FAQ

In many cases, buildings are connected to the municipal sewage system. However, an alternative solution is required at locations without a sewer network - this is where small wastewater treatment plants come into play. These plants are installed directly on site and individually adapted to the wastewater volume. With the help of a fully biological treatment process, the wastewater is effectively treated so that it can be discharged in an environmentally friendly manner.

KLARO wastewater treatment plants offer flexible solutions for a wide range of applications: From single-family homes and apartment blocks to schools, office buildings and small municipalities. Our systems are also the ideal choice in places where civil engineering is not possible or as a temporary solution on construction sites and in disaster areas. With individual concepts, we ensure that your wastewater treatment plant is perfectly tailored to your location and requirements.

More about the areas of application

In Germany, wastewater treatment plants are subject to strict legal requirements to ensure the protection of the environment and water resources. These include, in particular, compliance with DIN standards such as DIN EN 12566 for small wastewater treatment plants or DIN 4261 for fully biological systems. In addition, regional regulations must be observed, which may vary depending on the federal state or water protection area. A wastewater treatment plant must be tested and approved before installation. This is usually carried out by the responsible authority, which also monitors compliance with the specified purification values. After commissioning, regular maintenance and inspection is mandatory.

The size of a wastewater treatment plant depends on the daily wastewater volume, which is calculated in so-called population equivalents (PE). A wastewater volume of 0.15 m³ per inhabitant per day is assumed. KLARO's technical experts use this basis to calculate the right system size for your needs. A typical detached house, for example, is calculated with 4 PE. For larger properties such as apartment blocks, commercial enterprises or public buildings, the wastewater volume is adjusted accordingly to ensure optimum performance of the wastewater treatment plant.

Sewage treatment plants require regular maintenance to ensure reliable operation. This includes the professional disposal of sewage sludge, which is usually carried out once or twice a year at the most. In addition, the components of the plant should be checked in order to detect wear or malfunctions at an early stage. It is also important to check the cleaning performance by taking water samples to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

The frequency of sludge disposal depends on the cleaning system used. For systems with the KLARO system, which works with a pre-storage tank, disposal is usually required every 6-12 months. Systems with the fully aerated KLARO One system, on the other hand, only require sludge disposal every 24 months.

Yes, wastewater treatment plants can also be used in water protection areas, provided that all legal requirements and special regulations are complied with. Especially in such sensitive areas, it is crucial that wastewater treatment meets the highest standards. Thanks to innovative technology and state-of-the-art processes, KLARO wastewater treatment plants achieve particularly high-quality effluent values. These not only meet the legal requirements, but often also the strictest specifications in water protection areas. We also offer expansion modules that can be used to further optimize treatment performance.

The cost of a wastewater treatment plant depends on the size and the individually selected components. At KLARO, you have the option of putting together your system according to your needs. Whether you only need a set-up kit with technical cabinet or a complete system including tank - the prices are as flexible as our solutions. Thanks to our customized systems, you will receive a wastewater treatment plant that is not only technically impressive, but also fits your budget. We will be happy to provide you with a detailed price quotation.

Containerized wastewater treatment plants offer maximum flexibility and mobility as they have been specially developed for easy transport and versatile applications. Thanks to plug-and-play technology, they can be moved quickly from one location to the next - ideal for temporary applications such as construction sites, events or disaster areas. With various designs and customization options, the systems can be perfectly adapted to individual requirements. Whether for small or large quantities of wastewater - KLARO containerized wastewater treatment plants reliably master every challenge.

You can find out more about the containers here

If a wastewater treatment plant breaks down, the responsible maintenance company should be informed immediately. Specialists will then check where the fault lies and rectify the problem as quickly as possible to prevent damage and environmental pollution. With KLARO systems, however, you have the advantage that our well-designed system enables a short bridging time. Thanks to the integrated sludge storage tank, the system can continue to be used without hesitation for a limited period even in the event of a breakdown. This gives you the necessary leeway to solve the problem without time pressure.

Yes, all KLARO wastewater treatment plants are designed to handle underloads without any problems. Thanks to our intelligent control systems with integrated underload detection, the wastewater is continuously passed through the various treatment phases. This technology ensures that the necessary microorganisms remain alive in the plant, even if less wastewater is produced.

Retrofitting a KLARO sewage treatment plant is uncomplicated and is carried out by our qualified specialist partners on site. First, the specialist partner inspects the pit, checks for leaks and takes the necessary measurements. Our technical team will then design a suitable set-up kit with a technical cabinet specifically for your needs. Once you have converted your individual offer into an order, the specialist partner will install the system and carry out the subsequent maintenance.

The repair costs for a KLARO wastewater treatment plant are usually minimal. As technology and wastewater are strictly separated in our systems, only the affected unit on the control cabinet usually needs to be replaced in the event of a technical component failure.

Special feature: Our installation uses plug-in connections in accordance with the VDE/VDO standard, so that no cables need to be disconnected or intervention in the pit required. This makes repairs quick and easy without the need for extensive work.

