Treating wastewater properly is essential and your business can only do this with the correct installation and regular maintenance of the necessary equipment. To help you understand the importance of this and the consequences of inadequate equipment we have come up with this guide to wastewater treatment and the solutions we offer.
Billions of litres of wastewater:
11 billion litres of wastewater have to be dealt with daily in the UK. This is made up of industrial wastewater, run-off and water from toilets, sinks, washing machines and baths.
Without correct wastewater treatment, this huge amount of wastewater would have a hugely adverse effect on the health and environment. This is why it is critical to ensure it is dealt with correctly.
Health and safety issues:
As you may suspect numerous problems arise if the wastewater is not treated correctly and many of these include health and safety dangers.
This applies more so if wastewater treatment is inadequate on sites that are open to members of the public. Sewage that is left untreated can contain:
- Fats;
- Proteins;
- Carbohydrates;
- Chemicals;
- Bacteria;
- Nitrogen compounds;
- Metal compounds;
- Pesticides;
- Fertilisers.
These can lead to the risk of not only health dangers to the public but also the environment, having drastic and long-lasting effects on wildlife.
The correct wastewater treatment is therefore essential to remove any organic substances from the water before it reaches streams and rivers.
Site owners of sewage plants can be fined up to £20,000 by the Environmental Agency if that plant fails to consent to the rulings set out regarding sewage plant discharge. This is why the correct equipment and regular maintenance are essential.
How wastewater treatment works:
There is very stringent wastewater treatment in place that is set out by the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive of 1991. This directive was put into place in the UK to ensure detrimental substances are removed from the wastewater naturally. The same directive also applies to biodegradable wastewater from any industry discharging straight to the water environment. Once cleaned the safe, clean water then goes back to the rivers and streams.
There are different stages to successful wastewater treatment to ensure the water is clean and fresh and these include:
- Movement;
- Preliminary screening;
- Primary settlement;
- Secondary sewage treatment;
- Tertiary treatment.
The first step to successful wastewater treatment is the movement of the wastewater itself, ensuring the water safely reaches the sewage works to be treated. This happens through a system of drains and sewers.
However, it isn’t just wastewater that ends up in the system, some things should not be there and these have to be removed before treatment can start. Suspended solids have to be removed by running the wastewater into sedimentation tanks.
Once the visible debris has been removed attention then turns to the invisible dirt. This part of wastewater treatment is undertaken through a two-stage biological treatment.
The final stage of the treatment of wastewater is to get rid of the final few waste particles. When this is completed the clean water is ready to enter rivers or streams.
As you can see a great deal goes into wastewater treatment.
Installation and maintenance of pumping stations:
Thankfully, with the correct planning, design and installation of sewage systems businesses in the UK don’t have to worry about their wastewater treatment. Here at Filta we design and install bespoke systems to ensure plants meet the required discharge consent.
We have worked with commercial customers and developers to design systems to meet the requirements of the Environment Agency. We also work with domestic clients, offering a range of ready-built package systems.
We also take care of submitting the Environment Agency application on behalf of clients, along with any other approvals that may be required.
Minimal disruption during installation:
We have a network of experienced engineers, all of whom make sure equipment is installed with minimal disruption to your business. We cover all aspects of the installation when installing pumping stations, including:
- Working with the highway agency when needed;
- Excavating and installation of the control panel and pump chamber;
- Undertaking the work for gravity drainage;
- Thrust boring/open cut installation of rising main;
- Connections to the main sewer system;
- Testing and commissioning.
Maintenance of sewage pumps and sump cleaning:
Just as important as having the correct sewage system installed is the proper maintenance of the sewage pump.
We have worked with numerous clients, installing and maintaining pumping stations for effective wastewater treatment. Regular and proper maintenance is essential as sewage and wastewater are one of the most corrosive environments. As we have already mentioned a wide variety of materials can enter sewage pumping stations and this causes havoc with systems.
One of the biggest issues with sewage pumping stations is the build-up of matter. This non-biological matter floats and forms a layer on the sump. Over some time this build-up can stop the float switch operation. If the matter is drawn into the pump it can cause a system failure.
Periodic desludging and sewer line cleaning are essential steps for ensuring the proper functioning of the sewage pipes. How frequent the system needs cleaning depends on the connected property. If you run a pub for instance the sump pump might need cleaning quarterly or twice per year. Domestic systems on the other hand can usually go two years in-between cleaning without running into issues.
Bespoke installation and maintenance:
Filta service engineers can recommend a sump cleaning schedule for your site to ensure things are kept running smoothly while at the same time keeping the costs down.
Whatever your needs are for wastewater treatment, installation or maintenance, contact us for expert help and advice. We are one of the leading suppliers in the UK of wastewater products and services and stock equipment from a wide range of manufacturers. We can usually supply this equipment for less than the quoted list price of the manufacturer.
