SEWAGE TREATMENT
Troubleshooting Tricel Tanks
OVERVIEW
Properly installed, operated and maintained plants will give many years of trouble free service.
All Novo plants are fitted with an alarm, if there is a fault in the air blower or discharge pump – a buzzer will alert. The buzzer can be muted until the problem is fixed. Once fixed, the alarm will reset automatically and the mute switch must be turned on. All electrical work should be carried out by a qualified person.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance of your product will ensure its longevity. Please see below the different elements that need to be checked regularly:
- The vent around the blower base. All vents should be checked to make sure they are not blocked or obstructed.
- The vent under the desludging cover allows gas to escape and stops the tank from becoming pressurized.
- Check if the air blower is working (listen to the “hum”) when you are standing by the plant.
- The inlet and outlet should be checked to remove anything that would block the flow.
- When do you need to check your wastewater treatment system? At least once per year. An annual maintenance will help prevent any unexpected issues with your system.
Troubleshooting plant operation
- Blower/pump won’t start or run.
- Blower operates but delivers no air.
- Plant fills above the working water level.
- Pump operates but delivers no water.
- Blowers runs intermittently.
- Pump runs intermittently.
- The alarm is sounding, but the pump and blower are working.
Troubleshooting your wastewater treatment plant
Always confirm the actual source of the odour before proceeding with any corrective measures.
Check if the odour is coming from another outside source such as a storm drain.
All wastewater disposal plants vent gases back through soil pipes and out roof vents. Improperly installed roof vents can cause odour problems.
Traps/U-bends in drains prevent odours from entering the home. To function they must contain water and be sealed correctly.
Examples of troubleshooting
At Tricel, we prioritise our customers’ needs and offer support from the start of the project through to product delivery, installation, and throughout the lifespan of the Tricel Novo Wastewater Treatment System.
If you experience any issues with your Tricel Novo, simply give us a call and we’ll be here to assist you.
The troubleshooting process is pretty simple. Please find below an example of an intervention provided by a Tricel technician.
Our customer contacted us for troubleshooting with his Tricel Novo system, which was installed three years ago. He reported that the alarm on his wastewater treatment plant was beeping. A Tricel technician promptly visited his home to address the issue.
Upon arrival, the technician quickly identified the problem: there was an issue with the compressor. Upon inspecting the plant, he noticed that the lid was surrounded by overgrown grass and leaves. The long grass had accumulated around the lid, blocking air flow and choking the compressor, which subsequently burned out, disrupting the oxygen supply for the bacteria.
The technician replaced the compressor in just a few minutes and checked the wastewater treatment plant to ensure it was functioning properly. No further issues were found, and the plant was operating as expected.
He explained the cause of the malfunction to the owner and advised him to keep the grass around the plant trimmed short to avoid future problems. This guidance should help prolong the life of the new compressor.
Tricel offers high-quality wastewater treatment plants and has years of expertise and supplying reliable components. The compressors supplied with Tricel Novo systems are designed to provide trouble-free operation for years, as long as the guidelines are followed and the plant is well-maintained.
The owner installed a Tricel Novo 6 PE system six years ago. Tricel Novo wastewater treatment plants ensure compliance with environmental protection regulations while offering a straightforward, cost-effective solution.
The tank was full because the blower wasn’t functioning properly.
The effluent flows into the primary settlement chamber, where heavier solids settle to the bottom of the tank to form sludge, while lighter solids float to the top to create a scum layer. This top layer acts as a seal to contain odors. The chamber removes up to 70% of the solids present. Next, the effluent proceeds to the aeration chamber, where naturally occurring bacteria thrive on specially designed plastic filter media, breaking down the waste in the liquid. A continuous air supply from a low-pressure, high-volume compressor sustains these bacteria, maximizing treatment efficiency as the wastewater moves through the filter media.
From there, the wastewater moves to the final settlement chamber, where any remaining fine bacterial particles separate from the liquid before being discharged. This process slows down the liquid’s velocity, allowing any remaining trace impurities to settle at the bottom of the tank. These impurities are then redirected back to the primary settlement chamber through a sludge return system.
Due to blower issues, solids flowed into the second and third chambers, causing odor issues around the system.
During the annual maintenance visit, the technician inspected the three chambers of the Tricel Novo and replaced the compressor to ensure the system was functioning correctly. No further issues were detected, and the plant was operating as it should.
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