GRAF UK One2Clean vs Tricel Novo: An Honest Comparison

Choosing the right sewage treatment plant is a critical decision for homeowners. Both the GRAF UK One2Clean Sewage Treatment Plant and the Tricel Novo Sewage Treatment Plant are popular options in the market. While we represent the GRAF UK product, this comparison aims to be thorough and unbiased, helping people to make an informed choice that fits their specific needs.

In this detailed blog post, we’ll compare these two products across several categories: cost, performance, ease of use, installation and maintenance, environmental impact, customer support, and treatment performance. Let’s dive in.

Pricing

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• Pricing: Mid-range
• Is competitively priced considering its robust features, particularly for medium to large households or commercial properties.
• Additional value comes from lower operational and maintenance costs, which can offset the initial investment over time.

Tricel Novo:

• Pricing: Varies widely based on system size and installation specifics, generally positioned in the mid-range.
• More affordable upfront, especially for smaller systems, making it attractive for smaller households or those with tighter budgets.

Key Insight:
While the Tricel Novo might be the more budget-friendly option initially, the GRAF UK One2Clean offers long-term savings through lower energy consumption and reduced maintenance. For those prioritising upfront costs, Tricel Novo might be the better short term investment, but for long-term, GRAF UK One2Clean would be more economical.

Treatment Process

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• Technology Used: Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR)
• Process Overview: The One2Clean system treats sewage in batches, ensuring a controlled and consistent treatment process. The SBR technology allows for complete processing of each batch before moving on to the next, resulting in consistently high effluent quality.
• Treatment Consistency: Due to its batch processing, the system is less affected by fluctuations in inflow, maintaining high treatment quality even during periods of high usage.

Tricel Novo:

• Technology Used: Fixed Bed System
• Process Overview: The Novo system uses a continuous flow process where wastewater enters the system, passes through a filter media bed, and exits. The treatment process is ongoing, and the system’s efficiency is influenced by the inflow rate.
• Treatment Consistency: Treatment quality can vary, particularly during times of high inflow. Optimal treatment time is around 6-7 hours, but during peak usage, the treatment effectiveness may drop as the system processes more than it ideally can handle at once.

Key Insight:
The GRAF UK One2Clean’s use of SBR technology offers more consistent treatment quality regardless of inflow levels, making it a more reliable choice for those who need guaranteed performance. The Tricel Novo, with its fixed bed system, is more susceptible to variations in treatment quality, especially during periods of high inflow. This makes the One2Clean a better option for locations where wastewater inflow might vary significantly.

Treatment Performance

A critical factor when choosing a sewage treatment plant is its ability to treat wastewater effectively. Here’s how the two systems compare based on PIA (Product Inspection and Assessment) certificate parameters, which is the EU standard all sewage treatment plants but be tested through to determine their effluent quality levels:

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• BOD5 (Biological Oxygen Demand) Efficiency: 7 mg/l
• SS (Suspended Solids) Efficiency: 14 mg/l
• NH4-N (Ammonium) Efficiency: 0.5 mg/l

Tricel Novo:

• BOD5 (Biological Oxygen Demand) Efficiency: 11 mg/l
• SS (Suspended Solids) Efficiency: 16 mg/l
• NH4-N (Ammonium) Efficiency: 8 mg/l

Key Insight:
The GRAF UK One2Clean shows superior treatment performance across all key parameters. Its higher efficiency in biological oxygen demand, suspended solids, and especially ammonium reduction, makes it a more effective choice for customers prioritising higher effluent quality results and needing to comply with stringent quality levels. Tricel Novo also performs well but falls short in ammonium reduction, which might be a critical factor for users in environmentally sensitive areas, especially areas facing nutrient neutrality restrictions.

Ease of Use and Installation

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• Known for its straightforward installation and user-friendly operation.
• Requires minimal user intervention, thanks to the single-chamber system.

Tricel Novo:

• Installation is slightly more complex due to the three-stage process.
• More parts mean that ongoing monitoring and maintenance could be a bit more involved for the end user.

Key Insight:
Both systems would typically take the same amount of time to install and setup. However one thing to consider is you can have a One2Clean commissioned by GRAF UK for free, whilst you would need to pay to have your Tricel Novo system commissioned. Plus there’s more components and parts with a Novo plant which increases the likelihood of having to get them replaced.

Environmental Impact

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• The system is highly energy-efficient, requiring less energy to operate due to its simpler design.
• Reduced mechanical components contribute to a lower carbon footprint, which is appealing for eco-conscious customers.

Tricel Novo:

• While also energy-efficient, the three-stage process naturally requires more energy and maintenance.
• Still adheres to stringent environmental standards but may have a slightly higher environmental impact due to its operational complexity.

Key Insight:
If environmental impact is a major consideration, the GRAF UK One2Clean’s energy efficiency and simplicity make it a strong contender. The Tricel Novo is still a solid choice but may be slightly less appealing to those looking to minimise energy consumption.

Customer Support and Warranty

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• Comprehensive customer support, with a strong reputation for prompt and helpful service.
• The system comes with a robust warranty, covering parts and servicing for extended periods, which offers peace of mind.

Tricel Novo:

• Also offers reliable customer support and a good warranty, though coverage details can vary depending on the provider and installer.
• Customer feedback often praises their quick response times and thorough guidance during installation and maintenance.

Key Insight:
Both companies offer strong customer support, but GRAF UK has an edge in providing a more straightforward warranty process, particularly for long-term servicing. However, Tricel Novo’s reputation for quick responses makes it a reliable choice as well.

Pros and Cons: A Balanced Look

GRAF UK One2Clean:

• Pros: High treatment efficiency, energy-efficient, easy to install, low maintenance, highly reliable with fewer mechanical parts.
• Cons: Higher initial investment.

Tricel Novo:

• Pros: Affordable upfront, effective multi-stage treatment, good customer support.
• Cons: More complex installation and maintenance, lower ammonium reduction efficiency, slightly higher long-term operational costs due to energy usage.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Both the GRAF UK One2Clean and Tricel Novo sewage treatment plants have their strengths. For customers who value simplicity, energy efficiency, and top-tier treatment performance, the GRAF UK One2Clean is a standout choice. On the other hand, the Tricel Novo offers a more affordable upfront option with a more detailed treatment process, though it requires more maintenance and has lower performance in ammonium reduction.

If you’re interested in a dependable, low-maintenance sewage treatment plant that prioritises efficiency, longevity, and top performance, explore more about the GRAF UK One2Clean Sewage Treatment Plant here. Our team is ready to help you find the perfect solution for your needs!