News

2nd January 2019 by OMDI

People buying or selling a property with a septic tank should familiarise themselves with the new government regulations to avoid significant expenses and delays to the process.

If the property that you wish to buy or sell has a non-compliant septic tank on its land, this must be replaced or updated before the property can change hands.

Familiarising yourself with the government’s new septic tank regulations can help you to identify problems with a septic tank early on and have it updated accordingly.

What are the new regulations?

The new septic tank General Binding Rules were bought into force by the government in January 2015 in order to reduce pollution from sewage. Under the new rules, septic tanks cannot discharge water into public water courses like streams, canals and rivers, instead, water should be discharged into a drainage field. There are different rules depending on where your septic tank discharges and the volume being discharged per day. You can view the full information about the General Binding Rules on the government website here. Septic tank owners have until January 2020 to update or replace non-compliant systems.

What do the regulations mean for buying or selling a property?

If you are thinking about selling a property with a non-compliant septic tank, then you should get it updated prior to putting the property on the market to avoid problems later on.

Properties with non-compliant septic tanks are legally unsellable and could cause problems with your mortgage application if you apply before the septic tank has been updated.

Buyers considering purchasing a property with a septic tank should consider hiring a surveyor to inspect the tank and ensure that it is compliant with the new regulations and in good working order.

If a property’s septic tank does not meet the government’s new regulations, then selling the property will trigger the requirement to replace or upgrade the septic tank. This will cause considerable expenses and delays to the property changing hands, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to update the system before putting your property up for sale.

What other information is required?

Key information that should be provided when buying or selling a property with a septic tank includes:

Detailed information about the septic tank’s design.
The location of the septic tank and its drainage field.
Instructions for use and maintenance.
Records for any maintenance carried out or changes made to the system (these should be kept for at least 7 years).

Speak to a specialist

If you need any help understanding the new regulations or require advice from a specialist on how to become compliant, get in touch with the team of experts at OMDI by calling for free on 01977 800 418. OMDI have been providing a full turnkey septic tank and drainage solution for over 20 years and can help with servicing, installing, upgrading or decommissioning your septic tank.

28th November 2018 by OMDI

A blocked drain can be a nightmare, causing all sorts of health hazards and affecting the smooth running of your home or business. There are many reasons why your drain may become blocked; unfortunately, those reasons only tend to be revealed when the problem occurs.

Thankfully, there are several things you can do to prevent these costly and time-wasting blockages occurring in the first place. The best place to start is with a drain survey.

Modern technology has advanced significantly over the years and the plumbing industry has gained many new tools to help with the job. Traditional methods result in expensive excavation and long hours of labour, but now the job is more reliable and cost-effective. Here’s why you need a drain survey.

What Is a CCTV Drain Survey?

Most people know CCTV (closed circuit television) to be a security feature. However, it’s now an invaluable tool when used for drain inspections, thanks to its versatility and accuracy.

Plumbers carrying out a drain survey lower the camera into the piping system, so they can see the condition of pipes that aren’t visible from the surface. Those images are sent in a live feed to the plumber on a TV screen, allowing them to identify any problems.

This is great for homeowners who suspect a blockage or property developers wanting to make sure a draining system is in good condition before making an investment.

By carrying out a drain survey, problems can easily be identified and dealt with before more costly issues arise. It allows the plumber to find the root cause of the problem easily and completely remove it, preventing reoccurring blockages from happening. This offers a cost-effective solution for the homeowner, since they won’t have to repeatedly call out a plumber to deal with blockages.

It makes sense to get a drain survey annually on all major drainage systems, whether they’re presenting problems or not, as it saves you from potential big bills in the future.

If you want to obtain a drain survey at your property, contact drain specialists OMDI today.

6th October 2018 by OMDI

Why You Need A Surface Water Drainage System

Surface water drainage systems provide a natural approach to managing surface water to help lower your sewerage bill and reduce the risk of flooding.

If surface water drains from your property into a public sewer, then the sewerage company will remove and process the water and charge you accordingly for the service.

During heavy rainfall our sewers can become overloaded, resulting in flooding becoming more common over recent years. To counteract the problem, the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 has restricted developers’ rights to connect new builds to public sewers and instead encourages the use of sustainable drainage systems.

How does it work?

Drainage systems come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, to suit different property types and environments. All sustainable surface water drainage systems generally work by slowing the flow of surface water running off a property, storing water, and using natural processes to filter the water and break down pollutants before releasing it back into the ground or a natural water source.

Why use a surface water drainage system?

Benefits of using a surface water drainage system include:

Lower your bills – drain away surface water yourself to avoid extra charges from your local sewerage company.
Reduces risk of flooding – public sewers are overloaded and at risk of flooding during heavy rain. Sustainable drainage solutions are very important to tackling flooding, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Reduces your carbon footprint – less water being directed into the public sewers means less processing and so less energy used.
Replenishes ground water – allows you to use surface water as a resource rather than disposing of it as waste.

