An overfilled sewage treatment plant can cause serious problems for your property, health and the surrounding environment. Excess sludge can lead to blockages, poor wastewater treatment, sewage backups, pollution and expensive repairs. This article explains the main problems an overfilled sewage treatment plant can cause and why regular emptying is important.
Sewage Backing Up into Toilets, Sinks and Drains
When a sewage treatment plant fills up to the brim, excess sludge and solid waste can begin to reduce the space available for incoming wastewater. This can slow down the water flow through the system and cause the pipes or internal components to become blocked. If wastewater cannot move through the plant correctly, it can begin to back up through the drainage system, which can cause sewage or wastewater to rise in your toilets, sinks, showers and other drains.
Slow drainage, gurgling sounds and repeated backups are all signs that the system needs attention. A backup of sewage can be a sign that the treatment plant needs to be emptied - although blockages or equipment faults can sometimes cause similar problems. Coming into contact with contaminated wastewater can create health risks as well as damage your floors, walls and other parts of your property.
To learn more about the many ways emptying your treatment plant can help improve its efficiency, check out our article on The Benefits of Emptying a Sewage Treatment Plant.
Soil and Ground Contamination
An overfilled sewage treatment plant can cause untreated or partly treated wastewater to escape into the surrounding ground. This can happen when excess sludge is left to build up in the tank, reducing the plant’s capacity and preventing the wastewater from moving through the treatment stages correctly.
When the sewage leaks or overflows onto the nearby land, it can soak into the soil. Sewage often contains harmful microorganisms, organic waste and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can reduce the soil's quality and move through the ground into nearby groundwater or surface water.
Contaminated soil can expose both you and your animals to harmful bacteria, viruses and microorganisms, like gastrointestinal illnesses such as E.coli - especially if the contamination reaches your drinking water.
River, stream and other surface water Pollution
Overflowing sewage treatment plants can release untreated or partly treated wastewater into nearby rivers, streams and other surface water. This can happen when excess sludge remains in the plant, reducing its capacity and preventing the water from being treated properly.
If the poorly-treated sewage reaches the surface water, it can spread harmful microorganisms, organic waste and nutrients. High levels of organic matter can reduce the amount of oxygen in the water as it breaks down, which can harm fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, the excess nutrients from the sewage can also contribute to increased algae growth and poor water quality.
Sewage-contaminated water can contain harmful bacteria and viruses, including E.coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Norovirus, which can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and other infections.
Blocked pipes and internal treatment components
Sewage treatment plants can become blocked when there's too much sludge and solid waste inside the system. This blockage can reduce the available space for incoming wastewater, which can stop it from moving freely through the treatment stages.
When this happens, excess solids can begin to enter the pipes, pumps and other internal parts that are designed to handle liquid wastewater only. This can restrict the water flow, put extra pressure on the internal equipment and reduce the plant’s overall performance.
If this problem continues, the wastewater may begin to back up into your property or overflow from the treatment plant. The system may also stop treating the sewage properly, which can increase the risk of soil and water pollution.
Greater exposure to harmful bacteria and other microorganisms
When excess sludge reduces the treatment plant’s efficiency, untreated or partly treated sewage may begin to overflow and leak into the ground or enter nearby surface water. Sewage can contain bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Shigella, as well as viruses like Norovirus and parasites like Cryptosporidium. These organisms can be found in wastewater because they are often passed in the faeces of those who are infected.
The main symptoms of a Campylobacter infection are diarrhoea, stomach pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and vomiting, and some harmful strains of E. coli - including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli - can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea, which may contain blood.
In some cases, serious complications can develop because of these infections. Norovirus commonly causes sudden bouts of vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach pain and exposure to this virus often occurs due to contaminated water or poor hygiene. It's important to keep your treatment plant properly maintained to reduce the risk of untreated sewage escaping and exposing you to these harmful organisms.
Harm to local wildlife and the surrounding environment
An overflowing sewage treatment plant can release untreated wastewater into any nearby soil, streams, rivers and other bodies of water. This sewage can contain organic waste, harmful microorganisms and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can reduce the oxygen levels in the water and make it harder for fish and other aquatic animals to survive. These excess nutrients can also encourage algae to grow, which can further reduce the water's quality and affect any nearby plants and wildlife.
A professional sewage treatment plant emptying service can help you remove built-up sludge before it reaches excessive levels, which can help you maintain the plant’s capacity and reduce the risk of blockages, leaks and overflows. Regular emptying, combined with routine servicing, helps the system treat wastewater effectively and lowers the risk of your sewage escaping into the surrounding environment.
Reduced wastewater treatment performance
A treatment plant that's too full can struggle to treat your wastewater effectively. This is because as the sludge and solid waste build up, there's less space available for the wastewater to move through.
Excess sludge can also enter areas where biological treatment takes place, which can reduce the amount of oxygen that's available to interfere with the bacteria. If wastewater passes through the system too quickly or if the treatment areas become overloaded, the discharged water may end up containing higher levels of suspended solids and organic pollution.
This poor treatment performance can increase the risk of unpleasant smells, blockages, overflows and pollution. A professional emptying service removes the excess sludge before it begins to affect the treatment process. This helps free up space so that the wastewater can move through the plant correctly.
Poor-quality wastewater being discharged
An overfilled sewage treatment plant can discharge poor-quality wastewater when excess sludge reduces the space available for proper treatment. When the plant is too full, the wastewater may move through the system too quickly, while solid matter may end up entering areas where it should not be present. This can reduce the effectiveness of the biological treatment stage, and as a result, cause the discharged water to contain higher levels of organic waste and harmful microorganisms.
This poor-quality wastewater can contain bacteria such as E.coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella, as well as Norovirus, and coming into contact with this water can lead to diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, fevers and other infections. A professional emptying service helps restore the space needed for the wastewater to be treated correctly, and it can also reduce the risk of blockages, overflows and poorly treated discharge.
If you're wondering how these treatment plants purify your wastewater, check out our article on How Sewage Treatment Plants Work, where we discuss each stage of the treatment process.
Increased repair, maintenance and emergency emptying costs
As sludge builds up, it can begin to restrict the wastewater's movement and increase the risk of blockages forming - which can put pressure on the pumps, pipes, air systems and other internal parts. If these components become damaged, they may need to be cleaned, repaired or replaced entirely.
An overfilled plant can also cause sewage backups, leaks or overflows, which often need urgent attention in order to prevent further damage to your property or the surrounding land. Emergency call-outs and short-notice emptying services can also be more expensive and disruptive than planned maintenance.
Emptying the plant regularly helps you stop the sludge from building up to an excessive level, and following the manufacturer’s recommended servicing schedule can reduce the risk of sudden breakdowns, emergency repairs and unplanned maintenance.
Mike Barker Septic Tank Emptying provides professional sewage treatment plant emptying services for properties in and around Helston. Our trained specialists can remove built-up sludge safely and efficiently, helping to prevent blockages, unpleasant smells and system failures.
