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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a Biotec Treatment System?
The Biotec System forms a range of
Sewage Treatment Plants that biologically treat household and
light commercial wastewater using well-proven aerobic biological process technology. The range covers from a single house
up to a small community’s requirements.
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How do treatment plants work?
Both the Biotec & Aerotec range
of Treatment Plants use an aerobic digestion process to naturally
treat sewage waste. |
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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.
For a comparison between septic and treatment plants click here
A Treatment Plant such as the Biotec still requires approval
but is already the preferred option in many areas with local
authorities and environmental agencies.
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| Planning & Permits |
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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 (see
Links).
This procedure and standards of what is permissible can vary
between regions, so we advise you contact our Sales
Department to discuss your
options.
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| Planning & Permits |
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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. Titan’s advice
would be to check with your local planning authority.
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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.
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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.
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| Installation |
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Can I install it myself or can someone do all
this for me?
Any Titan foul-water product can be a DIY installation
as full instructions are supplied with each unit. However,
we do recommend you use one of our Certified
Installers to carry out your works to
ensure a hassle-free, expert job.
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Can I connect surface water into the plant? No – Surface
water cannot enter a treatment plant and must be drained away
separately.
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Can I use the discharged water? Titan
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. |
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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).
Titan offers a Post Installation Inspection service to
ensure correct operation and for extra peace of mind.
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Will it smell? If
normal installation & operation procedures are followed
any Titan Treatment Plant should not emit unpleasant odours.
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| Performance |
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Will it be noisy? If
normal installation & operation procedures are followed
any Titan Treatment Plant should not emit any unwanted
noises.
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| Performance |
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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
1. BOD – Biological Oxygen Demand (a measure of
the biological pollutant load)
2. SS – Suspended Solids (small particles
of waste matter)
3. 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 P6 Biotec
for example has been certified to deliver (in
normal domestic situations) an effluent quality
of 20mg/l BOD, 30mg/l SS and 20mg/l ammonia, expressed
as 20:30:20.
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.
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| Performance |
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What power is needed and how much will it cost
to run?
All Titan Treatment Plants require an electrical supply
and are extremely economical to run, often costing less than
a 60watt lightbulb per day. (P4 - P12 Models)
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