Here at OMDI we are specialists at building a variety of surface water drainage systems including soakaways, drainage fields and surface water crates with attenuation tanks. Give our specialists a call on 01977 800 418 to receive advice and guidance on the type of system most suited to your individual requirements.

24th September 2018 by OMDI

Why You Shouldn’t Flush Baby Wipes

Our love of all things quick and convenient has meant that the popularity of disposable wet wipes has grown exponentially over recent years.

Once primarily used for changing nappies, wet wipes have now found their way into many other areas of our daily routine including cleaning, using the toilet and removing makeup.

Many people give little thought to the consequences of using so many disposable wipes, and confusing labelling by manufacturers leads people to believe that certain types of wipe are ok to flush.

Whilst some wipes clearly state that they should not be flushed, others are misleadingly marketed as biodegradable or ‘flushable’ when they can still cause blockages and plastic pollution if flushed.

The key problems caused by flushing disposable wipes are:

Blocked plumbing and sewage

According to an article in The Guardian last year, a report by Water UK found that wet wipes make up 93% of UK sewer blockages. Even wipes marked as biodegradable don’t usually biodegrade quickly enough to avoid causing a blockage. Remember London’s infamous ‘fatberg’? Wet wipes played a big part in its creation. When wet wipes become stuck in our sewers, globules of fat stick to them and then all kinds of other things get caught up in the mass too.

Expense

Whether it’s money out of your own pocket to unblock your home’s pipes, or out of the water utility’s for a blockage in the public sewers or drains, unblocking pipes can be an expensive business. As a country we are now shelling out over £100m a year on blockages that are primarily caused by our love affair with disposable wet wipes.

Plastic pollution

Many people don’t realise that disposable wipes contain plastic. The blockages they cause in our sewers causes overflow into our seas and other waterways, taking lots more plastic with it. When wet wipes do eventually break down, they often break down into microplastics that are ingested by river and sea wildlife and then enter our food chain.

Wet wipes have become such a problem the government are hoping to ban them as part of a crackdown on damaging disposable plastic. Think before you flush to help tackle this environmental problem to prevent it becoming even more expensive and damaging.

22nd August 2018 by OMDI

What Are Grey Water Systems?

The water used in UK homes is clean drinking water (known as potable water), which generally comes in through the mains and exits through the sewer. Fifty to eighty per cent of a household’s wastewater comes from baths, showers, washing machines, sinks and dishwashers. This is referred to as grey water.

It’s called grey water because usually, it has no contact with human waste, unlike toilet water, which is known as black water. This makes greywater easier to treat and recycle, as there is no faecal matter involved that can contain harmful bacteria and disease-causing pathogens.

If greywater is recycled properly, it can save approximately 70 litres of water per person per day in domestic households. Therefore, greywater recycling systems are one of the best ways to decrease water usage.

How Does Grey Water Recycling Work?

Grey water is never going to be safe to drink, even when treated. However, recycled water may be used to flush toilets, wash clothes and water your garden.

It’s important to reduce the amount of drinkable water we use for things that don’t require fresh water. If we can use treated grey water instead, we’ll save more potable water.

A grey water system filters water, removing dangerous bacteria so it’s safe to use. There are various different systems you can use to treat grey water, and they vary in complexity. Once treated, the water is linked back to the desired appliances for use, thus saving potable water.

A new greywater system will vary in price depending on the system you wish to use, but like all recyclable solutions will definitely save you money in the long run.

To find out more about greywater systems or to request a quote, contact OMDI. With over two decades’ experiences designing greywater systems for commercial and domestic buildings, we’ll suggest the right solution for your property.

8th August 2018 by OMDI

The Benefits of Septic Tanks

There are many advantages attached to using septic tanks. Septic tanks are frequently used by people in properties not connected to local government sewage pipes, though they are also used by people who simply prefer them because of their benefits. The tanks are installed underground and use natural processes to treat sewage. They normally feature two chambers. The wastewater separates in the first chamber, with the clarified water entering the second chamber before exiting the system through an outlet pipe. The solids and scum left in the first chamber are removed by experienced professionals.

A Low-Maintenance Solution

Septic tanks require only a small amount of maintenance and space. Very little training is needed to use a septic tank. The tanks are often found in rural environments and can also help you reduce your sewage bills. They are also an eco-friendly option due to the way the wastewater won’t harm the environment or contaminate groundwater. Septic tanks only cost a modest amount to install and can last for many years before they need to be replaced. The clean water that exits the system also generates plant growth for animals and birds.

Better for the Environment

People who own septic tanks quickly learn to be more responsible when it comes to what they wash or flush down drains and sinks. Cooking oil, grease, coffee grounds, pharmaceuticals and various other items can damage your system. Once you have got into the habit of not flushing or washing these items away, it becomes easier to avoid these behaviours when using conventional sewage systems.

Septic Tanks From OMDI

At OMDI, we have been designing, installing and repairing septic tanks for more than two decades, including systems manufactured from concrete, brick, fibreglass or polyethelene.

To find out more, call 01977 800 418 or send an e-mail to enquiries@omdi.co.uk.

News

What are the new regulations?