Full review and critique of the Rewatec Solido Smart SBR
The Rewatec Solido Smart is manufactured by global water treatment specialists Premier Tech. Utilising SBR (sequence batch reactor) technology, the Solido Smart does not aerate continuously. Water is therefore treated in batches, producing very stable final water quality.
The Solido Smart SBR really comes into its own for energy consumption and noise levels. Hearing the air blower is almost impossible. The sealed capsule houses the air blower, which is installed under the lid of the tank, it does a great job of stopping any vibration from being heard outside the tank. The capsule (in the gravity version) is supported by the air lift pipe, so any vibration is directed down into the water.
Because the Solido Smart is not running all the time, and the system is set to how many people are in the house (rather than the maximum possible), the energy consumption is lower than most. In energy, it costs about £20 per person per year (which is very low for a treatment plant).
Comparing the energy consumption and electrical usage of an SBR system vs a normal treatment plant is advisable prior to purchasing.
The installation of the tank is relatively easy. Because it is very shallow, the hole dug to install the tank can be less deep than alternative models. Having a shallow tank like the Solido smart helps to avoid potential problems like hitting rock, or groundwater.
The Air blower (sometimes called 'compressor') used within the Solido Smart is the Hiblow XP80. The Hiblow XP80 is very good, compact air blower. It is common for competitors of the Solido Smart to suggest that having the air blower housed under the lid of the tank is a bad idea (mainly due to moisture ingress). However the Solido Smart neatly combats this problem by housing the blower in a sealed ‘capsule’ with fresh air being drawn in through a small air breather pipe. This ensures a very stable environment for the air blower and being so close to the water, there is less backpressure to contend with so arguably this method provides a longer lifespan.
Owing to the batch processing treatment style, the Solido Smart can be set to treat the number of people in the household rather than the maximum possible occupancy. For example, should you purchase the 8 person system but only have 4 people living in your property, you can set the system to only create enough for 4 people. This reduces energy consumption and wear and tear on the air blower.
Small businesses can also benefit from using the Rewatec Solido Smart to treat their waste. Waste from a small business can be higher in concentration and lower in volume than a the waste from a house. The Solido Smart has an option to do one treatment cycle a day rather than its normal two. This has the benefit of allowing the waste to stay in treatment for longer, and water levels to rise in the tank. Longer treatment means better treatment. Water being higher in the tank creates a higher pressure at the bottom of the tank, which leads to smaller bubbles and more oxygen being dissolved in the water. A win-win.
Whilst slightly more expensive than a lot of the budget treatment plants, the Solido lower running costs and unparalleled noise levels are worth the extra money on my opinion.
This system is slightly more complex in nature than some of the others as the control panel needs to be set up. Therefore, I would recommend having the system commissioned by a local engineer who understands the Solido Smart. To give you an idea of what needs to be done when commissioning this system, I have written a brief guide.
The Rewatec Solido Smart costs around £3000 for the base model. Therefore is more expensive than the lower end systems. However, for the silent aeration, lower power consumption and longer component lifespan I would struggle to pick fault in it. I will however pick fault. Call it nit-picking, however there is currently no telescopic neck for the solido smart, consequently inlet positions are fixed. Furthermore, if the tank is installed quite deep, raising the capsule up higher is necessary. I would like to see a small extension pipe made freely available with the system as many installers do not consider this.
Update: Premier tech have now made the Solido Smart with a telescopic neck.
I give the Solido Smart 5 stars.
You can buy a Solido smart system online through various online stores. Or you can purchase your system from me. If you are in the south east I can commission the treatment plant once it is in the ground, and provide servicing support long term.
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