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SKETCH of a typical aerobic treatment unit tank, aerator, chamber

Problems in Aerobic Septic Systems
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • List of problems that occur in aerobic septic systems
  • Drugs, disinfectants, salt, and filter clogging affect aerobic septic tank systems
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This article discusses problems that occur in aerobic septic systems, also known as aeration septic systems or fine-bubble septic aerators. We identify things that cause problems with or harm aerobic septic systems. At this website are designs and products for aerobic septic treatment units (ATUs) for onsite waste disposal, also called fine bubble aeration systems. We address aerobic septic system design, features, inspection, repair, and maintenance. Product sources are also listed.

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Aerobic Treatment Unit Problems

Drugs: Systems serving homes (or nursing facilities) where occupants are consuming large quantities of medications, particularly antibiotics or possibly chemotherapy drugs, can be rendered inoperative if the antibiotic or drug level concentration is sufficient to kill the microbes in the ATU.

Disinfectants: Use of improper septic effluent disinfectant in aerobic systems: be sure to use the proper disinfectant in order to avoid both environmental contamination and violation of federal law. See Aerobic Septic System Disinfection with Calcium Hypochlorite and Aerobic Septic System Disinfection with Chlorine Tablets for details.

Filter clogging: I have received complaints of frequent outlet filter clogging on some aerobic septic systems. I speculate that the cause may have been a fault in the upstream solid-holding tank(s) such as a broken or missing baffle, use of the system beyond its design load, or perhaps improper use of a septic additive or chemical which may have increased the level of suspended solids.

Salt: Systems serving homes with hard water and which use a water softener can be rendered inoperative if high levels of brine are discharged into the ATU. Water softener backwash and brine will need to be discharged to a separate drywell.

Overloading: A residential ATU is at risk of being overloaded and failing to adequately treat its effluent if it has not been properly sized during its design phase.

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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
  Wastewater Treatment Levels
  Wastewater Dispersal Methods
  Master List of Septic System Types
  AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS
    ATU Tank Sizes
    ATU Final Treatment
    ATU Certifications
    ATU Problems
    ATU Failure Rates, Costs
    ATU Maintenance Procedures
    Aerobic Septic Disinfectants- Calcium Hypochlorite
    Aerobic Septic Disinfectants-Pool Chlorine
    ATU Suppliers
    Continuous Flow, Suspended Growth Aerobics
  CESSPOOLS
  DRYWELLS
  SEPTIC EFFLUENT DISINFECTION SYSTEMS
  EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  FIXED-FILM PROCESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS
  SEQUENCING BATCH SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
  TOILET ALTERNATIVES
  VEGETATED SUBMERGED SEPTIC BEDS
  WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS
  ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS

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