Category Archives: Desludging and Jetting Services

The KEE Services Team receive a new tanker

The KEE Services Team are now on the road serving their valued customers with the addition of their new tanker.

If you require KEE Services for any off-mains drainage enquiries, please contact the team on :  01296 634500
or email: sales@keeprocess.com

KEE Tankering leaflet


Why you should choose KEE in 2021

Our specialist knowledge and expertise is derived from over 65 years’ experience in the development, design, manufacture, servicing, maintenance and operation of wastewater treatment systems and equipment. Many of our customers today have been working with KEE for over 30 years which is a testament to the trust, loyalty and value our customers have in us as a supplier.

Click here for more. . .

Contact us to discuss how we can help you on:
01296 634500, or visit our
website – www.keeservices.com

KEE Group made up of KEE Process Limited and KEE Services Limited

Flooding Hazards to Wastewater Treatment Plants

 

 

 

 

Flooding Hazards to
Wastewater Treatment Plants

Flooding and saturated ground cause significant problems for sewage treatment plants and as the UK receives more frequent severe rainfall events, the issue of pollution from sewage treatment plants and septic tanks is an ever increasing threat.

What is the effect of a sewage treatment plant flooding?

The effect of a sewage treatment plant flooding is not limited to contamination. Nearly all sewage treatment plants have some form of motor or compressor which is responsible for driving the treatment process. If these flood, then they will need to be replaced once the flood waters recede.

The most common Septic tank problem that arises due to flooding is that saturated ground cannot absorb any additional water and hence many sites with drainage fields suffer during prolonged periods of rain because the sewage system backs up.

To view Do’s and Don’ts to caring for your sewage treatment plant, click HERE.

Alternatively Contact KEE to discuss service contracts available or arrange a service engineer to repair/service your wastewater treatment system or evaluate potential problems before they happen.

Call: 01296 634500,
visit our website – www.keeservices.com
or email – service@keeservices.com

At KEE we are ‘open for business’

The KEE Group provide solutions to the Wastewater Treatment Industry for all domestic, commercial and industrial applications.   CLICK HERE

  • KEE are committed to providing total customized solutions for the treatment of wastewater and have the most innovative systems to treat every situation.
  • KEE leads the country in the supply, maintenance and operation of wastewater treatment systems and can provide you with the best solution.
  • KEE systems are also available for hire.

  CLICK HERE

KEE Services comprises a complete range of options, from simple servicing and repairs through to full service, maintenance and plant operation, including:

  • On-Site Plant Operation
  • Facilities Management
  • Emergency Service
  • Planned Maintenance
  • Breakdowns
  • Equipment Refurbishment
  • Spares
  • BioGuard™ Grease Digester
  • Ancillary Products

Specialists in Domestic & Industrial Wastewater Treatment  CLICK HERE

KEE wastewater technology provide total solutions for the treatment of wastewater:

  • Process Engineering
  • Project Management and Turnkey Projects
  • Pumping Equipment
  • Dispersed Air Floatation (DAF)
  • Anaerobic treatment for industrial wastewater
  • Sequencing Batch Reactor
  • NuDisc™ and Packaged RBC Systems
  • Submerged Aerated Filters (SAF)
  • Oxidation Ditch
  • Installation and Commissioning
  • Nutrient Removal

For full information on our KEE services and process technology, visit our WEBSITE.

Local Service & Maintenance of Wastewater Treatment systems available Nationwide

KEE Services welcomed the arrival of a new fleet of vans last month, so our Engineers are ready to start this New Year with extra zest!

The unrivalled knowledge, sound mechanical, electrical and process experience plus invaluable application knowledge enables our engineers to identify problems with equipment early on and recommend the best solution. They have been involved in long-term care of over 8000 installations, maintaining all types and makes of wastewater treatment equipment.

KEE Services have over 60 years of knowledge and expertise in servicing wastewater installations and can tailor the service we provide to meet your requirements.

Our nationwide team of directly employed Engineers operate on a local and regional basis ensuring they have all the understanding of the local area conditions and legislation.

