We’re proud to continue our ongoing relationship with K.J. Howard Civil Engineering Ltd, known as Hydro-Rod, a leading drainage and sewage disposal specialist based in Exeter. Having served the South West since 1973, Hydro-Rod is a trusted family business providing services like drain unblocking, CCTV inspections, and septic tank installations. (hydrorod.com)

After successfully supplying Hydro-Rod with tanks in the past, we’re thrilled they returned to us for their latest project. For this phase, we provided two custom-designed 60m³ sludge settlement tanks, each engineered to support 1-tonne mixers. The first tank is used to store sewage sludge and includes decant valves to streamline dewatering. The second tank serves as a grease trap, ensuring effective separation of grease from wastewater.

Why GRP Tanks Were Ideal for This Project

For this particular project, Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) offered several advantages tailored to the unique demands of sludge and grease handling:

• One-Piece Construction for Efficiency: These tanks were manufactured as single, fully assembled units, eliminating the need for on-site construction. This significantly reduced downtime at Hydro-Rod’s facility, as the only work required on-site was to install the 1-tonne stirrers. With the tanks arriving ready to go, setup was efficient, allowing Hydro-Rod to integrate them into their system with minimal disruption.

• Enhanced Corrosion Resistance: GRP’s natural resistance to corrosion makes it ideal for tanks storing sewage sludge and grease, which can be highly corrosive. Unlike stainless steel, which may corrode in harsh environments over time, or plastic, which can degrade, GRP remains stable, providing long-lasting performance.

• Cost-Effective Durability: GRP’s durability and resistance to degradation make it an economical long-term solution. Unlike stainless steel, which requires significant maintenance costs, or plastic, which may lack durability, GRP balances cost and resilience, offering Hydro-Rod a durable solution for heavy-duty use.

• Customisable Design Flexibility: GRP allowed us to incorporate essential features like decant valves directly into the tanks, streamlining the dewatering process for the sludge storage tank. This customisation ensured that each tank met Hydro-Rod’s specific needs, optimizing both efficiency and effectiveness.

This project showcases how GRP’s unique advantages—pre-fabrication in one piece, corrosion resistance, built-in insulation, and design flexibility—make it an excellent choice for complex wastewater and sludge applications. We’re proud to support Hydro-Rod with these high-quality, custom-engineered solutions and look forward to future collaborations.