Which Toilet Paper is Best for my Septic System?

Thursday, 21 June 2018 by Ri Industries

You may not realise that sense of satisfaction when you flush the toilet and see the smooth flow of water down the drain until the moment when you flush and feel a sense of dread as you watch the water rise towards the top of the bowl. The instant moment of panic as you realise the toilet is clogged and will likely overflow at any moment. Clogged toilets can cause a lot of damage. This is something you already know. What you might not know, is that the type of toilet paper you are using may actually be the culprit!

While people may think about what is and is not OK to flush down the toilet, toilet paper surely makes every ‘ok’ list out there. What most people don’t know is that soft and thick varieties of toilet paper could create problems for your septic system because they don’t dissolve quickly. Of course, the amount of toilet paper should also be watched. Flushing excessive amounts of toilet paper at one time can also be major contributors to problems and clogs.

The good news here is that the fix is simple and within your control. Only flush small amounts of toilet paper at one time and research the type of toilet paper you use. What’s the best type of toilet paper to buy? Paper that is soft, strong, and most importantly for your septic system, dissolves quickly. There’s even a fun little test you can do at home to check the toilet paper you choose before you flush. Test the paper by soaking it in water for 30 minutes and see how much it breaks down. The more it breaks down the better.

Properly functioning septic systems are important for your home and can be expensive to fix or replace. Taking control when and where you can will help keep your septic system running smoothly for many years to come. Questions? Call Ri-Industries at 08 8444 8100 and we will be happy to help you.

Water Your Garden AND Conserve Water

Thursday, 1 March 2018 by Ri Industries

Do you want a beautiful garden but worry it might conflict with your desire to conserve water? We say you can have your garden and conserve water with the Ri-Treat Waste Water System!

You deserve to have beautiful things in your life while feeling good about caring for our environment. The following tips will help you make smart choices when watering your home garden.

Use Ri-Treat to irrigate your garden

The Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System works to clean and re-use your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. Ri-Treat features a high quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation. This system is certainly a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.

Water your garden only when it needs it

While the Ri-Treat system can efficiently recycle your waste water for your home, it’s up to you to decide when your garden needs watering. To find out if your lawn needs water, use this rule of thumb: stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it is time for a shower.

Water less often, but with gusto

Flower beds do well with just one or two watering sessions per week as long as it is a thorough watering.

Water when cool

Plan to water during evening or early morning hours when the soil is cool. Less water will evaporate than during the heat of the day, allowing the plants to retain sufficient water.

Dry leaves are healthy leaves

When kept wet overnight, leaf mold may form on leaves. Leaves that are left wet during the hot daytime hours may develop slight burn marks.

Put your garden on a schedule

For those of us who do not have time to stick our finger in the soil every day, it is recommended to water your garden deeply and infrequently (about 2.5 cm a week). But how do you measure how much water your lawn is soaking in? For this you can use a rain gauge or a cup of water placed on your garden and a ruler. Run your irrigation system for about 15 minutes, check the amount of water left in the cup or rain gauge, and you can do some quick calculations to find out how much water per hour is coming from the sprinkler.

So, go ahead and enjoy a beautiful garden at home while doing your part to conserve water. Have questions about the Ri-Treat Waste Water System? Give Ri-Industries a call at 08 8444 8100 and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Gardens Over Septic Tank Soakaways

Wednesday, 31 January 2018 by Ri Industries

When planning a garden, you may not think about your septic tank, but maybe you should. More specifically, you need to understand the do’s and don’ts of planting in or around your septic tank soakaway, also known as a soakage trench or drainage field.

First, what is a septic tank soakaway?

A septic tank soakaway is a series of underground, perforated pipes that allow septic tank effluent to soakaway over a large area. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus is removed from the effluent as it is purified by the soil. Plant roots can help your septic tank drain system work better by removing moisture and nutrients which in turn help the soil work more efficiently.

What should you plant over a septic tank soakaway?

Deep roots can damage soakaways, so shallow rooted plants are ideal for this area. A septic tank is generally installed about 0.6 to 0.9 meters underground, meaning you do not want the root systems of your small plants or shrubs to extend below this depth. The best plants to use near drainage fields are flowers, grasses, and small groundcovers that will not grow deep enough to disrupt the pipeline of your septic tank.

