Author: Iseki

The versatile nature of the Redivac vacuum fluid collection system allows for flows to be collected from sprawling shopping centres and large business parks. The Redivac system comprises of a network of small bore vacuum mains that can be used to connect food outlets and toilet and shower facilities alongside the commercial outlets.

Choosing the versatile Redivac system allows confined spaces to be negotiated without the need for deep dig associated with conventional gravity systems. Not only are there cost savings associated with this, but it also makes the Redivac system the ideal choice for areas with restricted access for plant. Furthermore the use of the Redivac ‘Saw Tooth Profile’ allows for shallow dig in areas of paving and close to new or existing buildings.

The cost-effective and flexible installation of the Redivac system also allows for phased development making it the ideal choice for fluid collection for many shopping centre developments.

Introducing an Iseki Redivac vacuum system to act as a main sewage in a rural community has a number of advantages. Installation is rapid and manageable due to the shallow, narrow trenches inherent with the technology. The flexible characteristics of the small bore polyethylene piping used permits the construction of a pipe network reaching all areas of the site without the need for large and sometimes deep collector pipes and the system can be integrated with existing gravity systems and septic tanks whilst managing flows from new developments. Furthermore the system can be designed to accommodate future phases of expansion to the site.

Other advantages include having the flexibility to locate the vacuum station almost anywhere on the site, placing collection points throughout the site without the need for electrical power and having the option of treating collected sewage locally or pumping it away. It should also be noted that vacuum systems are closed, pneumatically controlled systems with absolutely no leakages thus eliminating the fear of ex-filtration.

An example of the Iseki Redivac system being successfully diploid in a rural community is apparent in the picturesque village of Gorefield, Cambridgeshire. The installation was complete with very little inconvenience to the residents, minimum disruption to local road traffic and businesses and the finished system has greatly reduced any potential impact on the environment.

The use of vacuum fluid collection systems can be employed in a wide range of situations. Roof drainage is one typical example of the versatility of the technology. Choosing a vacuum system for roof drainage allows storm water to be lifted to the back of the roof for disposal to ground level. This is often very sought-after in arenas as it eliminates the requirement for down pipes at the front of the roof, thus leaving an unobstructed view for spectators. Eliminating down pipes at the front of the roof may also be desirable for the aesthetic appeal of buildings.

The roof drainage systems offered by Iseki incorporate interface valves located in the roof space. The valves open and close automatically as the rate of rainfall dictates thus allowing the system to manage high and low flow conditions without difficulty. Vacuum fluid collection systems have the added advantage of not requiring electrical energy. This combined with their low maintenance due to self cleaning high velocities allow an efficient and cost effective alternative to the use of pumps.

The new number 1 court at Wimbledon is an example of the successful application of vacuum technology for roof drainage. Iseki where approached by the All England Lawn Tennis club to offer a drainage solution for the symmetrical cantilevered roof with no supporting columns within the seating area. The vacuum system presented by Iseki proved to be the ideal choice. The system allows drainage of both the inner and outer gutters via dual ring mains back to a single collection station and has the capacity to be switched off during play on the court, thus ensuring complete silence for the players. The exhaust gases from the system are exhausted to atmosphere under the stands, whilst the rainwater is discharged to the storm water drain in the road outside.

A vacuum sewage system can often provide the ideal solution when faced with the necessity of crossing a watercourse or railway. The lifts possible by using vacuum technology allow sewer pipes to be attached to the underside of bridge superstructures thus eliminating the need for the deep trenches necessary for traditional gravity systems.

Many river, lake and coastal communities who currently rely upon septic tanks for disposal of sewage are now looking to introduce a mains sewerage system to avoid the pollution of surrounding watercourses and to eliminate other environmental contamination caused by inefficient or dysfunctional septic tanks. When comparing the installation cost of vacuum and gravity sewage systems in these communities, vacuum systems are often found to be the most suitable. Not only are there cost savings associated with installation, but the use of vacuum technology can often lead to a reduction in the number of pumping stations required.

The neighbouring French villages of Foucheres and Chappes have both benefited from the installation Iseki Redivac sewage systems. Confronted with Poor ground conditions, challenging topography and the need to cross the River Seiner, the versatile system offered by Iseki Redivac proved to be the ideal choice for both. The systems offered substantial savings in cost together with rapid and manageable installation.

The deterioration of ground conditions can often lead to developers turning to vacuum sewage systems as a replacement for failed gravity systems. The vacuum systems offered by Redivac do not rely on gravity falls, with vacuum mains being laid parallel to the ground surface at nominal cover. Deep excavations are therefore not required and installation can occur with minimum disruption at a level above the unfavourable ground conditions.

Should it be required, Redivac systems can be fully integrated with existing gravity systems. Flows can gradually be diverted over a specified time period and the existing gravity manholes can even be adapted to house the Redivac equipment. Alternatively, flows can simply be intercepted upstream by the use of a new shallow valve chamber. Combining all theses attribute often makes the Redivac system ideal for the replacement or upgrading of conventional gravity systems.

The versatile and environmentally attractive nature of vacuum technology often presents a viable solution when faced with difficult circumstances. Old towns with narrow streets often do not allow sufficient access for the essential trench digging machinery required for conventional gravity sewage systems. Due to its requirement of only simple trenching at shallow depths, a vacuum sewage system can be the ideal alternative.

The vacuum technology offered by Iseki Redivac only requires shallow narrow trenches using small bore pipes. The reduced depths of trenches not only offer a cost saving on excavation and a reduced installation time, but also permit hand digging should access by mechanical diggers be restricted. Furthermore, the flexibility of the piping allows the system to fit around existing services such as telephone and electrical cables.

The villages of Tai Wai and Tai Po, Hong Kong, are prime examples where a vacuum sewage system has be implemented to overcome access issues related to narrow streets. The shallow, narrow trenches required for Iseki Redivac technology enabled approximately 400 buildings to be connected to a proper sewage system and finally allow the old septic tank system to be discarded. The trenches had to be dug be hand and the small bore sewage pipes used facilitated the complexity of the pipe runs required.  At Tai Po the substantially lower installation costs and the need for fewer pumping stations made the Iseki Redivac system the preferred choice based on cost efficiency alone.

In modern times, development has already occurred on many of the sites desirable for the construction of housing. This has lead to developers increasingly turning to sites with less favorable conditions for new housing.  In areas of low population, unfavorable subsoil, high groundwater table and slight decline of the ground, tradition sewerage systems based on gravity transport would lead to high investment costs. In these areas, the vacuum sewage system offered by Redivac is often the most feasible and the most reliable solution for the collection of wastewater.

The shallow trenching required in vacuum fluid collection systems often result in investment costs being reduced significantly. Reclaimed or capped sites can be sewered by shallow pipes requiring much reduced dig when compared to the gravity system and with the high quality design offered by Redivac team, operational reliability is excellent.

Other characteristics of the Redivac system, which many housing developers find attractive, include the capacity for phased development and managed capital spending without the use of expensive lift stations or large trunk sewers. Also the flexibility of the systems allows the developer to locate the vacuum station almost anywhere on the site making vacuum sewage the preferred option.