Michael Duffy BE CEng MIEI has over 30 year’s experience of on-site wastewater treatment. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland. Michael is Operations Manager of Percol8.ie and has developed methodologies for site assessment which provide on-going verifiable information for Planning and Water Services Authorities. This is currently the only methodology which will facilitate evidence that septic tanks and percolations are treating wastewater to a required standard.
Percol8.ie is a company which focuses on the issues and problems associated with on-site wastewater treatment for rural housing and businesses. Wastewater treatment is a natural process. Like most processes it is attention to detail which ensures a long term, cost effective and sustainable outcome.
Successful wastewater treatment requires four important stages; Assessment, Design, Installation, and Maintenance. Like the foundation for a house, if the first stage is incorrect the remainder may never be correct. Such problems tend to be very costly to resolve but can be avoided if the four stages are correctly implemented.
The vast majority of sites are unique with respect to design of wastewater treatment systems. There are several dozen parameters to be considered in the assessment of a site and the design of a wastewater treatment system. This is why correct and verifiable Site Assessment is crucial for an appropriate design.
Our Role
In the past most people regarded the issue of wastewater treatment as an inconvenience to be overcome in acquiring planning permission. In fact planning permission should be the least of ones concerns. European and National legislation operates on the principle that the “polluter pays”. On this basis, if your system fails and pollutes, ultimately it is you, the householder, who is responsible. Therefore it is sensible that the Householder/Developer and the Local Authority are at one regarding a wastewater treatment system which is best suited to the householder and the environment. The interests of both are actually the same when you consider that the householder is ultimately responsible for pollution caused. Many householders now realize that costly mistakes were made prior to, and during, construction of their wastewater treatment systems. Ask a friend who has encountered wastewater treatment problems – they’re not far away. So called experts will tell you how it should be done or will “solve” your problem for you. Ask if they will guarantee that their solution will work and remember, if they do not have professional indemnity insurance, the problem is yours.
Percol8.ie is totally independent and our role is to provide you with the best cost effective solution possible. Wastewater treatment does not need to be expensive or complicated to be good. It is a natural process and if, by clever engineering, we can facilitate this natural process then everybody wins, particularly the environment. We work for you, with your interests in mind, not anybody else’s.