If you're having problems with your septic tank, it may well be that the solution is simpler than you think and a minor repair job is all that is necessary to reinvigorate your system. As we have said, the state of the bacterial populations and the types of bacteria present in the system are essential for proper degradation of the waste material. If, for whatever reason, these populations have become weakened, bad odours and incomplete breakdown of the waste material may become noticeable. Many options are available in order to ensure that the bacterial populations are healthy and stable. We have found our cause can be greatly aided with the help of a technology known as EM (Effective Micro-organisms) which enables the numbers of certain bacterial types to be substantially increased with little effort. For more information on EM, please visit our EM page. Other steps can also be taken though to encourage bacterial proliferation in the system which will ensure the populations remain stable for a longer period and lessen the chance of future problems.

If you have an older brick or concrete septic tank, and have been told that it will need to be replaced in order to achieve the required discharge standards, do not despair. Older tanks are frequently better suited to encouraging bacterial growth and if it is possible to ensure the structural integrity of the tank, then it may be best to work with the existing tank rather than splashing out on a brand new, often less effective, modern one.

Often the discharge from a septic tank (even a healthy one) may not be of a sufficient standard to be released back into our ecosystems, depending on the content of the incoming wastewater. Alternatively, the owner of the septic tank may wish to make use of the treated water for irrigation purposes for example. In these instances a further stage or stages of treatment may be necessary to achieve the required standard of cleanliness. We offer a comprehensive consultancy on a DIY build or a full installation service of secondary and tertiary treatment stages including reedbeds. For further information on this side of our business, please visit our sister site; reedbeduk.co.uk.