David had been notified by his neighbour of smells emanating from water discharged to a stream from his antiquated septic tank. This tank served a 5-bedroom house he had purchased near Ottery St. Mary in 1995.

David was also aware that discharging to surface water from a septic tank was in breach of the new General Binding Rules which had come into effect in January 2020.

David contacted Leach Brothers of Witheridge to replace the outdated septic tank with a certified wastewater treatment system. Thinking long-term, he chose an Oakstown BAF system because of its concrete construction and 50-year structural warranty.

Once the hole was dug and the new system installed, it was immediately backfilled with soil and the sewer pipe diverted to it. The old tank was emptied and some of the contents were pumped into the new system to “kick-start” biological activity so-to-speak.

Within two weeks the final effluent was visibly clear and completely odourless. David and his wife now find working in their adjacent greenhouse much more tolerable without the unpleasant odours from the old tank.