What’s the difference between a Septic Tank and a Treatment Plant?

Septic tanks and sewage treatment plants are often confused as the same thing – they are not.  One of the largest differences is that septic tank discharge is very polluting, and the discharge from a treatment plant, as the name suggests, has been treated and can normally discharge to a watercourse.

Septic Tanks

Septic tanks are usually underground tanks where domestic wastewater flows for basic bacterial processing.  They work by separating the solids and liquids, usually filtering the liquids into a separate chamber and onwards into a drainage field to be dispersed into the ground. The remaining sludge is partially broken down through anaerobic digestion and requires emptying regularly.  Septic tanks don’t require electricity and need emptying every 6-12 months.  Take a look at our range of Septic Tanks.

Sewage Treatment Plants

Sewage Treatment Plants, in contrast, are an eco-friendly solution as they use naturally occurring bacteria to treat and digest the organic matter. This means the liquid from the plant is non-polluting and can normally discharge to a stream or a drainage field.  They require electricity as they need air to circulate to encourage bacteria. Depending on the tank they need emptying every 12 months; some only every 3-5 years. Take a look at our range of Sewage Treatment Plants.

Cesspools

A Cesspool is essentially a holding tank, sometimes known as a cesspit. It has no outlet and has to be emptied when full. It is a solution when the options of discharging to a stream or to the ground are not possible. Take a look at our range of Cesspools.