People prefer to camp outside of the cities, in full view of beautiful, uninterrupted landscapes and away from the tall buildings, loud city noises – and mains drainage. Typically, caravan parks and campsites do not have access to the mains sewers and rely on their own wastewater treatment systems. Picking the correct sewage treatment plant for campsites is then crucial – a breakdown in the system can have drastic implications on the property, the business, and the experience of the holidaymakers.

With the UK holiday market growing ever larger and campsites becoming more and more popular, it is vital to make sure you have the correct system installed.

Note: Sewage Treatment Plants are not suitable for the disposal of chemical toilet waste such as those found in touring caravans and motorhomes. Drainstore can provide chemical toilet disposal units and tanks fit for this purpose – find out more about our Elsan tanks.

What are sewage treatment plants?

Similarly to septic tanks, sewage treatment plants are designed to handle wastewater. The difference is that they use bacteria to treat the sewage, making the effluent non-polluting and safe to discharge to streams or ditches. This means that the area surrounding the camp grounds is not threatened by the sewage, and the flora and fauna can remain healthy for all visitors to enjoy.

Despite some operational differences, sewage treatment plants all use the same general method for cleaning sewage prior to discharge. The foul water flows into a primary chamber, where solids are separated from the liquid via gravity and stored for later removal (typically once a year). The remaining liquid flows into a secondary chamber, where compressed air is pumped in. This allows naturally occurring aerobic bacteria to take care of remaining pollutants in the sewage. The bacteria is then removed from the water, which then flows out to be discharged in a soakaway or to a watercourse.

Preparing the campsite for a sewage treatment plant

Some sewage treatment plants, such as the Klargester Biodisc, use rotating discs to allow maximum contact between the sewage and the bacteria. Other plants use compressed air – as such, sewage treatment plants will need a power source.

In cases where the treated effluent will be discharged to a stream or river, or are within a natural conservation area, Environmental Agency approval may be required. The new rules for septic tanks and sewage treatment plants came into effect in 2020 – even if you already have a sewage treatment plant you should make sure that it complies with the General Binding Rules to avoid financial and legal issues. If you are unsure, please get in touch with our experts who have experience with installing drainage in many situations and can help ensure your system is correct and follows the law. You can also find more information and check if you will need a permit at gov.uk.

How to choose the right sewage plant

There are strict rules for choosing the a sewage treatment plant given the number of people who will be producing wastewater (known as the population size), as well as the number of facilities. Campsites in particular have extra considerations, as the demand of the sewage plant will vary with seasonal holidays, weather, and even between weekdays and weekends. As such, you will need to make sure your sewage treatment can handle both peak demand as well as the low points.

We can advise you on the correct plant to install, as well as the best methods to ensure the long lifetime of your system.

Drainstore are experts in installing sewage treatment plants. If you have any queries or are looking for advice, call us on 01773 306681 or use our contact form.