D J Wilkinson, Author at DJ Wilkinson

A Brief History of Septic Tanks

5th April 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

And thou shalt have a shovel amongst thy weapons, and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which is come from thee. Deuteronomy 23:13

The Origins

There you have it, the basic sewage disposal system. Dig a hole and bury it, like a cat. I used to have an Irish cat but it had a poo and buried itself. Anyway, onto the origins of septic tanks. Prior to us “digging a hole” our very early ancestors used a form of waste disposal consisting of a biological treatment via land application (we shat on the grass). This was fine for the moving tribes and nomads, there was loads of space and the chances of you treading in someone else’s were slim and even if you did the chances of you being bothered were slimmer but as soon as basic societies were formed we needed another way. A more civilised way.

Septic Tank Planning Permission

21st March 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

Do I require planning permission for a new septic tank or repairing an existing one?

Yes. Our advice is check with your local planning department but usually a new septic tank will require planning permission. Under normal circumstances, completely new septic tanks for new properties or developments will be included within the main planning approval for the new build project. The new septic tank will need to be installed in accordance with Building Regulations. If the new septic tank is replacing an existing system then Full Planning Permission may not be required, instead the work can be carried out under a Building Notice only, meeting the requirements of Building Regulations. It does not matter when your original tank was installed!

Septic Tank Drainage Fields and Soakaways

17th March 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

What are septic tank drainage fields?

Septic tank drainage fields are an integral part of a septic system. Often incorrectly called soakaways, a drainage field is much more than just a soakaway. A drainage field is a specifically designed arrangement of perforated pipework, laid in trenches to allow the effluent to filter into the ground. They are designed to ensure aerobic contact between effluent and the subsoil. Drainage fields need to be designed to individual requirements taking into consideration ground conditions, flows, property boundaries and many more factors.

Septic Tank Problems?

5th March 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

Do you have septic tank problems?

Septic tank problems such as blocked soakaways, collapsed tanks or systems that are just old and not working can be a real headache if you don’t understand. DJ Wilkinson can help you and give you friendly advice on all of your off mains drainage problems.

Septic Tank Regulations

4th March 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

Do you know what the septic tank regulations are?

The Environment Agency changed the regulations to simplify the laws controlling small sewage discharges from septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants in England. New regulations The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014 came into effect in January 2015.

The General Binding Rules set out the conditions in the regulations that allow a septic tank or sewage treatment plant to be used without an environmental permit.

As an operator of a septic tank or sewage treatment plant if you don’t you comply with the General Binding Rules you still need a permit. If you require a permit and do not have one enforcement action will be taken against you.

Equestrian Surface Drainage

15th February 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

Problems with equestrian surface drainage?

The drainage system of an equestrian surface, manege or riding arena is without doubt the most important thing to get right!

There is no point paying for an expensive surface if the drainage and below ground construction is poorly carried out. A poorly drained surface will lead to surfaces being frozen during the winter, water logged in the spring and autumn and generally un-rideable in the times in between. A well constructed arena will have drainage consisting of a series of trenches containing perforated pipe surrounded in a clean aggregate and geotextile membrane to ensure that water is drained quickly and cleanly from the arena surface. There are various ways to do this and it usually depends on the ground conditions involved.

Percolation Test

12th February 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

What is a percolation test?

A percolation test is a test to determine the absorption rate of soil for surface water soakaways or septic drainage fields. There are two common types of percolation test, they are different and not to be confused.

Landscaping – Raised Planting Beds

12th February 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

DJ Wilkinson offers a full range of landscaping services. Our small team ensures we provide a unique, professional and quality service. A recent project was for a private homeowner that wanted to turn a small piece of wasted ground into a new gardening area.

Private pumping station adoption?

11th February 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

What is happening?

Due to the changes in legislation, from 1 October 2016 all eligible private pumping stations will transfer to your local water company. This means the water company will be responsible for the servicing and maintenance of these stations including the running costs.

Buying or selling a house with a septic tank?

10th February 2016 by D J Wilkinson with 0 Comments

Buying or selling a house with a septic tank?

If you are buying or selling a property with a septic tank, sewage treatment plant or domestic pumping station you need to be aware of the risks involved.