Investigating smell issues requires the consideration of a number of different factors, including the functionality and performance of the system, smoke testing of venting, CCTV survey, dye-testing for cross connections of surface water together with desktop research into the sizing and compliance of the system.

All our surveys come with a comprehensive and professional written report and are supported by friendly and knowledgeable contact with a lead engineer.

Whether it’s for compliance or for capital budgets, WCI have deep experience in auditing foul drainage assets. We support Estates, commercial businesses, public sector service providers and property management professionals in identifying and investigating drainage-related assets.

Our asset audits provide a comprehensive summary of the type, layout, condition, performance and compliance of foul and storm water drainage systems and potable water supplies.

All our audits are supported by professional written reports which not only detail what you’ve got and how its functioning, but also what you need to do to keep it compliant and functional.

Often described as ‘septic tank reports’ or ‘home buyers/sellers drainage surveys’, a WCI Compliance Report helps both property buyers and sellers in aiding a swift transaction.

This report can also help release equity from your home by assessing whether a property’s private foul drainage system (septic tank or sewage treatment plant) is functional and compliant to the Environment Agency’s General Binding Rules and the relevant British Standards and Building Regulations in place at the time of construction.

What the Survey Includes:

• Full system check: A professional inspects all parts of the system, including all foul and rainwater pipework and the system (albeit septic tank, sewage treatment plant, reed bed or cesspool).
• Compliance with regulations: Checks if the system meets the Environment Agency General Binding Rules, Building Regulations and British Standrads.
• Discharge points: Confirmation of whether the system discharges into a watercourse (ditch, stream, highways gully, river) or to ground via a soakaway or drainage field.
• Capacity review: The report assesses if the tank’s size and ensures the design is suitable for the property’s current needs.
• Structural integrity: Inspection of the tank and manholes to prove the drainage system is water retaining and structurally sound.
• CCTV inspection: Where necessary, CCTV is used to examine the condition of underground pipework for cracks or damage and to confirm cross connections of rainwater into the foul drains.

Why It Is Needed:

• Property transactions: It is crucial for both buyers and sellers to ensure the system is compliant and to identify any potential issues early on, which can prevent costly problems or failed sales.
• Regulatory requirements: It serves as documentation to prove compliance with regulations, especially if requested by the Environment Agency.
• Safety and environmental protection: A compliant system prevents the discharge of harmful effluent into the environment and keeps the property and its occupants safe.

Every WCI Compliance survey is accompanied by a full detailed report and costed recommendations where required.

Percolation tests are undertaken to support the design of foul water drainage fields used with a septic tank or a sewage treatment plant. In order to design a drainage field you must first understand the rate at which your soil can absorb water and the level of the ground water table below ground. These tests form part of a suite of ‘soil investigations’ and are a requirement of Planning Approval and Building Control.

WCI perform Percolation testing to BS6297:2007 + A1:2008 standards, this includes:

• All fieldwork including operatives, mini-digger and water bowser
• Calculation of percolation rate
• Supporting trial pit hole to assess the ground water level
• Technical report for submission to Building Control

Why complete percolation tests?

Septic tanks and sewage treatment plants can discharge sewage effluent to ground via a drainage field. However, the size of the drainage field can only be established by assessing the percolation rate of the soil. There are a wide range of different types of soil, each with different drainage characteristics. If your soil drains too fast or too slow you may not be able to install a compliant drainage field.

Building Control require full percolation testing to be carried out in order prove the design of a drainage field. No installation should commence without establishing adequate percolation exists at your installation site and a drainage field can be installed in line with current Building Regulations and the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Skipping percolation tests or having an incomplete test, means you cannot prove the system is compliant with current regulations and that you’re guessing whether a drainage field will drain consistently over time. If you get it wrong, you may find that your drainage field ‘backs up’ which can cause flooding of your property with sewage.

Flow monitoring can be used to help size sewage systems where water meter data is not available or inconsistent, flows and loads calculations are wildly inaccurate or latterly to prove ingress of additional water into a system i.e. leaks or illegal connections into a foul system.

Data can be essential for optimising system performance, ensuring regulatory compliance and preventing potential issues by delivering accurate and reliable data.

Through our teams’ years of in-depth knowledge of the latest developments in flow monitoring and flow data equipment, WCI are able to offer tailored advice and solutions. In doing so, we work closely to understand what your needs are from your flow data and offer practical and technical support and advice to achieve this.

All properties require a means of draining water from roofs and other impermeable surfaces like paths and driveways to avoid flooding. Many properties drain this water into the ground via soakaways. However, the size of a soakaway can only be established by assessing the infiltration rate of the soil.

Accurate infiltration testing ensures the soakaway is designed to attenuate and release water at the correct rate. The design infiltration rate, how fast water is drained through the ground, is determined by the infiltration tests. The slower the infiltration rate, the more storage volume will be needed.

WCI offer both ‘Guided’ and ‘Full Service’ Infiltration testing to BRE DG365 standards, this includes:

• All fieldwork including operatives, mini-digger and water bowser
• Calculation of infiltration rate
• Technical report for submission to Building Control

WCI provides independent Water Sampling of:

• Discharges from septic tank and sewage treatment plants to ensure compliance to Environment Agency General Binding Rules, discharge Permit conditions and to ensure a system’s performance or legality.
• Drinking water testing of private water supplies from boreholes, springs and wells to ensure the water supply is wholesome, safe to drink and meets the Private Water Supplies Regulations.
• Waterbodies such as ponds, rivers and ditches where there are concerns about pollution.

All samples are collected by a trained Service Engineer and tested by a UKAS accredited laboratory.

Whatever your driver for testing and whatever your process, our experienced team at WCI can provide the solution to your requirements.