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For most people, the best way to get rid of their sewage and wastewater is through the mains sewage system. This isn’t always an option for everybody, however. If you live somewhere that connecting to the mains sewage system isn’t a viable option, you would normally need to consider either getting a septic tank or a sewage treatment plant for your property.
Although sewage treatment plants and septic tanks are similar, they are not exactly the same, each one offering its own benefits.
How Do Sewage Treatment Plants Work?
The idea behind a sewage treatment plant is that the wastewater and sewage from flushed toilets, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and the like flow out of the house and into a water sewage plant.
The plant is essentially made up of three sections. The first section allows the liquids and the solids to separate, with the solids sinking to the bottom of the tank.
The liquids then flow into the second chamber – known as the biozone chamber. Here, a pump airs the waste, which encourages the bacteria in the chamber to get to work in breaking down the organic matter, purifying the water.
This water then flows into the third chamber, where any leftover solids are allowed to sink to the bottom, resulting in water that is 95% pure leaving the system. This water can then be dispersed into the local area safely and hygienically without causing contamination or public health problems.
Why Are Sewage Treatment Plants Required?
The main reason why domestic sewage systems cannot be connected to the mains sewage is that the property is located too far away to reach it – typically, you might have a property that is off-grid, or in a remote location. Sewage treatment systems can usually be put anywhere that there is enough space, and a supply of electricity as this is required for it to work properly.
Do Sewage Treatment Plants Still Need Emptying?
Sewage treatment plants are designed to treat your wastewater and sewage as thoroughly as possible, taking out and breaking down solids and impurities, and leaving almost entirely pure water. However, they do need to be emptied every so often. During the treating process, sludge and solids sink to the bottom of the tank, and this can fill up over time.
To ensure that your sewage treatment plant is working as effectively as possible, therefore, you should empty it and maintain it as often as is recommended by the professional company that installed it.
Sewage Treatment Vs. Septic Tanks
Although sewage treatment plants and septic tanks are similar in what they do, they are slightly different.
Both systems take in the sewage and wastewater, clean it, and then disperse it into the local area, but the sewage treatment system involves more processes to clean the water. A septic tank, for example, only consists of two separate chambers, whereas a sewage treatment plant has three, with the process of breaking down the waste being enhanced with the use of an air pump.
The result is that the water that is dispersed by the sewage water treatment system is purer and therefore able to drain directly into a ditch, stream, or watercourse.
Unlike a septic tank, a sewage treatment system requires an electricity supply to power the pump, and they both need to be maintained and emptied.
