Sutton

ASL was asked to inspect and report on the condition of drainage systems serving a number of fire stations and schools across two counties. Sutton Scotney Fire Station was a good example of why these inspections are important.

When we carried out the CCTV drainage survey, the drains were not yet overflowing, but there was already a significant problem developing. Sewage, paper and waste were building up within the pipework, restricting the flow and beginning to cause unpleasant smells around the site.

The inspection then led us to the cesspit serving the fire station. Unlike a septic tank or treatment plant, a cesspit has no discharge and relies entirely on regular emptying. Inside the cesspit, the evidence was very clear. The staining or black tide line visible on the chamber wall showed that the sewage level had risen approximately 200 mm above the incoming drain pipe.

That meant the incoming drainage had effectively been submerged. With nowhere for the sewage to go, it was beginning to back up through the drainage system towards the fire station. Had the level continued to rise, an internal or external sewage overflow could have followed.

ASL’s sewage tanker was brought in, and the cesspit was emptied, allowing the drainage system to return to normal operation. We also photographed the inside of the cesspit so that the condition and evidence of the previous high sewage level formed part of our findings.

For these larger inspection programmes, we don’t simply unblock a drain and leave. CCTV video, photographs and drainage diagrams are collected for the individual schools and fire stations, allowing us to produce a full written report on the condition of each system. Where problems are identified, our report includes recommendations for maintenance, repairs or, where appropriate, upgrading the existing drainage or private sewage system.

In the Sutton Scotney case, the inspection identified the problem before an overflowing drain became a much more disruptive emergency.

Services

• Cesspits & Cesspools
• Drain Surveys
• Emergency Tanker Service