Wilkinsons

Still learning. 10+ years experience and I can still be surprised by what I come across. I have to side with the EA. There are a lot of systems not being maintained correctly from single house to multiple house units. The rule changes coming into practice in 2020 are focusing peoples attention on whether the installed unit is upto scratch which has to be a good thing for the environment.

2 people using a 6 population Equivalent extended filtration sewage treatment system should not produce a blocked protective media mesh! The reason. Home baking. It looks as though the yeast washed down the drain is surviving and thriving in the sewage treatment system.

Weeks of servicing normal, everyday treatment systems. Then along comes a septic tank with a blocked outlet pipe!! The dip pipe has broken off so rodding possible. Rods hit an obstruction at about 8 metres. Ask a company with camera and jetting capabilities to see if they can clear it. No joy. Lots of investigation and head scratching later found another hidden septic tank off to one site cut into solid sandstone. Long discussions as to how in the 1950's they cut 6 to 8 feet down into solid sandstone. Hammer and chisel !!!

Another challenge!! Came across a septic tank which someone had tried to convert into a sewage treatment system. Not a bad attempt, but, boy, did it take a while to work out what he had done.

A busy few weeks talking sewage, servicing a variety of systems and setting up an old system to work in a modern way.

Recently attended a meeting for the off mains sewage industry. Changes afoot? From 2020 all septic tank discharges into streams will have to be upgraded to sewage treatment systems!

At last foul drainage job completed. Unusual in that it was in clay not plastic and controlled by Southern Water not Building Control.

Ready to get back to work tomorrow. Busy week with an old clinker bed to refurbish, drainage work to continue and normal servicing. Enjoyed walking on Ashdown Forest over the holidays with clear skys.

Busy day yesterday servicing and repairing sewage systems. Started in Fulmer with an old Clearwater system, Rickmansworth Klargester biodisc, Chalfont St Giles and Ilmer for 2 more Biodiscs then Marlow for a small old Clearwater system before losing the light. Last 2 stops at Wokingham and Woking.

Came across a new problem with an aeration blower this week. I've been dealing with these blowers for close on 10 years. Never met an internal broken 'flappy' valve before. Easier to fix than diagnose!

Great to finish the installation of a large local unit. Needed to talk to everyone I met over the time on site to feel happy that the unit is right for the site. Now all it needs is for the maintenance staff to look after it. These systems are 'living' and use bacteria and other micro organisms to 'clean' the sewage effluent passing through. Maintenance staff need to understand a system can be prevented from working at an optimum level by allowing fats, oils and grease into the system. Chemicals designed to kill bacteria should only be used in moderation or excluded altogether.

It pays to have a website! Took a phone call last week which means I've been busy for a week on a local project. The best bit is that helping out could lead to servicing the unit in the future.

Life seems a little mundane after Baghdad. That's perhaps why WWS are teasing me with an attachment showing the Falklands. Do I really what to go that far??
Several new jobs in the last month from people who have recently moved into new properties. Surveyors don't seem to want to say too much to their clients. I'm not sure its good practice as the new owners can be landed with large bills due to neglect.

Back from working close to Baghdad. 37 degree heat. Fantastic local work force. Feel that I have left the sewage treatment system in good hands. May need to go back in 6 months to discuss an upgrade. Not looking forward to the travel, 12 hours in Dubai airport waiting for a connection isn't my idea of fun.

After a false start last weekend, tomorrow I fly to Baghdad!!

Just submitted my Iraq visa application. Very complicated!! Now we wait and see, have suggested 17th April as a fly date.

Still no Iraq trip. I must be difficult to check up on? Perhaps they can't find a farming family from Lancashire. Trouble is temperatures are now rising and I don't fancy working in 50 degree heat.

WOW!
Just received an application form for a visa to IRAQ !!! Should I go ?? Life insurance available. Well paid. Temperatures reasonable. Back for Christmas!!

Several weeks servicing units then a nice installation near Lingfield race course. Could see the installation location from the East Grinstead to London railway line on a day out - Charity visit to the old BT tower. Yes it does still rotate.

Work comes in from many sources. Forest Row Community Website. Nice to be working local again. Bit of a challenge this one as is the Chichester job. Pleased I'm independent, it means I can source the right unit for the right job. No I havn't been to Irag yet.

Blimey !! Just had a question thrown at me. Do I want to go to Iraq to look at a job.

Sometimes a real surprise where work comes from. Talked to R.A.M.S.A.K last week. An agricultural machinery co-op which serves Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Essex. Working in South Benfleet next week. Might look in at the yacht club for lunch

Wow!! A quiet few months servicing small treatment units, then I'm asked to look at a system which isn't working. The size of which (population equivalent) is over 3,000.

Another conversion successfully completed. This time just a small 600 gallon septic tank needed converting into a sewage treatment unit. Each of the conversions presented a different problem which has kept me on my toes.

Had some good news yesterday. A project which took 3 months to complete has been passed by the Environment Agency, saving the client approximately £30,000.00.

Took a day off yesterday to complete one of my 'bucket list'. Went grape picking at a local vineyard. Needed muscles I hadn't used for a while. Quite sore by the end of the day.
You don't has to go to Africa for safaris? Knepp castle a privately owned estate has been labelled as the largest rewilding project in lowland Europe. Free roaming Longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, Exmoor ponies and deer can be seen on the estate. Plenty of bird life also flying around.

Reed beds can be used as the main part of a treatment system or as the final tertiary 'polishing' section. Came across a reed bed which had been installed to 'polish' but due to problems with the manufactured system was needed as the main treatment section.This worked very well until the manufactured system was upgraded.

Another interesting job completed. A Klargester conversion! System flooded last winter. Client wanted all the electrics moved above flood level.so converted it to a submerged aeration system.

Brilliant long weekend on the Isle of Wight watching the yachts in the round the island race. Friendly people, good weather and great walking. Even managed to spot a sewage treatment unit!