Using the Greywater Filter light

The purifier tolerates a small amount of anti-bacterial and chlorine-based agents that are commonly used for cleaning. Follow the dosing instructions issued by the manufacturer of the detergent.

Wastewater from a WC or dry toilet, rain- or stormwater, and the drainage water from foundations must not be fed into the filter. Toxic chemicals or substances that contain such chemicals, which can kill the micro-organisms that clean the wastewater, such as drain openers, paints, oils or solvents, must not be fed into the purifier. Harmful substances can be identified from the chemical markings on their packaging.

Storing the filter over winter

The filter material boxes are left inside the filter. Freezing of the filter material does not damage the unit. If the filter material is still frozen when the operation starts in spring, thaw it by pouring warm, clear water through the filter.

Maintenance of the Greywater Filter light

The unit must be used and maintained in accordance with the instructions, and its operation must be monitored regularly. When maintaining the wastewater system, maintenance of the pump well and the sedimentation tanks, if any, also needs to be taken into account.

Follow-up of the operation

Check the operation of the filter at least twice each operating season. A well-functioning purifier is nearly odourless, the filter material is moist and the water exiting it is clear and odourless and does not contain any significant amount of solid matter.

Check that

• wastewater is flowing smoothly from all the openings in the box
• the filter material is drawn to a distance of about 5 cm from the openings in the discharge end of the box
• the visible connections of the sewers are in order
• the purified wastewater is flowing freely out of the filter

Changing the filter material

Normally, the filter material in the purifier must be replaced every 100 days of operation. Only filter material specifically intended for Biolan filters is allowed. Biolan Oy does not guarantee the purification capacity of the unit if any other filter material is used.

1. Change the filter material in all of the boxes at the same time.
2. Open the cover of the purifier and lift the filter material boxes out of the unit by means of the lifting handle.  
3. Empty the filter material into the compost or use it as cover soil for ornamental plants.  
4. Refill the boxes with new filter material. Rip the filter material loose and spread it evenly across the box by tapping it gently. Depending on the packing method applied, there may be excess filter material in the bag. The amount of filter material in the box is sufficient when its surface lies about 2 cm below the edge of the box. Finally, draw the filter material about 5 cm to the rear from the V-openings.
5. Check the inlet and outlet connectors for wastewater and clean them.
6. Place the boxes filled with filter material back into the filter unit. The filter material boxes are identical, but observe their direction – in the lowermost box water flows towards the outlet connector, in the next box it flows towards the inlet connector etc.  
7. Make sure the unit is in a horizontal position both lengthwise and laterally so that wastewater flows smoothly from one box to the other.
8. Close the cover of the filter carefully. 
9. Write down the service measures taken.

Installing the Greywater Filter light

Place the filter on a firm and even surface that is not susceptible to frost, such as, for example, a bed of gravel or crushed stone or a cast concrete slab. The filter must be in a horizontal position both lengthwise and laterally to allow the wastewater flow smoothly over the entire cleaning area of the filter material.

Locating out of doors

The Biolan Greywater Filter light shall be installed above ground or buried partly in the soil. Place the filter in a location where water will not gather, even when there is flooding. The purifier can be installed out of doors without covering. The unit is non-insulated. For winter use, the unit must be located in a space where the temperature stays above zero.

Location inside a residential building

If the filter is to be installed indoors or in close proximity to a residential building (for example, under the terrace), it must be taken into account during the planning that this space needs to be provided with its own entrance for maintenance. This space must also have a floor well or an earthen floor of sufficient area to enable possible malfunctions to be dealt with satisfactorily.

Air circulation

The operation of the filter is based on the activity of the micro-organisms. The micro-organisms need oxygen to survive. This means that the air exchange in the filter must be looked after. To ensure sufficient exchange, the module delivery includes two T-branches for building up the air exchange system. A prerequisite for efficient natural ventilation is the height difference between the air inlet and outlet (from lower to higher), and possible temperature difference (from colder to warmer).

The replacement air for the purifier is routed from the end of the discharge pipe or via the air pipe that rises above the ground surface from the discharge pipe. The outlet air from the purifier located out of doors shall be routed as extract ventilation to the roof or via an air pipe in the incoming sewer to the yard. Outlet air from a purifier located indoors or in the immediate vicinity of a residential building shall be routed as extract ventilation to the roof of the building.

