Septic tanks are still permissible in England and Wales as long as they meet the General Binding Rules, meaning you can’t just dig a hole and hope for the best! WCI specialise in the installation of septic tanks and their associated soakaways or drainage fields. Our professional installations include the correct percolation tests and soakaway or drainage field design giving you assurance of a system that will work and keep on working.

New septic tanks and drainage fields or soakaways, have to be designed and constructed according to Building Regulations and British Standards. With over 40 years’ experience, our dedicated groundworks teams complete all our installations safely and to the highest standard of reinstatement.

We are often approached by septic tank owners who are sure their septic tank requires replacing. More often than not, it’s actually the soakaway or drainage field that is at fault. If you are frequently emptying your septic tank, having issues in winter months, rod your drains frequently or have overflowing drainage, then talk to our team. We’ll diagnose the problem and replace only what needs replacing.

Our septic tank installations generally start with a call where we will discuss the background to your enquiry. This is followed by a free survey by one of our professional project engineers. We will then provide a comprehensive written quotation which covers both the design and the construction of a system which meets your needs and delivers a compliant and functional system.

We aim to provide value for money but won’t cut corners and our quotes never leave hidden extras.

This type of system treats sewage to a standard that is suitable for discharge into a ditch, stream or river without the need for extensive soakaways or drainage fields.

WCI are approved installers for many manufacturers of sewage treatment plant including Graf, WPL, Tricel, Klargester, Harlequin and Marsh Industries. There are many sewage treatment systems available including package sewage treatment plants and bespoke-built schemes for larger applications. Most sewage treatment plants are designed for human sewage, normally termed ‘domestic sewage or wastewater’. Domestic sewage includes waste from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries and not just toilets.

In England and Wales, planning regulations stipulate that a package sewage treatment plant is to be preferred over a septic tank. However, discharges from sewage treatment plants may still require an Environment Agency permit irrespective of whether they discharge to a watercourse or to ground.

WCI has installed thousands of sewage treatment plants from small residential systems to large scale bespoke systems. Over this time, we have developed a process which ensures that the installation of a new sewage treatment system is stress-free and comprehensive for our clients. We take into consideration the required treatment quality, energy consumption, the available space and ground conditions as well as the levels of noise that can be tolerated and the visual impact the system will have.

Pumping stations move sewage and water to a point of discharge which can’t be reached by gravity alone. WCI’s design, installation and commissioning of pumping stations serve domestic houses, residential developments, caravan and camping sites, industrial sites, educational institutions and the hospitality industry.  We even have a number of marinas on the books.

Whether you need a package pumping station or a bespoke, adoptable pumping station, WCI will provide you with the best solution for your needs. Ranging from small final effluent pumping stations to large adoptable crude sewage pumping stations. WCI’s solutions are environmentally friendly, save time, money and space while providing assurance of functionality.

Whether you need a small sewage pumping station to serve that new bathroom on the wrong side of the house or an adoptable pumping station to serve a motorway services, WCI will install the system to same high standard. All our pumping station installations are fully insured and guaranteed.

The principle of SuDS is manage the rate, volume and water quality of run-off from a site to reduce the risk of flooding and pollution whilst improving bio-diversity. WCI have teams who specialise in the designs and install of surface water drainage networks and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) encompassing all forms of rain and stormwater flows. 

When considering your site, we can advise on how you can minimise costs, whilst complying with the statutory requirements set out under the Flood and Water Management Act.  There is no “one solution fits all” when it comes to drainage and our experienced team can take you from concept to design, and walk you through the approval process up to completion on site if needed.

When assessing your drainage needs the team at WCI will consider a variety of surface water drainage methods, for example;

• Rainwater Harvesting
• Soakaways and filtration systems
• Flow control and attenuation storage
• Discharge to culverts and watercourses
• Connections to public surface water sewers
• Designing pipe sizes and layouts

WCI are experts in the design and installation of stormwater drainage systems that incorporate the four pillars of SuDS.

WCI maintain strong relationships with each water authority and have firsthand experience of each of their procedures and requirements, enabling us to provide expert mains sewer connections and manage the process from start to finish.

Connecting to the public sewer can be complicated and could include Section 106 agreements for connection, Section 98 agreements for requisition over 3rd party land, Section 102 and Section 104 agreements for adoption of foul sewers, Section 50 agreements (Highways Act), street works regulations (NRSWA), traffic management (TWA) and more.

WCI will take care of all the necessary paperwork. Our team are all professionally qualified and we carry comprehensive insurance for all the works undertaken.

Whether it’s to upgrade an existing septic tank or treatment plant or for a new housing development, call us today for friendly advice on how to connect to public sewers.

WCI offers an integrated approach to dealing with rainfall that uses the local landscape together with engineered products to meet the requirements of individual sites and regional policy.

All buildings have drainage from the roof which catches the rainwater and brings it down a downpipe. But the rainwater and excess surface water has to go somewhere, and this is typically captured and filtered through a rainwater soakaway, sometimes refer to as a ‘French drain’.