To book a service visit or for more information please contact us at http://www.keeservices.com/book-a-service.html

Call +44 (0) 1296 634 500 or visit our KEE Services website.

KEE’s Commitment to Environmentally Sustainable Procurement and Fair Trade

One of KEE’s core company values focuses around Environmental Sustainability. As a business, we recognise our obligations to consider the environmental impact the materials we source and the products we produce have on the environment and, we aim to reduce the impacts & ensure environmental sustainability.

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade. It’s about supporting the development of thriving communities so that they have more control over their futures and protecting the environment in which they live and work.

KEE Process Ltd & KEE Services Ltd aim to ensure that we will play our part in reducing risks:

  • Use fewer resources and less energy through continuous improvement and the use of innovative solutions.
  • Procure all timber and timber products from legal and sustainable sources, and procure with a preference other construction materials from recognised responsible sourcing schemes.
  • Specify and procure materials and products that strike a responsible balance between social, economic and environmental factors and generate benefits to society and the economy.
  • Use resource-efficient products and give due consideration to end-of-life uses.
  • Influence, specify and source increasing amounts of materials which can be reused, and consider future deconstruction and recovery of resources to embrace the circular economy to leave a sustainable legacy across the built environment.
  • Where possible, provide opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) increase the use of social enterprises, support local employment, diversity and training and work collaboratively with the voluntary sector, especially those near to our offices and operations.
  • Ensure that fair contract prices and terms are applied and respected, and that ethical, human rights and labour standards are met, in line with the United Nations Global Compact principles.
  • Source goods, works and services that embody our environmental policy, health & safety policy and support the delivery of our Sustainable Development Strategy.

We believe our commitment to these values is one of a number of ways in which KEE, everyone within the company, and all our customers can demonstrate social, environmental and economic responsibility. Our business like all others changes and evolves over time, but our core values remain the same.

For more information, please call 01296 634500 or visit our website.

 

 

 

 

Benefits of a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) approach to managing your Wastewater Treatment Equipment.

“ A maintenance strategy is necessary to ensure the smooth running of business operations. As well as giving a business better control over its asset and maintenance costs, a clear maintenance strategy helps to ensure statutory compliance and adherence to company policies. ”
Ian Short. KEE Services Business Development Manager.

An unplanned, reactive maintenance approach may lead to lower maintenance costs up front and less time spent on planning and performing maintenance in the short term, but that’s about where the benefits end. The cost of replacing failed components, equipment and emergency call out work at short notice and/or outside of normal operating hours costs much more when the situation arises. Therefore not proactively planning your maintenance tends to be more costly in the longer term and causes much more disruption to your business fixing the problem once it has occurred.

Why maintain your equipment?

There are a number of key reasons a business should take the time to consider the maintenance needs of their Wastewater Treatment equipment:

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Environmental surroundings
  • Ensuring a pleasant
  • Health and Safety obligations
  • Budget management
  • Reliability of equipment
  • Optimising asset use
  • Energy management
  • Business need

Proactive maintenance keeps you one step ahead of your equipment needs. In the same way that you would take your car for regular servicing rather than waiting for it to break down and incurring a large repair bill, it’s strongly advisable to maintain your equipment on a systematic basis.

PPM Strategy

PPM involves setting a maintenance schedule based on either calendar time or asset hours. This should also take into account factors specific to your business usage such as the environment in which it is operated and any legal waste consent requirements applicable.

A maintenance strategy takes the business’s maintenance aims and translates them into actions to support the company’s obligations, requirements and intentions. The strategy should include the following elements:

  • Setting of an appropriate budget
  • Carrying out risk assessments of equipment and processes
  • Establishing detailed regulatory, health and safety needs
  • Designing a resource and efficiency management strategy
  • Ensuring adherence to waste permit limits set by Environmental Agency.
  • Assessing the age of the equipment and whether any plants require refurbishment to extend plant longevity and minimise reactive maintenance.
  • Ensuring all maintenance work is completed by certified, registered companies appropriately insured and trained to complete the work.

