Graf UK offers free commissioning of its sewage treatment plants, in an attempt to address common challenges caused by poor or incorrect installation. Here, national sales manager Steve Righton answers Project Scotland’s questions about the service and explains why it is so necessary.
Q) Why did you decide to offer a free commissioning service, and what impact has this had?
A) One of the largest challenges for Graf UK as a manufacturer/supplier of sewage treatment plants (STPs) is the education of the end user (homeowner). A STP is a lifetime investment, so its installation, commissioning and long-term maintenance is very important for its wellbeing, similar to having your car MOTd and serviced.
A high percentage of our STPs are sold via distribution – online shops, builders’ merchants and so on, so we have no control over who installs the system, their knowledge of STPs and the quality of the installation. In addition, the system needs commissioning, and an annual service agreement set up. In our experience, installations by non-specialist installers more often than not result in problems with the STP due to the poor-quality installation and setup. So, to combat these issues, we came up with the idea of free commissioning.
As mentioned above, our target market was end users who purchased via distributors, with little or no direct contact with us or our service provider network. To date, we have carried out 600 free commissionings, at the current rate of 60-80 per month. The feedback from end users and our service provider network has been very positive, with the former finding it hard to believe we offer the service for free! When the free commissioning has been completed and signed off, we issue a one-year warranty, with the option to extend to three years if a service agreement is taken out with an accredited Graf UK service provider.
Q) What are some of the issues associated with incorrect installation?
A) There are many but a recent one was when our engineer started the commissioning check process and quickly realised the tank had been installed the wrong way round! As it had been installed using granular backfill, the installer was able to remove it and re-install it the correct way round. Even with a granular backfill, it was testament to the strength of the Graf tank that it wasn’t damaged during this process. This was all sorted within a week and our engineer returned to commission and sign off shortly afterwards.
Aeration is also critical to the efficient operation of the STP so poor installation of air hoses – kinked or damaged hoses, loose jubilee connections etc – will affect this process, affect treatment performance, and potentially pollute the local environment.
Low and high-level vents are also critical for the ventilation of all treatment plants. Air is drawn through the STP from the low-level up to the high-level vent to remove any internal odours created during the agitation of the effluent. High-level vents should be above the gutter line, so they have access to any available breeze to assist the draw. Durgo valves or similar should not be used as they obstruct the venting process.
Q) What systems is this service available with, and what does the commissioning process involve?
A) Initially, it was available for all Graf treatment plants up to 28 population in size. We are planning to increase this to 70. The process involves optimising the system’s components, such as compressor, control panel and air hoses, through a visual check to ensure all parts are installed as per installation instructions. We then test all running parts and check any additional accessories to ensure they’re working as designed and talk about how the system works with the homeowner.
Q) How important is ongoing maintenance and servicing of these systems?
A) Regular maintenance is vital to keep an STP operating smoothly. As mentioned, you can liken it to your car or boiler service. After commissioning, we recommend annual servicing for systems up to 18 population (larger systems may need more regular servicing). By maximising the STP’s performance, they minimise maintenance needs, preserve the product’s lifespan, and reduce the possibility of having to buy replacement parts or the need for potentially expensive repairs. It also gives peace of mind by safeguarding the end user from potential legal concerns and penalties.
Q) What factors should customers consider when purchasing a wastewater treatment plant?
A) Use a SBR (Sequence Batch Reactor) treatment process which produces high-quality effluent that adheres to the most stringent levels imposed by local regulating bodies (especially in Scotland!) and is future-proofed against regulation changes.
Use manufacturers who are prepared to visit site to analyse all aspects of the scheme so the most cost-effective long-term solution can be designed. Projects such as remote hotels or holiday parks, like those found throughout Scotland, have their own issues. Their seasonal highs and lows might benefit from a multi-line STP where one or more lines are shut down during the off-peak season to cater for lower numbers but still maintain a high effluent quality which would result in significant power savings over time.
Last but not least, when it comes to the long-term future of our environment, designing sustainability into a STP is easily done by specifying a system manufactured from recycled plastic.
Q) How important is the Scottish market to the Graf business?
A) Scotland is very important to us because few STPs meet the stringent Scottish regulations quite as well as our systems, so there is huge potential for us and the network of service providers we already have in place in Scotland who will only use our systems for this reason.
Q) How do your products/offering stand out in a competitive marketplace?
A) Our products stand out in terms of their performance and sustainability as mentioned earlier, and our offering has extended even further with the free commissioning. But we are never complacent and are constantly working with installers and authorities to find solutions to the ever-increasing requirements.
A video with a Graf engineer explaining the free commissioning step-by-step is available via https://www.grafuk.co.uk/sewage-treatment/commissioning/.
