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Klargester - Sewage Treatment - FAQ's
Tanks & Treatment Plant - DesignWhat is a BioDisc Treatment System?
The BioDisc System forms a range of Sewage Treatment Plants that biologically treat household and light commercial wastewater using the unique Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) technology. The range covers from a single house up to a small community’s requirements.
How Do Treatment Plants Work?
The BioDisc & Biosafe range of Treatment Plants use an aerobic digestion process to naturally treat sewage waste.
Why Not Use Just a Septic tank or Cesspool?
In the UK, the Environment Agency, SEPA and Local Building Control Departments govern what system you can install to treat your sewage & wastewater. Cesspools & Septic Tanks often do not meet with local regulations as they offer little or no treatment for the pollutant waste.
A Treatment Plant such as the BioDisc still requires approval but is already the preferred option in many areas with local authorities and environmental agencies.
Tanks & Treatment Plant - Planning & Permits
What Permissions Are Required Before Installing a Tank/Plant?
In the UK, any unit going into the ground may require ‘consent to discharge’ from the local Environment Agency / SEPA office, even if you are using just a storage tank. Planning permission is required from the local Building Control department.
Comprehensive advice on off-mains drainage is available at klargester.com
This procedure and standards of what is permissible can vary between regions, so we advise you contact our Servicing Department to discuss your options.
Do I Need To Get Planning Permission?
All new Wastewater treatment systems require planning permission. Adding a secondary treatment system (such as a Reed Bed) may also require planning permission. Klargester’s advice would be to check with your local planning authority.
Tanks & Treatment Plant - Installation
What Is a Percolation Test and Who Carries It Out?
A percolation test is a method of assessing how much water can drain away through your plot’s subsoil (a subsoil porosity test). It is performed by excavating a small area and monitoring the time taken for the water to drop in minutes per inch. We strongly advise that an experienced site evaluator carries out the test (such as ourselves), but instructions can be downloaded at How to perform a Percolation Test.
Where can I discharge to?
Every location has its own characteristics and hence there can be either many discharge options, or none at all. Popular options include soakaways, drainage ditches or discharging to streams, rivers & watercourses. Again, it is important to remember that what is judged acceptable to the authorities in one location can be turned down by another, so the first step is always to consult your local Regulatory Body.
Comprehensive advice on off-mains drainage is available at klargester.com
Can I Install It Myself or Can Someone Do All This For Me?
Any Klargester foul-water product can be a DIY installation as full instructions are supplied with each unit. However, we do recommend you use a Certified Installers (such as ourselves) to carry out your works to ensure a hassle-free, expert job. Click here to obtain the contact details of our servicing team.
Can I Connect Surface Water Into The Plant?
No – Surface water cannot enter a treatment plant and must be drained away separately.
Can I Use The Discharged Water?
Klargester does not recommend the discharged water be used for any purpose. The water exiting a treatment plant remains wastewater and should be disposed of as such.
Tanks & Treatment Plant – Performance
How Long Before My Treatment Plant Starts to Work Properly?
Every newly installed treatment plant can be used immediately but a time period is required for the biological process (that breaks down the sewage) to fully develop. This process can take up to 6-8 weeks (subject to unit model & ambient conditions).
MPC Services (UK) Ltd offers a Post Installation Inspection service to ensure correct operation and for extra peace of mind.
Will It Smell?
If normal installation & operation procedures are followed any Klargester Treatment Plant should not emit unpleasant odours.
In 2005, BioDisc gained certification to European Performance Standards, the Testing Engineer’s official report stating ‘There was no nuisance caused by noise or smell from the plant’.
Will It Be Noisy?
If normal installation & operation procedures are followed any Klargester Treatment Plant should not emit any unwanted noises.
In 2005, BioDisc gained certification to European Performance Standards, the Testing Engineer’s official report stating ‘There was no nuisance caused by noise or smell from the plant’.
What Quality of Water is Produced?
With sewage treatment, water quality is defined by the level of three forms of pollutants that are present in the water exiting a treatment plant. The three pollutants are...
BOD – Biological Oxygen Demand (a measure of the biological pollutant load)
SS – Suspended Solids (small particles of waste matter)
Ammonia – (Ammonia is the chemical that creates urine odour)
The better a treatment plant’s performance, the lower level of these pollutants, expressed in milligrams per litre – The BA BioDisc for example has been certified to deliver (in normal domestic situations) an effluent quality of 15mg/l BOD, 25mg/l SS and 15mg/l ammonia, expressed as 15:25:15.
These are exceptional high levels of quality, falling well within the common standards demanded by the environment agencies. It is important to bear in mind that discharged water from any plant is not suitable for consumption or washing but a sample will have a high level of visual clarity.
What Power is Needed and How Much Will it Cost to Run?
All Klargester Treatment Plants require an electrical supply and are extremely economical to run, often costing less than a 60watt lightbulb per day.
In 2005, the BA BioDisc gained certification to European Performance Standards, the Testing Engineer’s official report stating a mean power consumption of 1.3kWh/d (roughly 10 – 14 pence per day, depending on supplier).
Care & Maintenance
Do Treatment Plants Need Maintenance?
Treatment plants require very little maintenance. The main task required is the periodic pumping-out of the waste solids that simply cannot be broken down by the biological process.
How Often Do I Need to Empty My Unit and Why?
Emptying is known as ‘Desludging’. Desludging intervals depend on the size of the unit and several factors, but if the plant is subject to regular levels of domestic use, a desludge only needs so be performed once a year.
How Much Does it Cost to Empty My Unit?
Prices vary depending on the size of your location & size of your treatment plant, but it is worth sourcing a number of local quotes for the service.
Where Can I Find An Emptier and Do I Need To Give Them Instructions?
Look in the Yellow Pages under Waste Water or your local council can provide a list of approved desludgers / emptiers in your area.
Do I Need to Add Anything to My Plant to Make It Work Better?
No – So long as you follow the What can I put down the drains into my treatment plant?, it will work at optimum efficiency.
What Can be Disposed Into the Plant?
Care must be taken as to what can be put into a treatment plant and our What can I put down the drains into my treatment plant? outlines the best practice.
Can I Get Someone to Take Care of All This For Me?
Yes. Klargester offer various Service & Maintenance contracts throughout the UK & Ireland so you need never need worry about the running of your treatment plant.
What Would Happen in The Event of a Power Cut?
A power cut should not cause any particular problem, but in all events, check that unit has restarted after a power cut of any length of time and reset the control panel if necessary. If the unit fails to restart then contact our After-Care department.
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