Commonly Asked Questions on On-site Sewage Systems

31 May 2016
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If you are setting up a building for commercial purpose, you must have a good plan for managing wastewater from your building. Wastewater from the building's utilities such as bathrooms, kitchens and toilets has to be disposed of well or else it will create an eyesore and jeopardise people's health. With an on-site sewage system, you can deal with the wastewater effectively. It enables you to treat the wastewater before you dispose of it, minimising the chances of contaminating the surrounding environment. Here are some of the commonly asked questions about on-site sewage systems to help you gain an insight:

Do You Need a Permit Before Construction?

On-site sewage systems are meant for protecting the health of the public and the environment. Therefore, state authorities must ensure that the systems are designed and laid out in a manner that optimises their efficiency. For them to do this, they have to inspect the chosen location where you want to set up the on-site sewage system to ensure that it is ideal. Moreover, other tests such as soil percolation tests have to be done before you construct the sewage system. Basically, a percolation test reveals the ability of the soil to drain away the wastewater after you have treated it to avoid soaking the ground. To ensure that you have complied with all these requirements, state authorities will issue you a permit as certification and authorisation to proceed with the work.

What Should You Do to Care for Your Sewage System

Caring for your on-site sewage system is very important. First, you need to reduce the pressure imposed on the system by using water efficiently. For instance, you should have devices that save water such as faucet aerators, showerheads and high-efficiency toilets. This will reduce the amount of wastewater let into the sewage system. Secondly, you should pump the wastewater out of the sewage system regularly, especially during the wet season when there is a lot of water seeping into the ground. On the same note, you need a proper drainage plan that keeps runoff water away from the on-site sewage system.

What Records Do You Need?

You need to keep records when designing, constructing and using your on-site sewage system. Essentially, you need a diagram of the location of the sewage system and its size. In addition, you should also keep a record of the maintenance activities on the sewage system including major repairs and replacements. This is important in cases where you want to sell the property, and the new owner wants to carry out new developments on the land.

For more information, contact companies like Biosystems 2000.