While Ri-Industries septic tanks are made from 40 MPa concrete, and the engineer-designed tanks are built to withstand anything, it is not recommended that anything with deep roots, especially trees, are planted near your septic system.

Tips: when planting, do not dig too deep and be sure to wear gloves to protect against bacteria that may be in the soil.

Dense covering, such as a lawn, is recommended over a septic tank soakaway to help prevent soil erosion.

Planting a lawn or garden over the soakaway is a good way to care for it while adding beauty to your landscape.

If you really must have plants near your septic system, speak with your garden specialist to find out the ph of your soil and choose shallow rooted plants suited to that ph level. Otherwise, the simplest answer is to plant a lawn over the soakage trench.

For questions about septic tanks, call Ri-Industries at 08 8444 8100.

Ri-Industries Trade Waste Arresters

Friday, 12 January 2018 by Ri Industries

What is Trade Waste? It is liquid wastewater from a commercial or industrial entity that enters the sewer system. Some trade waste must be pre-treated before entering the sewer system. In those cases, trade waste arresters are used to stop harmful trade waste entering the drainage system where it may affect people or the environment. The arresters capture the waste and allow it to settle and separate. The treated wastewater can then safely enter the sewer system while the harmful waste can be disposed of.

Ri-Industries makes several trade waste arresters which meet a variety of needs and offer a multitude of benefits:

Made from precast concrete with a strength of 50 MPa at 28 days.
A number of different trade waste arresters are available including silt, grease and detention tanks.
All inlets suit HDPE pipes for easier connection.
Gas-tight lids set in precast concrete can also be supplied, as well as extension risers.
Increments and trafficable, gas-tight, heavy duty cast iron/concrete covers are available.
Units are lowered into the excavation site providing the site is level, firm and accessible.
All units are SA Water approved.

Maintenance is simple as our trade waste arrestors are particularly strong and built to last. The arrester is designed to trap all fats and oils contained in the washwater. Therefore, it should be completely cleaned out at three-monthly intervals or more frequently if necessary, following SA Water recommendations. Tank waste must not be discharged to the sewage system.

More information regarding the Ri-Industries Trade Waste Arresters can be found on our website. A product catalogue is also available for download for your convenience. Of course, the best way to learn about our products is to call us at 08 8444 8100 and speak to one of our experts. We look forward to hearing from you!

Benefits of Ri-Cycle Commercial Wastewater Treatment System

Thursday, 4 January 2018 by Ri Industries

Constructing commercial properties is a huge undertaking. Many factors go into the initial step of choosing locations for building sites. One important consideration is how wastewater will be managed. Are sewage pipes already laid and available for use? If not, is it possible to connect sewage pipes to the area? What will the cost be for off-site wastewater disposal? Is on-site wastewater treatment a possibility?

On-site wastewater treatment can be a major cost saver compared to installing and maintaining sewer pipes. It is also beneficial to the environment. The use of reclaimed water means less consumption of fresh water and when used water is eventually discharged back into natural water sources, it can still have benefits to ecosystems, improving streamflow, nourishing plant life and recharging aquifers, as part of the natural water cycle.

There are a variety of ways reclaimed water can be used for commercial properties. Irrigation of lawns, gardens, sporting facilities, golf courses is a common use. It can be used for road cleaning, soil compaction, concrete making and even dust control.

If the decision is made to use a commercial wastewater treatment system, the Ri-Cycle manufactured by Ri-Industries should be considered. The Ri-Cycle is an aerobic systemand is one of the most effective methods in Australia for dealing with sewage.

With its unique design, the Ri-Cycle wastewater system offers a number of benefits:

Flexible design so they can be tailored to suit your exact requirements
The high quality bio filter medium enhances the purity of the recycled water
All irrigation pumps are stainless steel, submersible, quiet, reliable and inexpensive to operate. And because of the high quality of effluent being passed through the system the normal manufacturer’s warranty of 12 months is extended to 3 years
A German-manufactured side channel Air Pump offers a reliable and efficient aeration
Three sizes of Ri-Cycle tanks offer maximum flexibility for use in many buildings and sites
Child-proof, vandal-proof and trafficable lids give you additional peace of mind
A manufacturers’ warrantyon tank construction – longer than comparable products

Please call us at 08 8444 8100 to learn more about the Ri-Cycle. Our experts will be happy to assist you.

