Solid handling, separation and primary settling takes place in the first phase. The floatable solids will surface of the facility and the settleable solids will precipitate to the bottom of the facllity.No solid screening takes place in this phase or prior to entering the facility. The reason for handling the effluent in this manner is necessary because of the applications of some of the treatment plants. These plants are normally built very near housing developments or the presence of people.

The presence of a screen attracts flies and unwanted odours and you have to have a permanent operator to rake all solids into a skip. GES has designed the plant in such a way that we have a "storage capacity". This enables the client to clean out the first chamber at longer intervals. GES projects an interval between one and three years, depending on the volume and load of un-digestible materials (Example plastics, metals, sand and grid).

All other organic materials will be bio-degraded. The intervals between cleaning operations can be drastically prolonged. By adding biological additives the solids will be bio-degraded quicker and the plant performance will be influenced positively. If however the need arise for a screen to be included for pre-screening of solids, it can be done with ease. Fats oils and greases is one of the worst enemies of any biological plant. GES strongly recommend the physical removal off fats, oils and greases before it enters the facility.