Compared to many other plants with SBR technology, the KLARO wastewater treatment plant is characterized by particularly high energy efficiency. Thanks to the use of intelligent control systems and automatic underload detection, KLARO can realize significant savings potential of up to 75%. The annual energy consumption is just over 10 euros per year and population equivalent, making the KLARO wastewater treatment plant one of the most economical small wastewater treatment plants in the world.

The installation of a small wastewater treatment plant is carried out by a trained KLARO specialist partner. They take care of all communication with us as well as all the necessary work on site, including planning and measuring, earthworks, connecting the system and finally commissioning. In this way, we guarantee a professional installation that meets our high quality standards.

You can carry out a general check of the functionality of the system and its technical components yourself. However, a specialist company is required for comprehensive maintenance and inspection of the small wastewater treatment plant to ensure optimum performance and longevity of the system.

Take advantage of our extensive partner network! We provide you with qualified and certified specialist companies who will support you in the selection, installation and maintenance of your wastewater treatment plant. You can rely on our experience and the expertise of our partners.

Find your specialist partner together

We take care of the planning together with the specialist partner on site. Several factors are important here. The location of the plant, its size, the applicable regulations and the future use of the wastewater treatment plant must be carefully considered.

KLARO offers three different types of separators that are tailored to different requirements. These include grease separators, which have been specially developed for the separation of grease from wastewater. We also offer light liquid separators, which are further subdivided into oil separators for separating oils and coalescence separators, which effectively separate the finest oil droplets.

A grease trap is a special device used to separate fats and oils from wastewater before it enters the sewer system. These substances, which often occur in commercial kitchens, restaurants or food processing plants, can place a considerable burden on the sewer system and sewage treatment plants and even lead to blockages. The grease trap prevents these harmful substances from entering the sewage system and causing problems.

A grease separator should be completely emptied at least once a month, cleaned and the collected grease, oil and dirt in the sludge trap removed.

A grease separator is required in all areas where wastewater is contaminated with fats and oils beyond the usual level of domestic wastewater. This applies in particular to commercial kitchens, butchers, abattoirs, canteens and similar facilities where there is an increased amount of greasy wastewater.

Basically, all separators work according to the same principle. They are installed between the business and the sewage system to clean contaminated wastewater before it enters the public sewage system. The wastewater flows into the separator, where solids such as sludge, dirt or food residues settle to the bottom. Thanks to the low density of fats and oils, these rise to the surface of the water, where they separate from the rest of the wastewater. This creates a layer of clear water, which then leaves the separator.

A light liquid separator is required wherever wastewater is contaminated with oils or fuels. Typical places of use are filling stations, workshops, car washes and vehicle fleets.

A coalescence separator is equipped with a special coalescence unit that is constructed like a fine basket. This unit ensures that even the smallest oil droplets, whose density is almost the same as that of water, are brought together. These tiny droplets combine to form larger droplets, which can rise to the surface of the water due to their lower density. This innovative technology achieves a significantly higher degree of separation.

The material collected in separators, such as grease, oil, sludge or other solids, is disposed of by certified specialist companies. Depending on the type of material and its degree of purity, some of it can also be recycled. For example, the fats collected in grease separators are often processed into biofuels or other uses. Residues from light liquid separators, such as oil and fuels, are treated and disposed of in accordance with legal requirements in order to protect the environment.

Various legal regulations apply to separators in Germany to ensure that the systems work efficiently and protect the environment. The most important DIN standards include

• DIN EN 1825 for grease separators, which regulate the requirements for the separation of grease and oil from wastewater.

• DIN EN 858 for light liquid separators, which describe the separation of light liquids such as oil from wastewater.

These standards define the technical requirements, test methods and performance standards that must be taken into account when planning, installing and maintaining separators. Compliance with these DIN standards is crucial in order to meet legal requirements and ensure the operational and environmental safety of the separators.

A separator that is not working properly usually shows clear signs of problems. The most common symptoms include:

• Increased odors: an unpleasant, foul smell may indicate that the separator is no longer doing its job of cleaning wastewater effectively and that fats, oils or other waste materials have accumulated in the system.

• Slow water drainage: If the water drains more slowly than usual, this may indicate that the separator is clogged or that the separation performance has deteriorated.

• Visible residues in the water: If there is turbidity or visible residues such as oil layers or deposits containing solids in the drain water, this is a clear sign that the separator is no longer working properly.

In addition, EN 858-1 stipulates that separator systems must be equipped with automatic warning devices. If an excess separator capacity is not maintained, automatic warning devices must be activated. In the event of a possible backflow due to backwater, suitable backflow protection devices must also be provided to prevent damage.

In accordance with legal regulations, a separator must be inspected at least once a year by a qualified specialist. The annual inspection includes a thorough check of the functionality, tightness and need for maintenance. In this way, possible sources of faults are detected at an early stage and can be rectified before major damage or environmental pollution occurs.