Commercial sewage systems are particularly common in East Anglia and rural areas that aren’t connected to the mains network – all the areas in which Gilson Environmental Services operate. Here we look at some of the variables that come into play when choosing either a sewage treatment plant or septic tank for your business.
The Bigger Use
Commercial systems have to deal with a much bigger quantity of sewage, unlike most domestic models, which are designed for the waste of one or a few.
Some offices and businesses may have hundreds of people there at peak times. Put simply, more people means more waste and because of the volume involved, it may be preferable to opt for a sewage treatment system rather than a septic tank for a business.
The More Variable Use
There may be lots of occasions when the system isn’t being used at all, such as in the evening after the working day. There may also be whole days when the system is not being used, such as at Christmas and the New Year, or over the Easter weekend. This can pose challenges because some sewage systems benefit from fairly constant use.
The Issue of Sizing
It also means that you can’t assume that, if an office has 40 workers, you will need a unit which has 10 times the capacity of one for a home with four people in it. In general terms, you have to know what the PE or population equivalent is. An office with 30 workers is thought to be the equivalent of around 10 domestic residents (taking into account the time that they are not in the office all the time). There are other variables such as whether the office has a canteen or not (and therefore the workers may produce more waste).
This process is known as sizing. In general terms, it’s always better to round up in terms of system capacity rather than round down. But don’t worry if you can’t understand it, at Gilson Environmental Services we will be able to work out what size you will need.
The Need for More Maintenance
With commercial systems, they may need maintenance more often. The greater use may mean sludge builds up more quickly in a septic tank, or there may need to be more checks to ensure that the bacteria is doing its job properly. In sewage treatment plants, the greater use runs the risk of the system’s moving parts wearing out or breaking down.
The Similarities
For all the differences in scale, and the type of property they will be connected to, there are still plenty of similarities between domestic and commercial sewage systems.
All septic tanks and sewage treatment plants still work in the same way. The former separates out the waste into water, solids (sludge) and oils (scum), whereas the latter treats it so the water is safe enough to be discharged into rivers, streams and other watercourses.
And, regardless of whether the system is for a commercial or domestic property, the General Binding Rules still apply. These restrict the areas you are allowed to build either type, and also the rules surrounding where you can discharge your water from septic tanks (you now need a soakaway or drainage field).
Commercial Sewage Systems from Gilson Environmental Services
Not only are we experts in assessing how big (or small) a system you will need, we also aren’t tied to any particular brand. This means we can recommend the right make and model for you without any bias.
If you would like to know more about our commercial sewage treatment systems, you can call us directly on 01473 741530. And remember we also supply and install domestic units – including cesspits, septic tanks and sewage treatment systems – from our base in Ipswich.
Recent Comments