FAQ

There are some sewage systems that are easy to diagnose as “not working” and there are also some systems that may need a trained eye to make the call. Here are some signs that indicate your septic tank may not be working: Blockages in manholes or slowly draining toilets. Wet patches in the garden - even in dry weather. The septic tank requires frequent emptying. Storm or Roof water entering the septic system or leaking manholes. Wet areas in the garden around the septic tank or percolation area. Lush green grass around the septic tank/soakaway, even during dry weather. The presence of nitrates and bacteria in your drinking water test results. The septic tank is connected to a ditch or stream odours from the septic tank or around the house. If you're still not sure, it is possible to get your sewage system visually assessed by Corcorcan Precast Tanks

A percolation test is carried out to determine what type of sewage treatment system will be suitable for your property. The percolation test provides us with the soakage value of the soil, what depth the water table or bed is present at and a number of other factors. With these results and the assistance of Geological mapping we can provide you with the most suitable sewage system for your site.

Percolation tests are carried to determine the size required for the percolation area. The soakage of the soil in every site varies. Some sites have good soakage and some are very poor. Therefore a single solution can't be offered to everyone. It is crucial to carry out a percolation test in order to know how good your soil soaks and to determine the maximum height of the water table (in order to maintain relevant separations as per the EPA Code of Practice 2009). A percolation test is required by law in order to apply for planning permission. Sepcon have a dedicated team that will assist in providing the relevant site assessment information and documents in order to lodge your planning application. Contact us today to discuss your individual requirements.

A septic tank normally consists of two chambers. The first chamber holds the solid waste and the second chamber holds the partially treated effluent. The effluent then enters the percolation area where further treatment takes place. Septic tanks are suitable for sites with a good soil soakage rate. A sewage treatment unit normally consists of 3 or more chambers. The first chamber holds the solid waste, the second is where the effluent treatment takes place and the the third is the final settlement chamber. Treatment units are ideals for sites with poor soakage as the effluent quality is better upon discharge to the percolation area.

There are many benefits to using precast concrete to construct a septic tank:

• Improved Quality Control – precast concrete is created in a factory environment, as opposed to on-site. As such, precast concrete is subject to more stringent, controlled quality checks, resulting in a superior quality and minimising risk.
• Versatility – precast concrete can be moulded into a variety of sizes and specifications, meaning we can create septic tanks to suit all types of requirements.
• Efficient – by using precast concrete, we are able to speed up the design and manufacturing process of the septic tank build, resulting in a more efficient service.
• Durable – precast concrete is incredibly durable, making it ideal for use in septic tank manufacturing.

Oil interceptors are required in situations where activities pose a risk to the environment that is deemed unacceptable under Irish and EU legislation. These activities include:

• Trade Effluent Production – e.g. from washing vehicles or vehicle parts, refueling areas etc.
• Contaminated Water Production – e.g. from car parks, roads and yard areas
• Generic Risks – e.g. storing oil in bulk

A pump station, also referred to as a packaged pumping station or pumped system, is a chamber used for the collection and transport of foul or surface water to a local drain, manhole, or sewage system. It uses pumpsets to direct the foul or surface water in places where normal gravity cannot be relied upon.

There are many variables to consider when sizing a pump station, these include:

• Application: do you need a pump station to handle small-scale, domestic water or for a larger, commercial application.
• Material Application: what type of water is being handled by the pump station; sewage, effluent or surface water?
• Pumping Distance and Lift: how far does the foul or surface water need to travel and does it need to be pumped up an incline?
• Electrical Supply: what kind of power sources are available for your pump station to use?

We often find people have concerns around using rainwater, particularly when it collects on their roof and in their guttering system as they believe it can become contaminated in this way. Fortunately, our sophisticated rainwater harvesting systems have been designed to ensure contaminants such as leaves, sand, grit, etc. This means that the water collected in our rainwater harvesting systems is completely safe to use.

Our precast tanks are available in four different sizes:

• 800 Gallon Precast Tank
• 1000 Gallon Precast Tank
• 1200 Gallon Precast Tank
• 1400 Gallon Precast Tank

By adopting a shallow tank design, we are able to install our precast tanks in areas where bedrock may cause a problem. This is because our precast tanks deliver a massive reduction in the need for excavation.