
  4. A pre purchase septic tank and soak away survey.

Full sewage treatment works for domestic use are also available.

More news and information will appear on this blog soon, in the meantime please email us if you would like any further information.