aquassist ltd . . . coming to a septic tank near you !

septic tank systems : an overview

remember, if you need your septic tank emptying now, you can email us, use our domestic enquiry form or you can phone or write to us. existing septic tank customers can also get a 5% discount by filling out our regular booking form, thank you.

so how does your septic tank system work ?

the folklore of septic systems could probably fill a small book. like most folklore, the stories reflect elements of truth, ignorance and humour. it is time to dispel such myths and get down to the facts.

septic tanks are a natural sewage treatment & disposal system. they rely on common bacteria to literally eat & digest the sewage turning solids into liquid & gas (smelly!). sewage treatment plants are much better at assisting this process and it results in a relatively clean waste water output. waste water is then piped to a soak-away system, where final purification is done by soil organisms. sewage treatment plants can discharge directly into a water course.

what is your impact ?

because of our busy, changing lifestyles and the availability and use of many household products destroying much of the important bacteria, the bacteria in the septic systems struggles to tackle the increasing quantities of liquid waste that is flushed from the average household. therefore, any remaining solids or sludge which this friendly bacteria can't break down, needs to be taken away periodically for disposal and mass-treatment at your local sewage works. this process needs to take place usually every one or two years depending on the size, type & condition of the septic system or in some cases where the local water table may be normally high. in any event, the detergents & other household products which we all use today only go on to slow down natures process in the tank - this means that waste is disposed of at more regular intervals these days to prevent the tank filling with solids, and so prevents overflows and soak-aways or drains from becoming packed.

what about using system additives ?

so far, no additives for existing systems like enzymes or chemical de-greasers have been scientifically proven to reduce the need to have your tank emptied as often. these products or other bacteria's added would only compete with the natural bacterial process further. if one really wants to reduce the frequency of emptying the tank, try to reduce introducing none biodegradables or household chemicals down any of your sinks or toilets and use baths, dishwashers and washing machines less often. there are also ranges of environmentally friendly household products available from your local superstores which can help.

other common myths :

common myths include dead cats or a pound of yeast. most theories about starting up a new tank, deal with 'seeding', to get good bacterial activity started. old advice ranged from seeding with a pound of yeast, with manure and even to placing a 'dead cat' into the tank. the health department simply recommends, 'do nothing'. the simple act of using and emptying the system on a suitably regular basis provides all the ingredients for your septic system to function well.

remember not to sit on it for too long !

those who never have their tanks emptied at all, are at risk of damaging or packing their soak-away systems: local and regional sewage treatment works are now testing the density of sewage loads brought to them for disposal and the costs now depend on how dense the mass is. the longer a tank is left, the denser the solid mass is, and through waste testing at the local sewage works, one would incur a premium charge to dispose. . . don't sit on it ! we run a program for existing customers to schedule regular bookings and we let you know when your tank is due to be emptied - see below.

new septic tank customers - what should you do next ?

all you need to do is simply email us or use our domestic enquiry form to get things moving. if you prefer, you can just pick up the phone or write to our head office. we will then arrange to have your tank inspected during your first empty. we will survey your tank and advise on how often your particular septic system needs to be emptied and explain any issues and how we can resolve them for you.

existing septic tank customers

existing septic tank customers can get a 5% discount on future disposal costs by joining our regular booking scheme. for complete peace of mind, simply fill out our regular booking form and leave the rest up to us.

aquassist ltd - liquid waste solutions!