Sewage treatment centres are dotted up and down the country. Without them, our way of life would be drastically different and the hygiene levels we have all become accustom to would deteriorate. But what happens at a sewage treatment centre?
At a sewage treatment centre the effluent goes through the following processes:
• Large objects and debris are removed.
• The sewage flows into tanks. The solid matter sinks to the bottom and is removed as sludge.
• Biological treatment of the sewage takes place. Liquid is passed through bacteria laden filters which feed off the waste thus cleaning the water.
Some local councils also use a treatment called an activated sludge process, where bacteria is mixed with effluent in large tanks which blow air into the sludge mixture. It can then enter settlement tanks so any solids that remain can be removed and the water can then be put back into the environment. The treated effluent is then pumped back into local rivers or the sea.
We rely on the drains that take this effluent to treatment centres on a daily basis. However, we rarely check they are performing to the best of their ability. If you have a drain maintenance professional, they will be able to perform a CCTV survey on your drainage system to highlight any potential problems.