Anybody any inf on this system please

Just a Plinker

Hi all hope I'm in the right section, ( if not please let me know) I'm having some trouble with grey water in the garden, It's not much but it is seeping up at what I assume is the end of my perculation area right in the middle of the 3 pipes about 2 feet square, Has anyone used ,or know of this system, I would be gratefull of your input (expertise)


http://www.pirana.ie/
Rgds
all

Poor Uncle Tom

Is there any certification, Agrement Board or EN?

Just a Plinker

Don't know Uncle Tom had a nice chap up this afternoon about it just going to do some more research on it before I commit

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Is there any certification, Agrement Board or EN?

Poor Uncle Tom

It seems very expensive as a lot of the one off treatment systems can be bought for the same price and if it doesn't come accredited I can't see it ever being specified by any indemnified assessor on a LA list.

Just a Plinker

Thanks Uncle tom, he gave me numbers of people that have had it installed I will ring them on monday, It just seems to good to be true, If there are other systems you know of please let me know as I really can't afford to be stung, And again sorry about yesterday I really did not mean to spam this around

Rgds

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

It seems very expensive as a lot of the one off treatment systems can be bought for the same price and if it doesn't come accredited I can't see it ever being specified by any indemnified assessor on a LA list.

Poor Uncle Tom

OK, so first of all can you say when the system was installed?
Was it installed as it was designed?
What is the total percolation piping length?
What size family does the system cater for?
What was the results of the T or P tests?
Is there a high watertable in the area?
Do you have room to provide extra/reserve percolation?

Sorry about all the questions but it could be just a case that you need more percolation area and if that is the case it will not cost you anything like the price of this or any treatment system. If you don't have all the answers to the above that's ok, whatever you can answer.

Just a Plinker

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

OK, so first of all can you say when the system was installed? The chap yesterday said it is a two chamber tank
Was it installed as it was designed? it was installed 10 years ago never saw the specs
What is the total percolation piping length? About 25 to 35 feet from the tank to the pipes sticking up out of the ground.
What size family does the system cater for? there are 3 of us
What was the results of the T or P tests? Don't know
Is there a high watertable in the area? No I don't think so it is on a severe slope down from the tank
Do you have room to provide extra/reserve percolation? Just about

Sorry about all the questions but it could be just a case that you need more percolation area and if that is the case it will not cost you anything like the price of this or any treatment system. If you don't have all the answers to the above that's ok, whatever you can answer.

Thanks Uncle Tom

Just a Plinker

Uncle Tom here are a few pics of the tank and the water seeping up, this is what is visable ,the ground around it is boggy for about 12 inches to two feet at the sides, I hope I'm not being to forward but I need this sorted as my 5 year old is now playing (jumping in the water) And I still need to plump the washing machine into it?

Again my thanks
http://pix.ie/plinker/2798806

rayjdav

Where is the perc area in relation to the tank. At bottom of slope in last pic I assume? Where is the ponding in the pic?

Can you look down the vent to see if it is blocked or at least stick a rod/stick down to see if it gets wet, i.e. your pipe perforations are blocked causing the system to back up.

Can you access the distribution box? (between the tank and the perc area). If the piping system is blocked, there is a good chance that the effluent is backing up here and prob making it's way to the house:eek:. If the tank has not been emptied in a good few years this may be your problem;). Check manholes between tank and house.

If not, as PUT said, there is no point putting an expensive system into the existing tank, if other aspects of the system are obviously not working. You must find the cause and start there....

Poor Uncle Tom

rayjdav is spot on, I would imagine from what you describe and show, the existing percolation area is blocked up. If the planning permission is over 10 years old it is likely the designer/agent would have had to leave enough space for a reserve percolation area.

Ideally, you need to get your hands on an original site layout plan to find out where the reserve percolation area is shown and you will most likely need to construct it. Then if the new percolation area lasts for 10 years you could switch back to the existing one which should be ready for use again.

It is worth getting a good local AT on site to advise you on this before making any decision, but it is worth noting that putting extra bacteria into the septic tank will not reduce the volume of liquids which need to percolate through the soil and therefore will not reduce the existing ponding on the ground, only a fresh percolation area will do that.

EngTech

It looks like an interesting product, but as has been stated above, if it isn't certified nobody can stand over its performance.
Also, any changes you make to a treatment system technically needs planning permission.

Regardless, it appears to be more of a soakage issue rather than a treatment issue.
First, try to establish if there are any basic faults, i.e;
Is it possible that your surface water is discharging to the septic tank?
Does your septic tank need to be desludged?

It is possible that the percolation area is poorly designed/installed.

If you cant establish what the issue is yourself, it'd be best to contact a registered site assessor (not necessarily an AT) to inspect and advise. There should be a list of registered site assessors on your local councils website.

In the meantime, I would strongly advise to restrict your childs access to the area!

rayjdav

EngTech wrote: »

In the meantime, I would strongly advise to restrict your childs access to the area!

Just to also add to this, get yourself a couple of Vent Caps asap too, they are missing from your photograph to the tank. You dont want kiddies favourite toys or worse getting into/stuck in the tank. Also prevents vermin working their way back up the system too:eek::eek:

Just a Plinker

Cheers rayjdav The pic taken up the slope, I was standing at the pipe coming up from the ground the water ir about 6 to 8 feet up from that, The up pipes are full of water, the manhole after the septic tank were the 3 pipes for the perculation area seems to be fine, It was emptied about 6 years ago, there is solid muck in the second champer of the tank don't know if this is good??

Thanks mate

rayjdav wrote: »

Where is the perc area in relation to the tank. At bottom of slope in last pic I assume? Where is the ponding in the pic?

Can you look down the vent to see if it is blocked or at least stick a rod/stick down to see if it gets wet, i.e. your pipe perforations are blocked causing the system to back up.

Can you access the distribution box? (between the tank and the perc area). If the piping system is blocked, there is a good chance that the effluent is backing up here and prob making it's way to the house:eek:. If the tank has not been emptied in a good few years this may be your problem;). Check manholes between tank and house.

If not, as PUT said, there is no point putting an expensive system into the existing tank, if other aspects of the system are obviously not working. You must find the cause and start there....

Just a Plinker

LOL done it today but I'm missing an up pipe must have been burried by the digger when we were havig the garden done

rayjdav wrote: »

Just to also add to this, get yourself a couple of Vent Caps asap too, they are missing from your photograph to the tank. You dont want kiddies favourite toys or worse getting into/stuck in the tank. Also prevents vermin working their way back up the system too:eek::eek: