Frequently asked questions about domestic sewage treatment plants and related off-mains drainage systems.
Question: Do Marsh domestic sewage treatment plants meet UK and European standards?
Answer: The Ensign and Ensign: Ultra range of sewage treatment plants has been tested to EN12566:3-2005 – this is the highest testing standard for European testing. The successful test results mean the Ensign range can discharge directly to a ditch, watercourse or percolation bed.
Question: Why should I buy the Marsh Ensign domestic sewage treatment plant? …does it smell and is it noisy?
Answer: The Ensign sewage treatment plant is one of the most economic, efficient and environmentally friendly systems on the market. As long as the plant is installed correctly, the system is odourless and operates virtually silent. It is backed with a 25-year structural guarantee. The ENsign sewage treatment plants are extremely energy efficient and normally requires less than an hour of annual maintenance. The six-person ENsign sewage treatment plants are extremely strong and are only 1.95m in depth with an inlet invert of 500mm, this design reduces both the time and cost of installation, in normal ground conditions the unit only requires a pea-shingle surround.
Question: What is a pumped outlet?
Answer: A pump is fitted into the Marsh ENsign domestic sewage treatment plant, where there is no natural fall of gravity from the outlet pipe. So the pump allows the effluent to be pumped to a higher level, we recommend the compressor is sited externally when a pump is fitted, together with a high-level alarm. The Marsh ENsign design means that the pump is easy to fit and accessible and means a separate pump chamber does not need to be installed saving both money and time.
Question: I have been told you cannot fit a sewage plant into my driveway.
Answer: You can fit A Marsh ENsign plant, the plant can be adapted to so if required it can be installed a vehicle driveway, please contact by phone or email for more details.
Question: My drain is deep can I still connect up to the ENsign domestic sewage treatment plants?
Answer: Yes we can supply invert risers which cater for deeper inlet connection up to a further 1metre.
Question: Are sewage plants are expensive to run, should I look at a non-electric Bio-system?
Answer: No, the power of a Marsh ENsign Six Person plant is 50w this means the running cost is approx. £52.00 per annum. Bio-systems are normally designed with a very deep outlet that can mean a pump needs to be fitted, which has a higher running cost that of a compressor. Some need full concrete surrounds, and the layers of media in a Bio-system will need cleaning and also requires a large separate primary chamber.
Question: Is there a domestic sewage treatment plant suitable for multiple dwellings or industrial sites?
Answer: The Marsh ENsign Sewage treatment plants are designed for both domestic and commercial buildings with no access to the main sewer network. We sell sewage plants up to 300 persons. Please contact us so we can prepare a quotation and Loads and Flows table that can be used to gain planning and EA/SEPA approvals.
Question: Will an unsightly lump or cover be showing in my garden, where my domestic sewage treatment plant would be?
Answer: No for gravity outlets the compressor is housed in the unit keeping the visual impact and any noise to an absolute minimum. For pumped outlets, we recommend housing the compressor externally in a discreet “birdhouse design” housing that can be up to 10m from the sewage plant.
Question: How do I install the Marsh ENsign unit?
Answer: The ENsign domestic sewage treatment plant comes with lifting eyes to make and unloading and installation faster and safer. We designed the Ensign plant to self-level on the base and with our unique pipe connections ensure the installation is undertaken efficiently and correctly. The six-person ENsign Sewage plant is extremely strong and is only 1.95m in depth with an inlet invert of 500mm, this design reduces both the time and cost of installation, in normal ground conditions the unit only requires a pea-shingle surround. For guidance ideally, the Ensign plant should be 7m from a dwelling or 10m from a stream.
