Treatment
Process
The Septic Sludge Treatment Plants are designed for optimal performance to effectively treat municipal wastewater via the activated sludge process. The activated sludge process, which is a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes, ensures that the effluent released after the treatment process meets environmental and regulatory standards.
Septic tanks are bioreactors that provide on-site biological treatment of the human waste through a process of sedimentation and biological decomposition. However, the effectiveness of the biological treatment can be severely affected if the septic tanks are not desludged regularly.
Neglected or un-desludged septic tanks can result in untreated sewage being washed out along with liquid effluent into waterways, contaminating rivers, which are one of the main sources of raw water used by the water treatment plants to produce water for human consumption.
Untreated sewage is a pollutant that contains pathogens in very high concentrations, which can lead to the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A.
Therefore, septic sludge must be properly treated and disposed of safely. It is crucial for each septic tank to be emptied regularly to safeguard the cleanliness and public health of our communities, as well as to protect our environment for its sustainability.
The Local Authorities (Compulsory Desludging of Septic Tanks) By-Laws, 1998
The Sarawak Government recognizes the need for a proper desludging program for all septic tanks and sewage treatment systems to alleviate the pollution of the rivers of Sarawak through regular and compulsory desludging of septic tanks and other sewage treatment systems. Thus, the Local Authorities (Compulsory Desludging of Septic Tanks) By-Laws, 1998 was enacted.
Under this by-law, it is compulsory that all premises are to be desludged at intervals as shown below:
Residential, including government staff quarters
Commercial, including Commercial Complexes
Government Buildings, Schools & Premises used for Religious Purposes
Hotels, Hostels, Lodging Houses and Industrial Properties
