What is a Modular Wastewater Treatment Plant (Septic system)?
Wastewater, also known as blackwater or sewage water, is a term used to describe a combination of waste water from baths, showers, washing machines, kitchen sinks, dishwashers, bidets, and toilets.
Wastewater treatment systems mimic a biological digestion process performed by nature over millions of years, but enhance the speed at which these natural systems function. The technology has been refined over the past 100+ years to allow for modular, and more compact designs.
A wastewater treatment system breaks down the biological matter (faeces, soaps, etc.) in water. The resultant treated effluent can then be used for irrigation, or discharged into a water body without harming the environment (SANS standards).
When / Why do you need a septic system?
Packaged wastewater treatment works are essential when there is no regional or municipal sewage system to receive blackwater, or when existing wastewater treatment works are unable to cope with additional demand. This is often the case in rural areas far away from towns or in farming and wildlife reserves. Rapid population growth in areas can lead to wastewater production outpacing existing infrastructure design capabilities.
In the past, regulations have allowed for septic tanks to soak wastewater into the soil, however, this has changed in recent times, as standard septic tanks (with french drains) can pollute underground water sources and degrade the environment in the vicinity of the septic tank.
Alternatively, a conservancy tank is a collection chamber that stores wastewater. These wastewater storage tanks must then be sucked out by specialised businesses, at a cost, to prevent the tank from overflowing and polluting the environment.
Many wastewater treatment works around the country are unable to deal with the volume of wastewater they receive. This often leads to raw sewage being discharged into rivers. In certain areas, the lack of capacity of the local wastewater treatment works has delayed housing developments as there is no scope to increase the treatment ability.
Packaged wastewater treatment works can solve the issues mentioned, but can also reduce the total water demand as treated effluent can be reused for landscaping.