Buying a house that has a septic tank or sewage treatment plant may seem daunting, but fear not, most modern systems are easy to look after and run without much user intervention. These 5 tips will help you to ensure you have the right system and it has been well installed and looked after.
5 tips to help you care for your new sewage treatment plant
1. Check that the discharge meets the Environment Agency general binding rules.
This is key, because if the discharge isn’t in accordance with the general binding rules, it must be changed. This could be very costly and should be completed by the seller or used to negotiate a different price for the purchase. As a rule of thumb, if there is a ditch or stream which the water is discharging to, then a package treatment plant should be installed. The seller should be able to tell you the make and model. If the property has a septic tank, then water produced by it should be draining through the ground via a drainage field.
If you are still concerned about the condition of the sewage treatment plant in your new home, you can get a home buyers survey completed for peace of mind.
2. Check to see that the house seller has had their septic tank or treatment plant desludged regularly.
Some people claim their septic tank has never been emptied, this is a bit of a red flag. Solids will build up and can eventually block a drainage field. Someone not emptying their septic tank could have a poor drainage field.
3. Check to see if the seller has had their sewage treatment plant maintained regularly.
If not, then the air blower could require a filter change and change of diaphragms. The air blower is what supplies the system with vital oxygen and therefore should be well maintained.
4. Check to see the system can be easily accessed.
Make sure the previous owners have not covered over the system. It is surprising to see how many people try to bury their sewage treatment plant or septic tank, however, it’s better to have good access. This will ensure that when your tank needs servicing or emptying, the team can easily access your system.
5. Check to make sure no rainwater is going into the foul water system.
Find an inspection manhole near the treatment plant or the septic tank, open it and then see if you can run a hose onto the roof. If you spot any water coming from the roof into the septic tank or sewage treatment plant, then this will need to be diverted. Building control specifies that rainwater/surface water and sewage must not be combined.
You may also like to read our guide explaining what should not be put into a treatment plant. This will become important in the early stages after you’ve moved in.
How Owls Hall Can Help
Our friendly team can help you to service your new sewage treatment plant or septic tank. You can book an off mains water system desludge, empty, service or clean either by completing our online form or by sending an email to service@owlshall.co.uk.