Whether you’re an organisation operating in a remote location or a residential owner without access to a mains sewer, you’re likely using one or more on-site wastewater treatment units to manage your waste. Responsibility for compliance with wastewater treatment and disposal carries considerable risk if carried out inaccurately, and septic systems can be costly to repair if problems arise. These best practices for effective on-site wastewater management will help you stay within the law and keep costs down.

Businesses in the construction industry produce various hazardous waste materials as part of their daily operations. This waste generated includes wastewater, which must be handled and disposed of in line with UK regulations governing waste management.

Ships operating in the maritime or cruise industries often have large numbers of people on board using toilets, showers, sinks and laundry facilities. This generates substantial volumes of wastewater that require careful handling.

Businesses in the brewing industry must manage the waste produced during beer production responsibly. This guide outlines the types of wastewater breweries generate and the methods available to dispose of this waste in compliance with industrial wastewater regulations.

Construction sites in remote locations must provide sanitary facilities that meet current health and environmental standards. Without access to mains drainage, it falls to construction managers to put reliable systems in place to collect, contain, and remove wastewater safely.

Construction sites have a legal obligation to provide potable water (or drinking water) at locations throughout the site. Because of its accessibility, this water is often used for a range of applications, despite the fact that they do not demand water that meets the quality standards of drinking water. The use of potable water for these applications can increase operational costs without any specific benefits.

Maintaining a commercial septic tank effectively is fundamental to keeping your business running smoothly and within environmental regulations. While it is sometimes tempting to ignore a septic system until a problem arises, proactive maintenance services and inspections are vital, both to compliance and to the functioning of the system. A well-maintained system supports daily operations, protects the surrounding environment and extends the lifespan of your wastewater infrastructure, while failures can result in service disruptions, expensive repairs and even regulatory penalties in serious cases.

When a septic tank emergency arises, the consequences can be extremely serious. Even if you rely on regular maintenance and frequent septic tank pumping, varying capacity or unforeseen breakdowns of a septic system can lead to environmental damage, health hazards and regulatory penalties for businesses, so it is vital to organise emergency drainage services or repairs when needed.

Construction contractors planning to install a sewage system with an on-site treatment plant, or those designing systems for third-party transportation and disposal of septic tank foulwater, must meet specific regulatory standards throughout the planning and construction process. All works must comply with relevant legislation covering system design, siting, discharge, and waste handling.