Conducting wastewater to the filter

The wastewater is conducted directly to the filter using either gravity flow drainage or a pump well. While installing gravity flow sewers, a sufficient gradient (of at least 1-1,5 %) needs to be provided to allow the wastewater to flow without obstruction from the sewer outlet of the house all the way to the discharge point. No septic tank required.

The module is fitted with inlet and outlet connectors for a 75 mm sewage pipe. The inlet connector is located at the upper edge, and the outlet connector at the lower edge of the module. It is possible to connect two modules in series or in parallel.

Series connection

The sewage pipe coming out of the building is connected to the first module. The outlet pipe of the module is connected to the inlet connector of the other module. From the second module, water is routed to the discharge point in the usual manner.

Parallel connection

Wastewater is divided into two flows by means of a branch sleeve. To ensure even distribution, it is recommended to provide the inlet pipe with a straight part 80-cm long before the branch sleeve to reduce the turbulence of the incoming water flow.

Connecting together four modules

Wastewater is divided into two modules that are connected in parallel, after which two more units have been installed in series.

Making use of existing septic tanks

If you wish to make use of existing septic tanks, these need to be in good condition and hermetically sealed.

Pumping wastewater to the filter

The operation of the pump must be sequenced using a timer so that during one sequence the pump brings at maximum 20 litres of wastewater to the filter. If the wastewater system consists of only one module, the recommended pumping rate is10 litres. The Biolan Timer, the Submersible Pump and the Pump Well are available as options.

Discharge point for wastewater

Conduct the treated wastewater to a suitable discharge point, for example a stone pocket, an infiltration pit or an open ditch. When planning, observe that the discharge of wastewater shall be unobstructed even when the surface water or groundwater level is high. If you conduct the water to an open ditch, provide the end of the pipe with a flap or a net to prevent rodents or other small animals from gaining access.

Putting the filter material in place

The filter material is packed in a bag inside the unit, and is distributed from the bag into the boxes. Rip the material loose and spread it evenly across the box by tapping it gently. Depending on the packing method applied, there may be excess filter material in the bag. The amount of filter material in the box is sufficient when its surface lies about 2 cm below the edge of the box. Finally, draw the filter material about 5 cm to the rear from the V-openings in the discharge end of the box.The filter boxes are stacked firmly one on top of the other, inside the filter, each one pointing in the opposite direction to the previous one:

• discharge openings of the lowermost box (V-openings) on the discharge sewer's side   
• discharge openings of the second lowest box on the inlet sewer's side etc.

In this case, water circulates through all of the boxes before being discharged.

Operation of the Biolan Greywater Filter light

The operation of the Biolan Greywater Filter light is based on the mechanical and biological filtration of wastewater. Organic filter material, to which the dirt in the wastewater sticks, is used in the filter. The micro-organisms living on the surface of the material use the impurities in the water as their nutrition.

The module has five filter boxes placed one on top of the other. The wastewater is conducted into the uppermost filter box. Inside the filter, the wastewater flows nearly horizontally by gravitation from one filter layer to the other through the openings in the end of the box.

Planning the Greywater Filter light

Building a wastewater system or changing it in objects with pressurised water always requires a building or action permission from the municipal building authority or submission of notification of action. The building permission is applied on submission of the relevant plant. The plan includes, among other things, a site plan and a cross-section presenting the elevation. 

Wastewater from a WC or dry toilet in the property must be conducted into a closed tank or treated otherwise in a due manner. Rain- or stormwater or drainage water from foundations must not be fed into the filter. The cleaning capacity of the filter material in the module is good for about 100 days, after which it needs to be replaced in accordance with the maintenance instructions.

Intended use of the Greywater Filter light

Biolan Greywater Filter light is a non-insulated filter module for washing water.

The cleaning capacity of the filter material in the module is good for about 100 days, after which it needs to be replaced in accordance with the maintenance instructions.

Raw materials

The filter is made of frost-resistant materials and is not thermally insulated. The unit operates reliably and lasts a long time.

Dimensions

dimension drawing

• dimensions of the module (width x height x depth): 560 x 580 x 960 mm
• two modules installed in parallel (width): about 1.300 mm
• two modules installed in parallel (depth): min. approximately 2.030 mm
• pipe connectors: for Ø 75 mm sewer pipes
• height difference of inlet and outlet connectors: 450 mm (height of fall)
• capacity: 300 litres/day/module
• weight without the filter material: 24 kg
• the distance, travelled by water in the filter material: 325 cm/module