Septic Tanks

The Drainage Company Ltd. installs, repairs, maintains and supplies all kinds of Septic Tanks.

Like most things in life, no Septic Tank system is 100% reliable all the time – the most common problem with septic tanks is the soakaway or drainage field.

All septic tanks must have a soakaway system installed, because with a septic tank (unlike a waste-water treatment plant or sewage treatment plant such as the Biodisc) you are not permitted to discharge waste water and sewage straight into a water course or a rain water soakaway since it will pollute the ground.

Unfortunately any soakaway will fail at some point, but a properly constructed waste water soakaway will last for many years.

There is a difference between a rainwater soakaway and a waste water soakaway, the main distinction being pollution. Rain water soakaways will almost always discharge into a large pit or a series of storm grates in the ground, whilst a wastewater soakaway should discharge into the first layers of soil in a series of trenches joined into a continuous loop thus ensuring that the water is dispersed over a larger area and minimising any possible pollution.

The main reasons for wastewater soakaway failure are faulty construction, poor maintenance of the septic tank or changes in ground conditions.

How will you know if your soakaway has failed?

Here are some likely symptoms:

  • Smelly effluent surfacing and leaking out of the ground.
  • Bad smells from the septic tank.
  • Septic tank backing up the drains quickly after emptying.
  • Overflowing bathroom and kitchen gullies.
  • Inspection chambers with effluent still in them.

What can you do to avoid this happening to your septic tank system?

If your septic tank is failing, you might have been advised to replace your whole system, but…… don’t!

It is more likely that you simply need a new soakaway installed, as mentioned earlier the most common problem is badly constructed soakaway systems, so we recommend having a properly installed soakaway, and we guarantee all our soakaways for 10 years.

 

What if my Septic Tank hasn’t failed yet?

  • Don’t be complacent – start now to maintain your septic tank – proper maintenance will prolong its life.
  • Empty your septic tank once a year, whether it needs it or not, this will ensure that your septic tank system doesn’t get clogged up with solid waste matter and then fail.
  • Install a filter between your septic tank and the soakaway this can prolong the life of a soakaway to up to 10 years, click here for some details on filter systems available.

For more information and free advice please call us at The Drainage Company Ltd on 0800 085 0640