PPM Programme

PPM is usually carried out with the support of a certified partner specialising in asset maintenance such as ourselves. Using our experience, we can provide a better insight into the condition of your assets. As a result, you can adopt a proactive maintenance programme designed specifically for your business and equipment thereby reducing the need for reactive maintenance.

Reactive maintenance may sometimes still be required, but a PPM plan will reduce the likelihood of this happening and will assist you in managing the maintenance budget with fewer surprises. Additionally, if a reactive engineer call out is required, KEE can check when the next planned Service Visit is due at your site and, where appropriate, arrange for the engineer to complete the ‘PPM Service’ on the plant at the same time, therefore minimising call out charges and site visits costs.

PPM also gives much greater control over the impact maintenance has on business operations because you can schedule when you wish maintenance to be completed based on when it will cause minimum disruption. For example, you can arrange a maintenance visit for a specific day when employees are available to provide access etc. Seasonal requirements can also be taken into account to ensure your Wastewater Treatment equipment is serviced and in full working order when needed most.

Following a maintenance program and documenting all work carried out also supports your legal compliance and provides evidence thereof (should it be required) in the event of system failure leading to harm or environmental damage.

KEE Services maintain all types and makes of Wastewater Treatment equipment. Please contact us on +44 (0) 1296 634 500 or visit our KEE Services website for more information on designing a PPM programme to suit your requirements.

Looking after your Sewage Treatment Plant this Christmas

With the festive season upon us, guests arriving and the celebrations in full swing, please do keep in mind what you and any visitors are pouring or flushing down your drainage system into your Sewage Treatment Plant

Do’s

  • Follow manufacturers’ recommended doses for your water type when using household cleaning products. Soft water requires far less detergent concentration than hard water.
  • Try to use cleaning products little and often so your treatment plant is not overloaded.
  • Use liquids (not powders) in washing machines and dishwashers. Powders re-coagulate into clumps and can cause blockages.
  • Try to spread your clothes washing throughout the week.
  • Stick to the same washing, dishwasher and other cleaning products as the bacteria will work more efficiently with products it is used to treating.
  • Think before you put anything down the sink, toilet or drains.
  • Desludge your plant when required.

Click HERE to view our one-page KEE EXPERT guide on proficient desludging and how regularly your unit should be desludged.

  • Ensure only toilet paper is flushed down the toilet and used in normal quantities.
  • Leave your plant switched on while you are away or on holiday. Switching off your plant can cause damage to the motor and moving parts as well as kill the biomass.
  • Compost all your organic food waste or use your local council bio–degradable waste recycling service (where applicable) to dispose of organic waste. Do not flush organic waste down the sink or drain.

Don’ts

  • Don’t put sanitary towels, tampons, cotton wool or cotton wool buds, incontinence pads or any baby, cleaning or facial wipes down the toilet.
  • Don’t flush rubber products or other non-biodegradable products down the toilet.
  • Don’t pour fat, grease or cooking oil down the sink or drains. Fats suffocate the bacteria and inhibit the biological process. Everyday products such as milk, wine or beer increase the organic load and should also not be disposed of through the wastewater system.
  • Don’t use neat disinfectant or bleach. KEE recommends that these products are only used at the minimum concentration possible, as they can restrict the biomass growth within the plant.
  • Don’t tip medicine, mouth wash or any chemicals such as photographic fluid or garden products (e.g. Insecticides, weed killers and fungicides) down the drains as they will damage the biological treatment process.
  • Don’t pour DIY products (e.g. paint, thinners, turpentine and white spirit etc.) or car fluids such as engine oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid etc. down the drains.
  • Don’t allow rainwater, groundwater or large volumes of water (such as those from a swimming pool or Jacuzzi) into the plant. Chlorine kills the bacteria and the excessive water will increase the flow rate through the plant, not allowing sufficient treatment time.
  • Don’t fit a waste disposal unit under your kitchen sink. Disposing of organic matter through the treatment system increases the organic load, creating bacterial overgrowth which will inhibit the treatment process. Only use a waste disposal unit if your plant is specifically designed to accept higher organic loads.

