NEW EU STANDARD BRINGS CLARITY FOR SMALL WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM PURCHASERS by Alison Anderson, process manager for leading sewage solutions provider Klargester and member of the team that developed the new standard

A new European standard is being introduced to make it easier for self-builders and other purchasers to compare the quality of small wastewater treatment systems, which are rapidly replacing septic tanks as a more environmentally friendly solution for off-mains drainage properties.

The standard defines the minimum requirements for these products and also challenges manufacturers' performance claims by asking them to submit their products for rigorous tests.

The key results of these tests will be clearly stated on the CE (Communauté Européenne) marking label, which allows approved manufacturers to trade across the European Union.

The standard - EN12566 Part 3: Small Wastewater Treatment Systems - which covers up to 50 population equivalents Package and/or Site Assembled Domestic Wastewater Treatment plants, will bring much-needed conformity to the industry.

Small wastewater treatment systems achieve their results in different ways and use a wide variety of biological processes. However, until recently, there have been no agreed performance guidelines in place to enable purchasers to compare the quality and effectiveness of different products.

It has also been difficult for manufacturers to trade across the European Union since they have been required to test their products to different standards for different countries.

The minimum product requirements outlined by the new standard include the fact that the equipment must be watertight and corrosion resistant, and fitted with an alarm to indicate operational failure. It must also be designed to allow easy access for routine maintenance, sampling and sludge removal.

The performance tests are currently being undertaken in approved laboratories in Germany and Belgium by independent researchers. The tests are mostly conducted under "normal" (i.e. nominal flow) usage conditions, which are defined as intermittent flows during a 24-hour period. The performance of the product in the event of a problem, such as a power failure, underloading, or overloading, is also assessed.

Following the successful completion of the tests, the product's key statistics, including its daily hydraulic load, treatment efficiency and electrical consumption, will be clearly recorded in documentation. Other tested performance indicators, such as the nitrogen parameters and total phosphorus, may also be included. In addition, the manufacturer's name and address will also be clearly identified, and a label indicating the product's test status may be supplied.

Other significant information highlighted in the test report includes how much maintenance was required during the testing, how easy it was to access the components and how much power was required to operate the unit.

The standard has been prepared by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 165 "Wastewater Engineering" under a mandate provided by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports key EU directives.

Klargester completed the testing in June 2005, with its BioDisc sewage treatment plant passing with flying colours. The company believes that it is the first manufacturer in the UK to complete the performance testing successfully.

The new standard will came into effect in 2008. Manufacturers who do not test their products to the standard will not be able to export them for use in other European Union countries, unless they can prove to regulators by some other means that their goods will perform and are of a sufficiently high quality. It is understood that the UK environmental regulators will recommend the installation of CE marked products.

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