Questions and Answers about Waste Management from Bluestream Environmental

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Householders having their septic tanks de-sludged should ensure that they retain a receipt from the permitted waste undertaker who de-sludges the tank.

The receipt should include
the following information:

Name, address and Permit Number of the waste collector.
Date of desludging.
Quantity removed and destination to where the sludge is to be taken for treatment and disposal/recovery.

What records do
I need to keep?

Permitted Waste collector must ensure that sludges are treated and disposed/recovered in accordance with legislative requirements.

How often do I need to empty my domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS)?

The frequency of de-sludging is dependent on the size of the tank and the number of persons living in the house. Best practice for the management of DWWTS indicates that de-sludging should be undertaken when the level of sludge on the bottom of the tank is greater than approximately 400 mm. A minimum of 75mm of sludge should remain in the tank to assist in the re-seeding of the new sludge. Regular maintenance is required to ensure that the septic tank operates effectively and that solids do not enter the percolation area and clog the distribution pipe work. We recommend once a year.

Will bleach or disinfectants harm the
domestic wastewater treatment system?

Normal amounts of household bleach, disinfectants and detergents will not harm the domestic wastewater treatment system. However, excessive amounts of bleach will temporarily reduce the treatment capacity, as the microorganisms needed to treat the biological waste will be killed off. In saying this, the system should return to full performance capacity within a short period of time. It is important to be aware of potential effects that excessive use of these chemicals will have on your wastewater treatment system.

What effects could using a macerator or in-sink disposal unit have on my wastewater treatment system?

Adding macerated food waste to your wastewater increases the organic strength of the wastewater. This in turn could result in inadequate treatment, blocked pipes and smells arising from the tank or percolation area.

What are grease traps
and what do they do?

The cooler water then flows to the septic tank where it is treated.

Grease traps are usually not included in the design of a domestic wastewater system but are mandatory in systems treating water from restaurants, hotels and any other businesses that supply food.Due to the absence of these systems in single dwellings it is highly important that people do not allow any fats, grease or oils to enter their septic tank systems. The inlet pipes can become clogged up by the fats and grease and therefore can reduce the treatment rate of the septic tank system. To insure that this doesn’t happen to your system, all fats, grease and oils must not be disposed down the sink or drains.

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5-star reviews

As usual, an excellent service from Bluestream! Jack arrived exactly at the time he said and got straight into the job! Friendly efficient service that I can highly recommend.

Great service from Bluestream! A pleasure to deal with Chris in the office, and great customer service from Mark Skinner who came out to empty our tank, explained step by step what he was doing! Would highly recommend them.

Thanks to Bluestream for responding to our difficulty. Very helpful.

Came next day to empty my septic tank - friendly, professional, and skilled at getting the lorry into an awkward spot! No problems, exactly what you need.