Taking Care Of The Environment With Plants

How to correctly maintain your sewage system

by Carrie Gilbert

If you own or manage a sewage system, then it is vital that it is properly maintained to stop it failing or becoming a pollution issue. The easiest and most effective way to prevent your sewage system posing a risk to your neighbours or the local water supplies is to ensure that it is regularly serviced. A typical sewage system up to 18PE will require servicing at least once and perhaps twice a year depending on the age and condition of the plant.

What happens if you don't maintain a sewage system properly?

Every sewage system will have rotating discs, submersible pumps, filter media and air blowers to carry out the treatment process and each of these will require maintenance from time to time. Without the needed maintenance not only could the component parts fail but the operation of the sewage system could become ineffective and untreated effluent could be discharged into the environment polluting local water supplies and contaminating the surrounding area.

Which type of sewage system do you have?

While all sewage system plants will encourage the growth of aerobic micro-organisms the techniques employed to reach that goal will vary depending on the type of plant you have. Here are the maintenance procedures for the four most common types of sewage systems.

  • Submerged Aerated Filter (SAF) — If you have a SAF sewage system you should remove and clean the recirculation airlifts, air diffusers, and air blower inlet filters once or twice a year.
  • Activated Sludge and Extended Aeration Process — If you have this type of sewage system you will need to remove and clean the pipework, air diffusers, and air blower inlet filters once or twice a year.
  • Rotating Biological Contractor (RBC) — If your sewage system uses RBC then you should inspect the shaft bearings for wear and tear, and check the electrical motor and drive systems.
  • Biological Aerated Filters — If you have this type of sewage system you must remove and clean the submersible pumps or airlifts. You must also clean the distribution trays and air blower inlet filters once or twice a year.

Who should inspect your sewage system?

You must bring in qualified experts who know exactly what they are looking for and will be quickly able to identify any problems. When your sewage system needs to be emptied, you should hire a licensed waste carrier to carry out the work. The frequency of inspections will depend on both the size and the type of plant you have.

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