Overflowing ConSept (Septic Tank Conversion)
- 17 August, 2020
What Was The Problem?
The customer’s ConSept had overflowed in the distribution chamber, and the distribution chamber (downstream of the ConSept in the Klargester Septic Tank) was overflowing onto the lawn. From the pictures below, you can see that there had been a plant/weed of some kind floating in the chamber. It turned out to be a bunch of roots filling the chamber, but they only filled in the top metre or so. It was a very deep chamber, approximately 4m deep, so the root ball was not impacting the soakaway.
How did it happen?
The cause of the blockage was simple. All Septic Tank Soakaways, and all the soil below and above it eventually get blocked with organic matter. That dirty water we see carries 65% of the solids from what enters the tank. A new soakaway may be needed.
Because the ConSept can both clean the water and lift it to the surface, a new soakaway would not need to be as long or as deep as the old one. The old soakaway is still taking most of the water, so we can consider a really short additional soakaway, one that could be done by hand digging.
The above photo shows the distribution chamber full of roots completely occupying the top metre!
The weeds placed in the bin bag are long and of the same thickness.
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. You can view more about the ConSept on our ConSept septic tank conversion page.
Q: if my septic tank goes into a soakaway, do I need permission to install a ConSept?
A: NO. But you do if you decide to outfall it into a ditch. More rules regarding discharging into a ditch can be found in the General Binding Rules.
Q: Can I outfall ConSept treated water to a ditch?
A: YES, but only if you obtain a permit from the Environmental Agency. Though Allerton will help you with it. Contact us for more details.
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 blog post: A Day in the Life of a Service Engineer
Q: How long is it before we can use toilets while the ConSept is being installed?
A: Immediately, and you can use both shower and washing machine later in the day.
Q: When will my unit need emptying?
A: With the ConSept in a GRP tank, once every 2 years, but in a brick built tank better to empty every year. Discuss with the Service Engineer. He is in a better place to make judgement.