How to Install a Greywater Treatment Plant

Do you need to install a greywater treatment plant? Are you considering the benefits of installing one? And what are the benefits to you? Then this overview of how to install a greywater treatment plant may be just what you need. Installing a greywater treatment plant can be a vital solution for growing communities, new developments, and even established properties seeking greater independence from city sewers.

Can you install a greywater treatment plant yourself?

To be honest, we do not recommend installing a greywater treatment plant yourself unless you are 100% confident in your ability to do so. If installed incorrectly, a non-main sewer system can leave you with a nasty mess; both physically and legally. Hiring a professional contractor to do the installation for you is the best way to give you peace of mind that your system is suitable for your needs, reliable, and compliant.

How to Install a Greywater Treatment Plant

Here we need to reiterate our recommendation that a wastewater treatment plant should always be installed by a suitably trained and qualified professional. If any part of your sewerage system is installed incorrectly, you could face repair costs, and potentially hefty fines, that will be much greater than the original cost.

Step 1 – Check the Equipment

Once a greywater treatment plant has been delivered, the following checks should be carried out before installation can begin:

• Check the tank for damage – tanks are usually fully tested and inspected, but it is not uncommon for them to be damaged during transport and unloading. Make sure that the tank is thoroughly inspected upon arrival, as most manufacturers will not accept claims for damage once the tank has been installed.
• Check the correct diversion depths – You should have already checked the depth of the incoming pipes during the site survey and project design phase and ordered a tank with the appropriate diversion levels. However, it is worth double-checking this, to ensure that the physical tank delivered will remain connected to your existing pipes and remain within the maximum allowable depth.
• Read the full installation manual that your tank manufacturer will provide you with carefully.
• Ensure you have the correct building regulations approval.
• If necessary, ensure you have obtained discharge approval from the Environment Agency.
• Have a pump available on site in case the hole you are digging starts to fill with either rising groundwater or heavy rain during installation.
• Positioning the tank – Check your planned installation location against the instructions in your installation manual, as the manufacturer may recommend additional conditions and minimum distances for their tank.

Step 2 – Digging the hole

You will need to dig a hole large enough for both the tank and any recommended backfill, making sure you follow the manufacturer’s detailed health and safety instructions which will be provided in the manual as you do this.

Step 3 – Installing the base

Your greywater treatment plant will need a solid, stable base to rest on in the hole to prevent unnecessary pressure on it during operation. This will often need to be concrete, but check the manufacturer’s recommendations in their installation manual to be sure.

Step 4 – Installing the Tank

Once you’ve allowed enough time for the base to set. You’ll now need to lower the tank into the pit and secure it in place. Make sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended jacking system. Check the inlet and outlet directions correctly, and make sure the tank is level.

Step 5 – Backfill the Pit

With the tank in place, it’s time to backfill the pit to make sure it stays secure in the ground. Concrete, gravel, or sand are the most common recommendations for suitable backfill materials. However, check your instruction manual to see what the manufacturer recommends and follow their steps first and foremost.

Step 6 – Connecting the Pipes

Assuming everything has gone according to plan so far, connecting the pipes to the inlet and outlet points of the tank should be fairly easy. The inlet should receive the connection from the property and the outlet should connect to the drain pipes.

However, it’s worth noting that some manufacturers recommend additional inspection chambers before and after the treatment plant. This will make it easier to access for maintenance should problems arise in the future. Be sure to review your installation manual and follow its recommendations.

Step 7 – Connect the Power

Next, you will need to connect the power that will power the treatment plant.

This was just a basic overview of the important points to do when installing a greywater treatment plant. It is by no means a comprehensive guide; that is what the manufacturer’s installation guide is for. However, it should at least give you an idea of ​​the general steps involved. CareWater team of experts and technicians is always happy to answer any questions you may have.