Dirty Water Pumping Systems Archives

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The Dangers of Septic Tanks and Cesspits

Advice Dirty Water Pumping Systems Sewage Pumps

If your home or business is out in the countryside or otherwise ‘off the grid’, you may use an alternative sewage treatment method such as a septic tank or cesspit/cesspool.

As well as upcoming changes to legislation making sewage treatment plants the only approved method of waste treatment, septic tanks and cesspools pose a number of risks and can damage the environment around them.

Find out more about the hidden dangers of septic tanks and cesspits and why you should upgrade to a full sewage treatment plant in our latest blog post.

What’s the Difference Between a Septic Tank and a Cesspit?

Contrary to popular belief, a cesspit and a septic tank are two different things – the fundamental difference is that within a cesspit, sewage is simply stored, the cesspit is then emptied by a professional when it is full.

On the other hand, within a septic tank, sewage is stored and partially broken down before being discharged, whilst safer than raw sewage, this discharge is still considered to cause damage to the environment.

The General Binding Rules 2020

The General Binding Rules were first released in 2015 and come into force in 2020. If you have a septic tank that discharges into a body of water such as a stream, you’ll need to upgrade to a sewage treatment plant before 2020.

Additionally, if your current set up is found to be negatively impacting its surrounding environment, or if you are looking to sell your property, you will be required to upgrade sooner.

Dangerous Gases

Due to the nature of what is stored within them, both cesspits and septic tanks contain gases that are potentially harmful to health. Whilst there is no risk when they are sealed in the tank, there are several dangers they hold including:

Rupture of the tank – This can be caused by tree roots and building works and will result in harmful gases being released in the vicinity of the septic tank or cesspit.
Lid collapse – Septic tanks generally have a concrete lid to keep them secure. Over time, the gases can eat away at the lid, causing it to become weaker and increasing the risk of collapse.
Fires – The gases produced by cesspits are extremely flammable, a naked flame should never be anywhere near a cesspit.

Flooding

Flooding of a septic tank can be caused by several circumstances including heavy rain, flooding, blocked pipes, damage to internal components and saturated soil preventing discharge.

If your septic tank is flooding, you will need to reduce or completely restrict the amount of water that is used to avoid contracting an illness and making the problem worse, you find raw sewage backing up into your sinks and toilets.

Additionally, you will need to contact a professional to inspect and service the tank, failure to do so can leave you liable to legal action should the flooding cause a health or pollution risk.

Flooding can cause a lot of damge to your property or the facilities which you manage!

In an emergency call us on 0117 954 8030

Pollution

As cesspits are sealed, they generally only cause damage to the environment around them if they are damaged. However, as septic tanks discharge into bodies of water, they can cause serious damage to the environment, killing wildlife and contaminating private water supplies.

In addition to sewage, a septic tank or cesspit will contain anything that is flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink, this often includes chemical cleaning products, kitchen oils, detergent and human waste.

Inspection Costs

The final danger of cesspits and septic tanks is the amount they will cost you! In addition to installation costs, you will need to pay for regular emptying, inspection and servicing of your cesspit or septic tank in order to prevent it from posing a risk.

Furthermore, if your property currently relies on a septic tank or cesspit, you will have trouble selling it, as the new owners will have to take into consideration all the costs associated with maintaining it and the inevitable cost of upgrading to a sewage treatment plant.

Nationwide Sewage Treatment Plant Installation, Repair and Maintenance

If your property currently handles sewage through a septic tank or cesspit, you will need to upgrade it before 2020. At Mawdsleys Pumps, we provide a nationwide service for the installation, repair and maintenance of sewage treatment plants; we’ll even remove and dispose of the old unit for you.

For more information, give one of our expert team a call today on 0117 954 8030

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Dirty Water Pumping Systems – Maintenance and Common Issues

Dirty Water Pumping Systems Services

Dirty water pumping systems are used in a variety of situations when gravity can’t carry the water, these include pumping waste in a private property into a main sewer, drainage at a commercial yard, waste plants, dirty water transportation on farms and yard run off. The type of pump you will have will be based on your need and dependent on the flow, pressure and distance you wish to pump waste water.

Autumn can be a difficult time if you have a dirty water pump on your premises. A common cause of failure in autumn is blockages due to the excess amount of falling leaves and a general increase in the amount of rainfall. There is never a good time for your dirty water pump to fail and regular maintenance is essential to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Common Problems with Dirty Water Pumping Systems

Pump tripping the MCB (miniature circuit breaker) – this can be a sign that water has entered the winding of your pump, you can expect excess rainfall over Autumn in comparison to Summer, therefore this problem might be more likely to arise throughout this upcoming period. This problem can be easily resolved with a pump rewind – our dedicated rewind shop in Bristol means we can have your pump back up and running quickly.

Problems with your Phase Convertor – Over time the phase convertor in your pump can fail, this problem can be identified by pump underperformance or complete failure. To resolve this problem, we can overhaul your phase convertor at a fraction of the cost of pump replacement.

Blockage by rag – This is one of the most common causes of failure we find in submersible pumps. In some cases they can result in complete stoppage leading to costly downtime and potential pump damage.

Floats sticking – This is caused by grease build up around the floats, it can be reduced by using a grease trap – this is designed to naturally separate out and fats and grease from waste water.

Regular Pump Maintenance Plan

All of the above issues can be avoided with a maintenance plan, where all the elements of your dirty water pumping system are checked, maintained and replacement parts fitted before the pump actually fails. It is always better to prevent a pump failure than wait for it to happen. Not only will you avoid downtime but you reduce the risk of damage to the pumping system which would be more costly than replacing a worn part.

Early indication of possible pump/motor failure can be diagnosed during routine maintenance procedures, mechanical seals and O rings can also be checked and early notification can also prevent costly seal failures and downtime.

Agricultural Dirty Water Pumping Systems for Farmers

Following ‘Brexit’, there is a little uncertainty for UK farmers as to whether they will have the same subsidies that have been provided by Brussels, after we leave the EU.

At Mawdsleys Pump Services, we have worked with farmers for many years and we know the agricultural industry. In light of these potential financial losses you may experience, we can offer practical and cost effective solutions to your water disposal needs based on a site visit with a full survey and no obligation quote provided. Our dirty water pumping systems come with a 2 year guarantee and 24 hour breakdown call out service.

Our Dirty Water Disposal System

Our standard system uses a submersible macerator pump, incorporating a non-return valve and anti-siphon device – eliminating air-locking and pump cycling.
A control system is provided and is monitored by a green bulkhead light which provides a visual indication that the system is ready for use.
The pump delivers out to manually movable sprinklers, generally 2 or 4 dependant on your needs, with each discharge 36 LPM (500 GPH) at a radius of 15 metres (49 feet).
The pump is generally installed on a fabricated steel base, supporting the pump in a position approximately 30 cm above the bottom of the pit providing a means of safely lifting the pump.
Our pumps are constructed with standard components so that replacement items are readily available for immediate dispatch if required.

Talk To Our Expert Team Today

If you need advice or guidance on how we can assist you in managing and maintaining your dirty water pump, or are interested in a free, no obligation quote based on your needs. We cover a vast majority of the South West from Bristol and Bath to Dorset and Cornwall – Give us a call on 0117 954 8030.