Septic tanks installed local to brooks, rivers and water courses are potentially a pollution threat, there are also occasions when it is not possible to install a soak-away on the outlet of a septic tank system due to the ground type or not having the required area of land in which to drain, it is therefore necessary to install a Sewage Treatment Plant.

Whilst septic tanks clean the water sufficiently to discharge into a subterranean soak-away the second stage of sewage treatment is required if the tank outlet is to run directly to a water course of some description.This involves installing a unit fitted with a compressor or rotation wheel that provides continuous aeration to the tank which encourages the bacteria, the use of such systems also does away with the need for a filtration tank

There are numerous types of systems available that are designed for single properties all the way up to small housing estates, they basically speed up the process found in a typical septic tank systems by using an air feed and a moving filter media

The final product from these systems is suitable for discharging directly into water courses, But ! Permission must be sought from the relevant authorities prior to any installation being undertaken.

Treatment plants have mechanical and electrical components and therefore require a little more maintenance than traditional septic tanks, most system come with maintenance programmes from the manufacturer or installers. Newly installed systems should also have an inspection chamber on the outlet so that the water leaving the system can be sampled and tested when required.