For more information or to arrange a tankering visit, please call our KEE Services team on 01296 634500 or visit our KEE Services website.

KEE News – It’s all change in 2020! What do the latest septic tank regulations mean for you?

“Septic tank regulations” – I agree it’s not an opening phrase that would make many people read on, but if you have a septic tank on your property, then you might just need to read on.

Given what goes into a septic tank, it’s understandable why the Environment Agency is keen to make sure that it stays in the tank, instead of in the local stream. So, there are a lot of rules and regulations surrounding septic tanks, from where you can put them to where and how the water can be discharged.

The latest regulations came out in 2015, and are called `General binding rules: small sewage discharge to surface water’.  It doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but it’s a very important document for many property owners and worth a read.

In the past, you could discharge the separated waste water from your septic tank in one of two ways:

  1. To a drainage field or soakaway system – here, the waste water percolates through holes or slots from the pipework, into a soak away (pit filled with rubble or course stones) and then discharged into the surrounding sub-soils.
  2. To a watercourse – the waste water would flow through a sealed pipe straight to a local watercourse such as a stream or a river.

So, what’s changed?

From the 1st of January 2020, you will not be able to discharge your wastewater into a watercourse.  The reason for this is because the `quality’ of the waste water is no longer considered clean enough for our wildlife or rivers.

This isn’t an entirely a new rule as for some years now, property owners installing a new septic tanks have not been able to discharge into a watercourse.  However, if your property had an existing septic tank discharging into a watercourse, you were able to carry on unless the Environmental Agency identified that it was causing contamination.

So, if you are looking to sell your property between now and 2020 you will be required to ensure your Septic Tank meets the new regulations before you sell.

So what are the options?

There are three main ways in which you can comply with the new regulations:

  1. Connect to mains drainage system
  2.  Install a sewage treatment plant – Sewage treatment plants clean and filter the wastewater to remove harmful toxins and impurities, making the wastewater clean enough to discharge straight into a watercourse.
  3. Install a drainage field or soakaway – This will take the waste water from your septic tank, and disperse it safely into the ground without causing pollution. However, space is required as a soakaway must be located at least 5 meters away from any property and at least 6 meters away from a Public Highway.

To conclude, if you do not have the space to install a soakaway on your land and are not close enough to a mains sewage system to get connected then a Sewage Treatment Plant is your best option.

For more guidance or a quote, please contact KEE on 01296 634 500 or email sales@keeservices.com.

KEE Expert – Tankering and De-sludging Process Explained

To keep your wastewater treatment system in good order and operating efficiently, it is important to remove the accumulated ‘sludge’ from the plant on a periodical basis.

So how regularly does your plant require de-sludging?

There are two factors that require consideration before answering this question.

  • The size of your plant and the number of people it serves
  • How thoroughly the ‘de-sludging’ process is undertaken

Generally speaking a plant servicing a single house will require de-sludging once a year.
For larger units, the de-sludging schedule will depend on the inlet flow rate and the type of wastewater being treated. Your local KEE Engineer or our Customer Service Team will be able to advise you in this instance.

If your plant is not de-sludged properly when required, the silt and sediment in the bottom of the Primary Settlement Tank (PST), Final Settlement Tank (FST) and the floating crust on the top of these tanks will build up over time and cause performance issues and possible odours. Additionally incorrect de-sludging can damage the internal Baffles and Drive components resulting in expensive and unnecessary repairs.

De-sludging Process

  1. Break up the surface crust floating in Primary Settlement Tank (figure 1 and 2)  and remove the floating crust solids with the suction hose.
  2. Skim off and remove the crust floating in the FST (figure 3).
  3. Put the hose back into the Primary Settlement Tank and push it right down to the bottom of the tank. Frequently move the hose along the length of the tank to ensure all the settlement sludge is removed.

We recommend your plant is de-sludged approximately 7-10 days before your KEE Engineer is scheduled to complete a routine Maintenance Service. 

For more information or to arrange a tankering visit, please call our KEE Services team on 01296 634500 or visit our KEE Services website.