February 2023 - O'Reilly Oakstown Sewage Treatment Systems & Septic Tanks

Upgrading from a Septic Tank

There are many reasons why you may consider upgrading from a septic tank. The most common reasons are that the septic tank itself is of poor quality and needs to be replaced, or that the percolation area surrounding the tank is of poor quality.

Occasionally, the percolation area just needs a pump or pump chamber, which can be supplied and fitted by our service team here at Oakstown. However if these issues are not dealt with they can cause serious pollution problems which are not only harmful to the environment, but are harmful to human health.

If you’re thinking about about upgrading from a septic tank to a sewage treatment system, some of the questions you might ask yourself are

How old is your tank
Have you outgrown your septic tank
Are you having problems with your septic tank

What is the difference between a Septic Tank to a Sewage Treatment System?

A septic tank is the large underground tank used to store and treat wastewater (ie from sink & toilets, washing machines, dishwashers etc) from your home before it is released into the environment. The wastewater is broken down by naturally occurring organisms.

A sewage treatment system is a method of removing contaminants from that same wastewater before it is released into the environment, using a series of mechanical and biological processes. The effluent is then disinfected before it is discharged.

What are the Benefits of Upgrading from a Septic Tank?

There are a number of benefits for upgrading from a septic tank to a sewage treatment system.

You may have outgrown your septic tank and need a larger sewage treatment system to accommodate your home & family in a safe and reliable way
A septic tank separates the wastewater, while a sewage treatment system treats the wastewater by removing pollutants and contaminants before it leaves the tank.
The water leaving a sewage treatment system is cleaner than that leaving a septic tank, therefore reducing the risk of water pollution and protecting the environment
You need a bigger percolation area for a septic tanks. However percolation areas from septic tanks are far more prone to fail due to dirty slick water entering this area.
A septic tank has to be emptied, or desludged, regularly to prevent problems.
Overall using a sewage treatment system increases the efficiency of the wastewater treatment process, reduces odours and improves the overall health of the environment.

What is the Cost of Upgrading to a Sewage Treatment System?

In general the initial cost for a septic tank is cheaper than installing a sewage treatment system. You might say why would I pay more for a sewage treatment system?

Sewage Treatment Systems produce cleaner effluent and require less emptying. Septic tanks may be cheaper, but require more percolation space and more frequent emptying, and are more prone to causing problems for you & the environment.

Our concrete septic tanks start from €1150 +vat, you can purchase directly here.

The cost of a 6PE BAF sewage treatment system starts at €3,650 +vat – see product here.

Is there a Grant or Finance available?

The good news is that if you are considering upgrading from a septic tank, you may qualify for a grant.

Chat to our sales team today sales@oreillyoakstown.com and we’ll advise you of all your options.

Enquire about upgrading from a septic tank to a sewage treatment system today.

Call us on 046 9431389 or contact us here.

At O’Reilly Oakstown, we manufacture and install only the highest quality fully certified tanks. Our septic tanks comply with the CE certification EN 12566-1 and our sewage treatment plants comply with the CE certification EN 12566-3.

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All Domestic waste water treatment systems, such as septic tanks, collect, treat and discharge waste water from households that are not connected to public sewer systems. This waste water includes water which comes from toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.

How to register my septic tank

The following steps should be taken to register a septic tank:

Find your local authority in Ireland on this link – Find My Local Authority.
Visit protectourwater.ie where you can register and pay online. The cost of registering is €50.
They will provide you with a Registration Certificate

Note:

If it is a replacement systems and you have the initial system registered, you do not need to be re-registered.
You must register a new system within 90 days of being commissioned
If you are looking into getting a grant to repair or replace your treatment system in the future, your treatment system must be registered within a certain timeframe.
Your system can be inspected in order to prevent any risk to the public and the environment. If you do not register your system and are convicted, you could be fined up to €5,000.

Can my septic tank be inspected?

Your waste water treatment system can be inspected by the local authority. They write and provide at least ten working days’ notice before the inspection.

If your waste water system is going to be inspected, you should have the following ready:

Your waste water systems Registration Certificate
Know where your waste water treatment system is located on your grounds
Ensure you have any paperwork provided about your system’s installation or maintenance
You can ask for the inspectors identification. Inspectors are appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must show you if asked.

Read more on the Citizens Information Website.

What happens during the inspection?

When the inspector arrives they will show you their ID card and authorisation, and ask you some basic questions about your system.
They may look at your registration certificate and other paperwork.
They will check manholes and pipework for leaks and that there isn’t an excess of sludge in the system.
The drains will be checked to ensure that wastewater and greywater are entering the system where they can be treated, and that roofwater and surfacewater are not entering the tank as that may cause flooding.
The percolation area will be checked for signs of ponding, as well as nearby ditches and drains for discharge pipes and signs of pollution.
The system will also be checked for nuisance odours and noise.

What happens after the septic tank inspection?

If the inspection shows that the treatment system is working properly, you will receive a copy of a report confirming compliance in the post. If the inspection finds problems, they will tell you immediately. You then receive a copy of a report with an Advisory Notice within 21 days of the inspection and this will inform you of the following:

if system poses a risk to human health or the environment
if your system contravenes regulations
inform you of the reasons why they have reached this conclusion
direct you to remedy the matters specified in the notice by a specified date.

You may need to seek expert technical advice, in order to comply with the Advisory Notice. You can then have the system re-inspected for a fee of €20, which may result in The Advisory Notice being confirmed, amended or cancelled.

In certain circumstances, you may be granted a time extension by the local authority for completion of remedial works, if the reason is valid.

You may be eligible for a grant to assist with the cost of fixing any problems identified during the inspection (see below).

After the inspections, if your treatment system is working properly, you will get a certificate to confirm this. If the inspector finds any issues with your system, you will receive an advisory notice within 21 days of the inspection. This notice will outline the problems with your system and give you a certain amount of time to fix them. You may be able to get a grant to repair or upgrade your system.

EPA Leaflet on what to expect during a septic tank inspection.

Download the EPA leaflet about septic tank inspections here.

Can I get a grant to repair or replace my system?

You may be able to get a grant to repair, upgrade or replace your waste water treatment system. You can apply for funding for 85% of the cost of the repairs to your system or a new system, up to a maximum of €5,000.

To qualify for these grants your treatment system must have been registered by 1 February 2013. If the treatment system was installed after this date, registration must have been completed within 90 days of the system being connected.

There are 3 different waste water treatment grant schemes. Read more on gov.ie about who qualifies and how to apply.

Grants are not available for routine maintenance, servicing or desludging of treatment systems.

Call us today on: 046 9431389

Benefits of Upgrading from a Septic Tank to a Sewage Treatment System