On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 21:48:08 +0000 (UTC), SR
wrote:

Hi Everybody,
Any thoughts on this one? I've an old septic tank - single chamber I
think - which discharges via equally old land drains. Drainage is not
good, which normally means 2-3 pump-outs during the winter months, and
some water coming to the surface. The soil is a heavy clay/sand mix so
drainage is poor anyway - I did a percolation test earlier this year and
in one test pit it took more than 24 hours for the water to drain away
completely. We recently discovered a previous owner has attempted to
alleviate the problem by extending the drain to link into a covered
ditch inside our boundary which takes the highways drainage. Not good,
and the this drain is often blocked anyway. Rainwater drainage off the
house is via a disused well.
So, what's the best upgrate plan? I guess the 'no expense spared'
solution would be new land drains plus a Klargester biodisc or similar.
I.E. roughly £9k based on recent quotes. However, any suggestions for a
cheaper solution - e.g. I have heard of aeration kits to improve the
performance of existing septic tanks. Or is there any way of treating
the grey water so it can safely be discharged via a separate system - or
even down the well?

SR.

APCO do an insert into the existing tank, then get a "consent to
discharge" from the EA, and send the water into a river (etc). This is
essential what we do. The people of chester & birkenhead pump the
water out and drink it. The kids love (yuck dad) this when they work
out people are drinking their wee.

I had a difficult site (on a cliff), the Environmant Agency people
came out to site, told me what to write on the application form for
the "consent to discharge", and we were all sorted.

You need a "consent to discharge" to be legal.


Rick