FujiClean – Waste Water Treatment System

Exciting Times for Ri-Industries!

Wednesday, 2 August 2017 by Ri Industries

It’s exciting times for us at Ri-Industries! Our business continues to grow through the hard work and dedication of our staff, our commitment to long-term relationships with our partners, and of course, loyalty and support from our customers. We are pleased to share the following news with you.

Congratulations to Ivan Sayers for his recent promotion to Managing Director. Ivan began his journey with Ri-Industries in 2002 as Production Manager and became General Manager in 2012. We are excited for Ivan to take the helm as Managing Director and look forward to following his lead as we bring additional value to our community.

Ri-Industries continues to work on South Australian infrastructure projects, including the Darlington Upgrade, along with our partner Reinforced Earth. Not only does this work improve South Australian infrastructure, but it keeps South Australians employed right here in SA. Our factories will be kept busy over the next 12 months.

Ri-Industries has worked closely with our partner Xylem Water Solutions on an exciting development: releasing a new product into our production of an elliptical-shaped station. This pump station comes from a long-term project to manufacture an alternative shaped-station that ensures logistics are easier, but still provides a capacity equivalent to a 3800 internal diameter.

South Australian customers are benefitting from our continued relationship with FujiClean. We provide a lightweight alternative waste water treatment system that adds to our already extensive range of environmentally-focussed products. Ivan recently visited the FujiClean headquarters in Japan to further develop our relationship.

South Australia is introducing new certifications required for waste water treatment systems and we are busy getting ready for them. In fact, we are already working with key partners on the certification process for Ri-Treat and Ri-Cycle.

We would like to thank all of our customers and contacts for your continued support. If you’d like more information on any of these updates, or our products, please call us on 8444 8100.

How Do Sewage and Effluent Move Through Septic Systems?

Thursday, 22 June 2017 by Ri Industries

Safe disposal of sewage and effluent is essential to protect the health of the community. Why? Sewage and effluent can contain a variety of human disease-causing microorganisms and parasites which can be spread to humans by direct contact or indirectly by consumption of contaminated food or water.

In most unsewered developments across Australia, septic tank systems are used to treat and dispose of sewage, also referred to as wastewater. The government of Western Australia has provided a rather simple explanation of how septic tank systems work which apply to South Australia as well:

“When wastewater passes through the septic tanks, heavier solids sink to the bottom and undergo bacterial digestion. This reduces the quantity of solids and also changes its composition to sludge, which builds up in the bottom of the tank. Materials such as grease and oil float to the surface in the tanks to forma crust over the liquid. The remaining liquid, called effluent, flows from the tanks into the drainage receptacles to soak into the surrounding soil where it may undergo further natural treatment processes.”

Also from the Government of Western Australia come tips for a healthy efficient septic tank system:

Have the septic tanks pumped out regularly.
Allow as little fat or grease as possible into the system.
Minimise and stagger water usage.
Regularly switch the drain or soakwells in use if you have an alternating system.
Do not dispose of non-biodegradable materials into your septic, e.g. plastics.
Do not dispose of old medicines, large amounts of disinfectant (biocides) or other strong chemicals into the septic tank. These can kill the normal bacteria and interfere with the system. Bleaches and detergents have no adverse effects when used in moderation.
Do not drive vehicles over the system.

Of course, Ri-Industries can answer all your questions on how septic tank systems work, problems that may arise, and how to maintain septic tank systems for best use. Call us with your questions or to learn about the products we sell. 08 8444 8100

Did You Know Conserving Water is Good for Your Septic Tank?

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 by Ri Industries

Isn’t it great when we can do something good for ourselves and it happens to be good for the environment too? Taking steps to care for your home’s septic tank can mean less stress and less money spent on repairs. One way of caring for your septic tank is by conserving water, which of course, is good for the environment too!

