Sewage Treatment Plants Do’s and Don’ts

Regular inspections and maintenance will help ensure your plant is operating at optimum performance and will maximise the lifespan of your equipment

Proper Care for Your Sewage Treatment Plant

Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial for ensuring that your sewage treatment plant operates efficiently and extends the lifespan of all equipment, including pumps. Effective maintenance of the sewage plant, pumps, and the overall treatment process helps prevent costly breakdowns and maintains environmental compliance.

Caring for Your Sewage Treatment Plant: Do’s

1. Follow Manufacturer Guidelines: Always adhere to the recommended dosages for cleaning products based on your water type. For instance, soft water requires significantly less detergent than hard water, helping reduce unnecessary chemical loads on your plant.
2. Use Cleaning Products Sparingly: Apply cleaning products evenly and cautiously to avoid overloading the biological processes in your sewage treatment system.
3. Opt for Liquid Detergents: Use liquid detergents in washing machines and dishwashers, as powders can clump and cause blockages.
4. Distribute Laundry Evenly: Load your washing machine consistently throughout the week to maintain a balanced system load.
5. Stick to Consistent Products: Use the same washing and cleaning products regularly, as this helps bacteria in your system efficiently process them.
6. Be Cautious About What You Flush: Always consider carefully before flushing or pouring anything down sinks, toilets, or drains to avoid introducing harmful substances or solids.
7. Regular Desludging: Follow the recommended schedule for desludging your plant. Proper desludging prevents solid build-up, which can overload the system and impair pump function.
8. Limit Toilet Paper Flushing: Only flush toilet paper in normal amounts to prevent blockages and excessive sludge accumulation.
9. Keep the System Running: Maintain your sewage system in operation even during holidays or absences to prevent damage to motors and moving parts, and to preserve the biomass essential for treatment.
10. Use Alternative Waste Disposal Methods: Compost organic food waste or utilise local biodegradable waste recycling services instead of flushing it down the toilet. This helps to preserve the biological balance within your system.

Caring for Your Sewage Treatment Plant: Don’ts

1. Avoid Flushing Non-Biodegradable Items: Never flush sanitary towels, tampons, cotton wool, cotton buds, incontinence pads, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or facial wipes, as they can block pumps and disrupt the treatment process.
2. Do Not Pour Grease or Oil: Avoid flushing rubber or other non-biodegradable products down the toilet, and do not pour fats, grease, or cooking oil down sinks or drains. These substances can suffocate beneficial bacteria and clog pipes. Also, refrain from disposing of milk, wine, or beer, as they can increase organic loads and disrupt treatment.
3. Limit Use of Strong Chemicals: Avoid using neat disinfectants or bleach, except at minimal concentrations, as strong chemicals can harm the biomass responsible for sewage treatment.
4. Never Dispose of Medicines or Chemicals: Do not dispose of medicines, mouthwash, photographic fluids, pesticides, weed killers, or fungicides in your sewage system, as they interfere with biological treatment.
5. Avoid DIY Products: Refrain from pouring DIY products such as paints, thinners, turpentine, or automotive fluids (engine oil, antifreeze, brake fluid) into the system, as they can damage pumps and treatment mechanisms.
6. Prevent Excess Water Infiltration: Prevent rainwater, groundwater, or excess water from pools or Jacuzzis from entering the plant, as chlorine can kill bacteria, and high flow rates can reduce treatment time.
7. Avoid Waste Disposal Units: Do not install waste disposal units under kitchen sinks unless your plant is specifically designed for high organic loads, as excess organic matter can overload the bacteria, leading to imbalances and pump failures.

Expert Sewage Plant and Pump Maintenance

KEE Services strongly recommends regular professional inspections and servicing to maintain optimal operation of the sewage treatment plant. Timely maintenance prevents unexpected pump failures and costly repairs, all while ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

For further information, consult our expert Code of Practice, a comprehensive resource from British Water. Or for professional advice or to arrange a maintenance contract, please request a quote or contact us.