Most domestic properties are able to dispose of rainwater into the ground via a soakaway. This is achieved by collecting rainwater from roofs, driveways and pathways from downpipes and gullies into a series of stormwater pipes which discharge to a rainwater soakaway.

Installing a replacement or new soakaway correctly requires an understanding of the area that is being collected and the ability of the local soils to soak this water up. WCI undertakes the necessary infiltration tests and designs soakaways using the latest MicroDrainage software to ensure that even the smallest soakaway will work reliably and avoid flooding.

Rainwater harvesting is the collection, treatment and storage and reuse of rainwater. Government standards for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) now make Rainwater Harvesting compulsory for virtually all developments in England with the new standards were released in June 2025.

With increasing domestic and commercial water demand coupled with increased frequency and duration of draught, rainwater harvesting provides an environmentally-friendly and economic alternative to the use of mains water for potable or grey water supply and garden irrigation.

Typical uses include: Garden irrigation & washing cars, Toilet flushing, Clothes washing, Personal washing.

WCI is an independent supplier and installer of rainwater harvesting systems designed to BS EN 16941 standard. We take into consideration the available catchment areas, the required usage, the available space and ground conditions and budgets.

WCI provide comprehensive drainage design services for all types of development. Our drainage design capabilities span all stages of project development from drainage strategy for planning approval through to detailed design for tender and construction.

Our designs are supported by the application for, and coordination of, regulatory consents and permits including Environmental Permits for discharge, S102 and S104 adoptions and requisitions, Trade Waste Consent, IDB consultation, FRAP, MMO, etc. Our designs do not annotate for exclusions of critical dependencies.

WCI have designed and installed Foul Drainage Networks at scales ranging from single domestic residences to large-scale commercial networks for Developers, Architects and Planning Consultants.

WCI can support developments either as a stand-alone service or as part of a broader package of works from the planning phase, detailed design through to the development phases.

The specification and installation of foul drains is subject to Building Regulations and must be correctly sized for the expected flows and must be laid at correct gradients to prevent blockages. Access points (rodding points, inspection chambers and manholes) must also be provided.

Understanding the intricacies of foul drainage is essential. Whether you’re dealing with gravity drains, pumped rising mains, or the complexities of shared sewers and lateral drains, compliance with regulations and proper sizing and installation are key.

At WCI, we provide detailed designs that will be specific to your site, taking in to consideration your specific drainage needs such as:

Reedbeds offer an environmentally friendly, sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and stormwater management. By mimicking natural wetlands, they provide effective filtration and pollutant removal, enhance local biodiversity and contribute to a healthier environment.

Key characteristics of reedbeds include their dense growth, which provides important habitats for a variety of wildlife, including birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. Reedbeds play a vital role in water filtration, trapping pollutants and sediments, and helping to improve water quality. They are also efficient at storing carbon, making them valuable for climate regulation.

The best system often results from combining the two basic types of reed bed: vertical flow and horizontal flow. In each case, the effluent percolates through layers of sand and gravel in an enclosed bed.

Horizontal Flow: Water flows horizontally through the bed. This type is effective for secondary and tertiary treatment.

Vertical Flow: Water is introduced at the surface and flows vertically through the substrate. This type offers higher oxygenation and is suitable for primary treatment.

Reed bed systems are not low maintenance and a regular maintenance programme is required to keep them working properly. The reed beds that work are usually those whose owners love gardening and are not worried by coming into contact with wildlife such as grass snakes or mice.

An above-ground drainage mound is a raised structure, typically made from a combination of soil, gravel, and other materials, designed to channel excess water away from buildings, roads, or landscapes. These mounds are strategically placed to manage surface runoff, ensuring that water does not accumulate and cause damage.

Unlike traditional underground drainage systems, which rely on pipes and trenches, an above-ground mound is visible and is often constructed in areas where soil permeability is poor or where a more natural, aesthetically pleasing solution is desired.

Raised mounds require diligent and careful construction practices; WCI have been brought in to rescue failed Raised Mounds. This is usually due to two main causes- too small of a basal area for the effluent flow from the house, and poor construction practices.

If you are considering a Raised Mound, speak to WCI to ensure a mound works as planned and is the right solution for your needs.

Private water supplies take many forms including surface water abstractions from springs, rivers and harvested rain to groundwater abstractions including boreholes and wells.

Private water supplies can be used for a range of uses from garden irrigation to ‘grey water’ applications like toilet flushing, full potable (drinking) water supplies and industrial process supplies. All private water sources must be suitable for the proposed use and it is important to know the risks associated with private water supplies.

Using detailed water quality tests, WCI designs complete water supply, filtration and sterilisation systems using quality equipment. Our installations include vessels, medias, filters, UV sterilisation and automatic backwashing together with iron and manganese filtration, pH correction and water softening.

WCI undertake professional collection of water samples supported by UKAS accredited laboratory testing for many different bacterial, mineral and metal contaminants. In Somerset and Devon in particular, we find that iron, manganese and low pH are common as well as bacterial contamination in many rural areas.

We offer planned regular maintenance and reactive emergency call out services for all makes and models of water supply and water treatment equipment.