Foul Treatment Plants 

Foul treatment plants and foul drainage fields do not have a finite design life, and depending on maintenance regularity the life expectancy of the treatment plant can be in the region of 15 years.   The life expectance of a drainage field from a septic tank is possibly in the region of 20 to 25 years. 

However many domestic septic tanks and drainage fields have been in place for longer periods, and that is when the problems can start to occur.  The stone around the drainage field needs replacing and the septic tank which was suitable for the expected usage at the time it was installed can now be under capacity due to revised regulations and the extra discharge to the system from washing machines and dishwashers etc. 

Septic tanks can be in a number of forms, such as brick concrete or the fibreglass onion shape tank and more recently low profile cylindrical or rectangular shaped tanks. 

Sumner Consultancy can provide reports on the condition of treatment plants and septic tanks as well as providing design solutions for new sites.