About 20 years ago, before Confined Spaces laws were brought in, Jon Allerton had the task of converting a large cesspool into a pump chamber. A cesspool is an underground tank used to store raw sewage until it is emptied by a suction tanker.
The Conversion
This cesspool was 3 metres deep, 2 metres wide and very long. To make it into a pump chamber, approximately 2 metres square, I had to build a wall across the tank. Simple enough. He had stripped down to his pants and put on a pair of disposable overalls, rubber gloves and wellies. John mixed the cement and passed concrete blocks down the Mr Allerton through the manhole access hole.
Creepy Crawlies
The sides were still glistening from whatever it was on the walls and floor! Spiders occupied the area of the ceiling on large webs. The cobwebs did dangle a bit till I cut them back with my trowel. Surprisingly the air was fresh to breathe, so he didn’t need to come up for air as he had anticipated! Mr Allerton simply got on with the job.
Hard Work Has Paid Off
After four hours the wall was built and out he came. Into brilliant sunshine he remembers. Now the engineers could fix the pumps, valves and pipe work and make a perfectly functioning Pump Station without the need of of a GRP tank and large excavator! Saving the customer many thousands in cash and no disruption to the garden.
Another job well done!
Visit the Servicing and Maintenance page for more information about our 5-Star maintenance and repair service.
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FAQ
Q: What is a ConSept?
A: A conversion of a septic tank, a cesspool, a well, or some other underground tank to a sewage treatment plant.
Find more info on our Septic Tank Conversion page.
Q: What does the engineer do in a service of a ConSept, what does it entail?
A: Check pumps, insitu, takeout, strip and clean, check distributor head/wiring junction box/panel and timer if applicable. You can find out more about what our engineers do in this A Day in the Life of a Service Engineer Blog Post.
Q: How deep should a soakaway be in clay soil?
A: All soakaways should be as shallow as possible.
- If you are having to pump, keep the pipe to within 100 mm from the surface.
- Water travels quickly in topsoil, both laterally and downwards.
- Dig a hole 3 feet deep in clay soil and dig a hole 1 foot deep nearby.
- Put a bucket of water in each hole and observe.
Q: What happens if you never pump your septic tank?
A: You ruin the soakaway.
Q: How to reset unit after power cut/pumps tripping electrics?
A: Turn off. Turn on.
