Living Off-Mains – buying a property with an existing Kingspan Klargester system
5 common misconceptions about domestic wastewater treatment.
There was a time when people were hesitant to include an indoor bathroom in their home. These new-fangled things called commodes seemed interesting in concept, but the idea of doing your business in the same structure you lived in seemed ridiculous. Wouldn’t it end up smelling just like the outhouse eventually? As with anything not commonly used, misconceptions were many. So it is with wastewater treatment, mainly because this is a concept most people are not yet familiar with and don’t completely understand. Let’s take a look at some of the most common misconceptions.
1. A septic tank is all you need. While septic tanks and wastewater treatment plants deal with wastewater, septic tanks merely store the wastewater, keeping it contained until they are emptied. A wastewater treatment system gathers the waste, cleans it and releases it back into the environment. This eliminates having to physically empty the waste. It also allows for a cleaner, safer product being released back into the environment.
2. Cheaper is as good as costly. For many things, this concept might hold true, but not in regards to wastewater treatment. You have all the initial cash outlay to consider, but then you need to consider how often the system may fail, how long it is built to last and how well it works overall. If you have to replace the less expensive system every ten years, but the more costly one lasts thirty, the dependability of the more expensive product turns out costing less over time.
3. It will smell foul. If your wastewater treatment plant smells badly, there is an error somewhere in the installation or the product is in need of repair. A properly operating system will contain and neutralize odour so that it is not an issue. The sealing of a well-maintained system will make any smell completely unnoticeable to the average person.
4. Chemicals are used to treat the water. The biggest misconception. The wastewater is actually broken down by bacteria, in the most natural way as possible. The microorganisms that help break down the waste are natural and what is released back into the environment is completely safe.
5. They are unsightly, noisy structures that will ruin the look of the property. Products like the BioDisc can actually blend into the environment so well they are not noticeable unless you know exactly where to look and what you are looking for. They are quiet, enabling you to hear the pleasant environmental sounds.
With the current trend to find alternatives that are not only environmentally-friendly, but also allow the consumer more control over how things are accomplished, it is highly possible that current waste treatment will disappear the same way the outhouse did. Don’t be afraid to ask about the conceptions you have. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at how far off those ideas are with today’s modern treatment systems.
Send your questions or comments through to our expert Kingspan Klargester team at web@kingspan.com, who will be happy to provide you with all the information you need.