GRAF UK notches a hat-trick at Saltway

Posted by Callum Vallance-Poole, on September 16, 2024.

GRAF UK Saltway Farm Shop

Saltway Farm Shop, located on the outskirts of Banbury, underwent a major redevelopment to reduce overhead costs and enhance environmental sustainability. For this £600,000 project, Banbury builder Andrew Pinfold Ltd specified three innovative water management systems from GRAF UK: a sewage treatment plant, a grease separator, and a rainwater harvesting system, all made from 100% recycled plastic.

Owned by Nigel and Carole Morris, along with their son Adam and daughter Amy, Saltway Farm Shop sells a variety of products, including fruit, vegetables, preserves, animal feed, and gardening supplies. The shop also features a café and hosts fortnightly car boot sales. The family aimed to create a self-sufficient farm shop, especially in response to the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.

The farm’s lack of access to mains drainage necessitated the installation of a dedicated sewage treatment plant and a grease separator for the new 3,000ft² building. The grease separator is designed to slow down wastewater flow, allowing solids to settle and fats to float, which can then be removed.

Additionally, the Morrises chose to install a Platin rainwater harvesting system and equip the new building with solar panels. The systems were installed by The Septic Tank Store, a local specialist contractor with nearly 40 years of experience, led by Managing Director Wayne Clark.

To accommodate 44 people, the sewage treatment system required five 6,500-litre tanks, including a surge tank. These were installed over three days using a 21-tonne digger to excavate ironstone rock. The project also included a 3,000-litre grease trap, the first of its kind installed by the team.

The 7,500-litre rainwater tank was installed in a separate excavation using a 14-tonne digger. Both the sewage treatment plant and rainwater tank installations involved backfilling with gravel and concrete, completing the entire project in seven days.

Wayne Clark praised the quality of GRAF UK’s polyethylene products, noting their superiority over GRP alternatives. Nigel Morris reported initial satisfaction with the systems, despite only recently starting to use them due to COVID lockdowns.

Nigel Morris commented, “We needed the sewage treatment plant because we’re not on mains drainage, but we chose the rainwater harvesting system to reduce our water purchases. Our builder reviewed several options and decided GRAF UK’s systems were the best. As we receive water bills over time, we expect to see the long-term economic benefits and hope the systems will eventually pay for themselves.”

Nigel added, “Our decision wasn’t just about saving money. The COVID pandemic highlighted our environmental impact, and we wanted to take steps to mitigate that.”

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