RA Dalton Success Stories
RA Dalton Ltd are the Klargester number one accredited installer covering the whole of the UK.
Brick built septic tank to BioDisc installation
Every site we install on has its own criteria and background for which we build our scope of works on. Looking at the existing site set up can help us determine what we need to undertake in order to supply a compliant and functional project.
The 2020 General Binding Rules created a set of regulations that needed to be adhered to in order to be environmentally and legally compliant, the wastewater set up at one site in Northumberland had an archaic brick built septic tank which was discharging to the local watercourse.
Septic tank non-compliance
In order to meet the owner’s environmental obligations, we provided a quotation for the supply and installation of a suitable package sewage treatment plant to suit the properties connected. As the existing septic tank was discharging untreated effluent into the surrounding ecosystem replacing this with a treatment plant was essential.
We selected the Klargester BD BioDisc to suit the application based on the supply of a suitable system to serve 6 properties.
The new BioDisc sewage treatment plant meant that there were some changes to the expectations of the property owners, this came in two main ways; firstly, the new unit required a constant electrical supply meaning that this will come with an associated day to day operational cost. This system has one of the lowest power consumptions on the market and offers a higher treatment efficiency for the power input.
The other factor is the Klargester requires a routine mechanical and electrical service in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Installation of the Klargester BD BioDisc
The existing pipework on site had been checked as suitable to be utilised for the new installation therefore we proposed to intercept the existing inlet drainage and divert to the new installation location adjacent to the old.
This ultimately meant that minimal pipework was required over the project, and we subsequently installed a total of 7 metres of new drainage on site on both the inlet and outlet drainage.
The hole was dug to receive the new treatment plant with a concrete base laid level in the bottom of the excavation, using an 8-ton excavator the new Klargester was lifted and then lowered onto the pad. Water was then used to suitably ballast the unit to protect the structural integrity of the BioDisc, once this was sited and levelled the unit was then surrounded in a suitable dry concrete encasement.
Having the right specification and slump of concrete is vital for any installation that takes place and even more so when there is clear evidence of groundwater visible in the hole. This installation required the use of a submersible pump to remove water from the base putting more emphasis on the requirement for a dry mix concrete to be supplied.
As part of Building control guidelines once the new system had been installed and the pipework to the old unit disconnected, we arranged for a vacuum tanker to attend site to empty the Septic tank in full. Once the desludge had taken place the unit was then decommissioned and infilled with a granular material to avoid and potential future settlement.
RA Dalton Opens New Rookhope Office
County Durham wastewater specialist RA Dalton has relocated members of its finance and accounts team to a new office at Unit 1, Rookhope Business Centre.
The move sees Accounts Manager Katie Jackson and her colleagues take up residence in the dedicated office space as the family-run company continues to expand its workforce and nationwide operations.
The Rookhope premises provide valuable additional space for the growing department while keeping the team in the heart of Weardale, close to RA Dalton’s Cowshill head office.
From a local family business to a national employer
Founded in 2003, RA Dalton has grown from a small local family business into a nationwide employer with more than 100 staff across the UK.
The company supplies, installs, services and maintains sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, pump stations and other off-mains drainage systems, working with homeowners, businesses, developers and organisations throughout the UK; providing support at every stage of the wastewater process.
Supporting a growing nationwide business
RA Dalton’s finance and accounts team play a vital role in supporting the company’s day-to-day activities across the UK. As the company has grown, so too has the volume and complexity of the work carried out behind the scenes.
The new office creates a dedicated working environment for the team. Colleagues can collaborate closely and continue to deliver an efficient service to customers, suppliers and other departments across the business.
The finance department continues to grow from strength to strength. RA Dalton recently recruited a new Accounts Receivable Coordinator, who joins the team at its new Rookhope base. This latest appointment is another key part of the company’s wider strategy to strengthen its internal operations and ensure it has the people and systems that support continued development.
Continued investment in Weardale
While RA Dalton now works with domestic and commercial customers across the UK, the company has retained strong links to Weardale. The decision to establish the finance team in Rookhope allows the business to create additional space without moving this important function away from the local area.
The new office demonstrates RA Dalton’s continued commitment to County Durham and the rural communities surrounding its original Cowshill headquarters, while bringing new professional employment opportunities to rural County Durham. This will help people build their careers without needing to travel to one of the region’s larger towns or cities.
RA Dalton has continued to invest in its people, premises, equipment and services as demand has increased. The new Rookhope office is the latest stage in that growth: providing Katie and the wider team space to support the business as it moves forward.
The finance team’s new address is Unit 1, Rookhope Business Centre, Rookhope, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 2DA.