Let’s break this down. The septic system receives wastewater from many places in your home: toilets; showers; washing machines; dishwashers; and sinks. The less water you use, the less of a load that is placed on the soil absorption area (also known as a drainage field). The drainage field can only hold so much, meaning that excessive water may overload your septic system and result in system failure. By conserving water use in your home, not only can you extend the lifetime of the septic system, but you also extend the health of the environment.

So, how exactly can you limit water use in your home? Luckily there are some simple and easy ways to get started:

Fix leaky taps and running toilets.
Don’t leave the water running.
Toilets are not for rubbish – place rubbish in the rubbish bin, not the toilet.
Reduce water use up to 50% by using water efficient fixtures.
Do less loads! Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full.
One load of washing dispels a large amount of water into the drainage field. Give it time to recover by spacing out the loads.
Spread out showers and baths as well.
Fill your garden with plants, flowers, and bushes that require little water.
Don’t water your lawn or garden during the hottest times of the day.

With just a little thought and planning, it can be easy to reduce water use in your home. Share these tips with the others in your household to get the most benefits and help your septic system live a long and healthy life. Questions? Call Ri-Industries (08 8444 8100) for answers or to learn more about our septic tank systems.

Using Concrete Tanks for Underground Storage and Bunkers

Sunday, 12 March 2017 by Ri Industries

When you think of Ri-Industries, do you think of storage? Do you think of bunkers? Probably not, but you could. You may already be familiar with our reputation in precast concrete tanks used for waste water treatment systems, septic systems, and rainwater tanks. Now you can get to know us for some other uses.

We wrote about some of the unique uses for our tanks a while ago. If you read that blog, you will see pictures of concrete tanks being used as a base of a sculpture and even as a plunge pool. It also talks about using the concrete tanks for shelter and storage. We thought now might be a good time to elaborate on these, as we are seeing an increasing trend amongst our South Australian customers for underground cellars and bunkers.

The political and environmental climates of the world have created a larger interest in underground storage and underground bunkers. We can custom design features to suit your requirements, just as we have done for a customer in the Tea Tree Gully area. He used one of our precast concrete tanks as an underground cellar. We custom-made a lid for the tank and the customer added a staircase for easy access. It’s been our experience that people living in the metro area tend to use the concrete tanks as an underground cellar, while residents of the Adelaide Hills tend to use the concrete tanks as storage to protect belongings from fire.

What might someone place in underground tank? Some items might be:

Important documents
Family heirlooms
Clothing
Cash, credit cards
Food
Blankets
Camping equipment
Computer hardware/software
Wine

In bushfire prone areas, our customers really are thinking ahead by using underground concrete tanks as bunkers. What peace of mind you will have knowing that the documents you need to recover from a disaster are safe and accessible along with some clothing and cash to get you by. It is always so heartbreaking to see news footage of people coming back to their home destroyed by flood or fire and watch them sift through the wreckage trying to salvage precious family mementos. Concrete tanks really can help.

Please call us (08 8444 8100) to learn more about using precast concrete tanks for underground storage, cellars or bunkers. We look forward to hearing from you.

Achilles Supply Chain Community Member

Friday, 4 November 2016 by Ri Industries

As a pre-cast concrete manufacturer, Ri-Industries does a lot more than manufacture septic tanks, waste water treatment systems and rainwater tanks. We also provide concrete products to a wide range of businesses in the mining, oil, gas, engineering and construction industries.

For a business to decide to work with Ri-Industries to complete a project, we understand that we must first prove that our products and service are worthy. This can be a time consuming and frustrating task for both sides. To save time and effort for everyone, Ri-Industries is pleased to announce that we are now an approved supplier on the Achilles supply chain community.

Supplier number 193731

Achilles is a leading provider of supplier risk management services. Suppliers undergo a strenuous pre-qualification program before they are granted a stamp of approval by Achilles. Buyers and suppliers agree to use one standard supplier questionnaire which eases the pre-qualification process for everyone involved.

Ri-Industries understands that companies are under pressure to maintain strong compliant supply chains that satisfy:

Regulation
Legislation
Their company’s own policies and standards

The Achilles questionnaire simplifies this process and the buyer can trust that the supplier has been fully vetted.

We are proud to be included in the Achilles supply chain community. This, along with our recent TQCSI certifications in Quality, Safety and the Environment give all our customers peace of mind that we are focused on the highest levels of quality and service standards.

