New Onsite Effluent Treatment System
Main work has concluded on the installation of the Onsite Effluent Treatment System. A set of posters and changes are now up at the marae indicating some changes that happen as a result of the installation. We now have a great new system that is going to work for years and which helped us not have to connect to the sewage ponds and has a good environmental impact.
FAQ about Onsite Effluent Treatment System (OSET)
Who installed the OSET
This system was installed by Aquaholics and paid for by the Tauranga City Council. They have no role in the ongoing management of the system - it is now entirely the responsibility of the marae. Aquaholics will be available to deal with any issues that come up and the entire system has a one year warranty.
What is the story of this system?
This new septic system has seen the following:
- Replacement of 80% of our drainage infrastructure across the marae including old relay systems that required complete replacement.
- Installation of new grease traps outside the kitchen - 6,000-liter grease trap system installed for kitchen drainage protection, designed to handle large volumes and protect pumps/systems
- Dual tank configuration installed - 25,000L septic tank for solids processing plus 25,000L holding tank, providing total 64,500L capacity compared to previous 3,000L tanks.
- Daily processing capacity - System designed to pump out 3,000-4,000 liters per day, with 5-day capacity buffer for events with up to 400 people.
- Sewage treatment system with subsurface irrigation bed installed under grass area with effluent dispersal through field
- Installation depth: 600mm from topsoil to first pipe, additional 600mm below pipe to bed base, totaling approximately 1.2m depth
- 200mm hard fill layer installed over entire system
- Robust natural sand filtering system with no mechanical moving parts, capable of handling double loading capacity in single day without failure
- Secondary treatment quality effluent suitable for irrigation but not potable use, significantly better environmental impact than alternatives
- Large capacity system designed to handle influx variations with natural recovery periods between high-use weekends
What changes will happen on the marae as a result of the OSET:
The marae has already implemented changes and shifted all its cleaning products and dishwashing liquid to biodegradable, septic system suitable. We are in the process of putting in strainers across all the kitchen drains - as food cant go in to the system. No bleach products can be used and nothing other then toilet paper put into the toilets - bins have been provided in the toilets as a result.
A group of marae whanau have volunteered to be trained on the maintenance of the OSET - see photos.
