Be prepared for new wastewater treatment regulations
April 1st 2008

Significant changes to small wastewater treatment systems are due to come into force in July this year. Alex Best, marketing manager of WPL warns of the dangers of being unprepared for the new European regulations and considers the implications for the industry

From July 2008, compliance with BS EN 12566-3:2005, which covers small wastewater treatment systems for up to 50 people, will become a legal requirement in the UK. It will relate to plants with tanks made of concrete, steel, PVC-U, polyethylene, polypropylene and glass reinforced polyester. Packaged and/or site assembled wastewater treatment plants must all comply with the new standards.

BS EN 12566-3 is the British version of the European-wide harmonised construction products standard which replaces all national standards. From July 2008, only sewage treatment plants which have been type tested and approved to the new standard and CE marked can be marketed in this country. Merchants and other suppliers will not be able to sell noncompliant products, and those involved in specifying and installing such equipment must ensure that it complies with the new requirements from the due date.Trading Standards will enforce the regulations to ensure non-compliant treatment plants are not sold or installed.

It is, therefore, vital that all links in the supply chain understand their obligations under BS EN 12566-3, from architects and consultants to installers and merchants.Although it does not apply until July, all those involved in selecting wastewater treatment systems should specify or order compliant products now or they may find that when it comes to installing their selected system it may not meet the full requirements of the European standard. Such an error could disrupt a build schedule proving costly in terms of the specifier's reputation and contract delays – so there is a lot at stake for all parties. By considering a package sewage treatment plant that is already CE marked in readiness these potential problems will be avoided.

Products that bear the CE Mark reassure the purchaser that the product meets all the essential requirements of relevant European Directives relating to health and safety. But what does CE accreditation mean when it comes to wastewater treatment systems? Independent tests are undertaken to assess the system's sewage treatment efficiency and ensure it meets the required process performance standard.The levels of BOD5 (the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in 5 days by biological processes), Suspended Solids and Ammonia NH4-N are all tested for a specified volume of incoming 'standard' effluent to determine the plant's efficiency.The WPL Diamond Sewage Treatment Plant, for example, has been verified as fully compliant by independent assessment through Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA), and carries the CE mark.

The WPL Diamond offers selfbuilders, architects and specifiers a wastewater treatment solution that meets current and future regulations.

The portfolio includes: the Diamond DMS range for 1-20 people, and the Diamond DMC range for 21-55 people.The Diamond is specifically designed for simple installation, high quality, odour free treatment and low maintenance and running costs. Its simple design and robust construction ensure reliable operation, with no integral moving parts. In addition to its CE accreditation, the Diamond is fully compliant with UK Building Regulations and standard Environment Agency and SEPA specifications.

The CE effluent testing programme of WPL's Diamond system was conducted over 38 weeks and the unit was, in fact, one of the first to be tested and to have its design and build successfully type tested.The Diamond's sewage treatment efficiency is verified to 'clean'wastewater to a standard of 20mg/l BOD5 and 30mg/l Suspended Solids on a 95 percentile basis.WPL has further demonstrated compliance by commissioning LRQA to undertake ongoing independent verification of its CE testing and approval process.This will ensure that high levels are maintained. In addition,WPL's ISO 9001 approved integrated management system guarantees repeatability of build quality.

The imminent introduction of BS EN 12566-3 will set new standards for small sewage treatment plants in the UK.The message is clear - prepare now or face potentially costly consequences.

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