To discuss any projects that require pre-cast concrete, please contact us at 08 8444 8100.

Can I Flush This Waste?

Friday, 16 September 2016 by Ri Industries

There is a common misconception that toilets are designed to handle any type of waste. The truth is, just because it’s rubbish doesn’t mean it should be flushed!

While it may be fast and easy to simply flush unwanted matter down the toilet, remember, it does in fact flow somewhere, which in many cases is a septic tank. This means that some matter may turn this fast and easy solution into a big, messy problem!

Septic tanks are designed to break down organic matter. When matter is unable to be broken down, it may clog or damage the system resulting in costly repairs.

Here is a list of items which are frequently flushed, but shouldn’t be:

Bathroom wipes – Wait, what? It even says right on the package that they’re flushable! Yes, it’s true they are advertised as flushable, but some brands degrade better than others. There is also the issue of how many wipes get flushed. Often, it is the quantity of wipes flushed into the septic tank that causes the problem.
Condoms – This is another biggie we hear about. While the toilet may seem like an easy, even natural, disposal method, it is not a smart one. Condoms do not break down and will in time clog the system.
Nappies – While they are filled with waste which can be safely flushed, the nappies themselves absolutely should not be. They are made from materials which are intended to expand when they come in contact with liquid, such as ….. toilet water! The problem here may occur before the nappy even makes it to the septic tank. Most likely it will get caught on the way down.
Cat Litter – This follows the same line of thinking as nappies. It might seem a natural step to flush away the cat’s waste, but along with the waste goes clay, sand, toxin, and parasites that we never want in water systems.
Prescription Medications – People often assume this is the smartest disposal method for prescription medications as it eliminates the concern that the medicine may be taken by someone it wasn’t intended for. Unfortunately, by flushing the medicine, groundwater gets contaminated.

This list is by no means comprehensive. The bottom line is that septic tanks are designed to handle human waste. Anything else should be placed in the rubbish. Ri-Industries are happy to discuss the do’s and don’ts of flushing. Should you have any questions, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Helpful Household Cleaning Tips: Bathroom Edition

Friday, 2 September 2016 by Ri Industries

Ri-Industries has shared many helpful tips over the years. We’ve offered tips for “green” cleaning, how to care for septic systems, which items should not be flushed down the toilet and more. Today, we share more helpful household cleaning tips.

“I LOVE cleaning the bathroom,” said no one ever! Let’s face it, even for those of us that enjoy cleaning our homes, it’s really difficult to enjoy cleaning the bathroom. No matter how tidy family members are on a daily basis, the bathroom will still be germ-laden. The possibility of your hands coming into contact with something undesirable is rather high. Plus, it often seems that no matter how hard you scrub or how strong the cleaner is, there are just some areas that will not get clean.

Well, we searched the internet for helpful household cleaning tips to make your bathroom sparkle and found the following tips by the experts at Absolute Domestics:

Keep your toilet clean and fresh by scrubbing the inside bowl with toilet cleaner, white vinegar or bi-carb soda. You may want to leave this to soak for a few minutes beforehand. Give a good old scrub with the toilet brush, then flush, rinsing off your toilet brush when flushing. Give both sides of the lid and outside the toilet a wipe over with anti-bacterial cleaner paying attention to the flush button and bottom of the toilet which often get missed.

When you regularly use your bathroom, you’ll often end up with hard water stains on your bathroom taps. These hard water stains can be removed with lemon. Simply rub a fresh lemon over the water stains and not only will shine, it will smell nice too!

Shower scum is made up of mineral deposits (usually calcium and carbonate) and soap scum. To get this off your shower without chemicals use White Magic Eraser or White Vinegar. Simply put white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray onto the shower door, scrub the mixture on the shower screen with and old pair of stockings or a soft bristled brush. Yes you heard right, the denier in stockings gives you that bit of added oomph rather than using a harsh scourer that can etch or scratch your glass. Rinse off with warm water. Squeegee off the excess water and dry with a microfibre cloth or soft towel.

There you go. Three simple tips to help make your bathroom sparkle!

Our other blogs at Ri-Industries contain lots of other tips, or give us a call at 08 8444 8100.

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