Aerobic Units
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE UP COMING NEW CODE FOR SURFACE DISCHARGING.
Update to the State Code for surface discharge: Local Counties have been fore warning the Septic Contractors for quite sometime about the inevitable elimination of surface discharging systems. This is verbage from the latest draft. "Surface-discharging private sewage disposal system" means any private disposal system having a discharge to the ground surface or directly to a water body and from which the discharge i) leaves the property where treatment is occurring, and or ii) enters a drainage to waters of the state or is conveyed to waters of the state, and/or iii) creates nuisance conditions.
No person shall operate a surface discharging private sewage disposal system constructed, installed, renovates, repaired, or modified on or after January 1, 2008?, unless all of the following conditions are met:
1. The owner provides the operation and maintenance of the system by a licensed Private Sewage Disposal System Contractor pursuant to this Act and the regulations adopted by the Department.
2. Monitoring of the discharge is conducted. (Will County has been sampling/testing since the late 70's. Grundy County starting in 2008 will also require all surface discharging systems to be tested at least once a year maybe twice.
3. The owner or operator has applied for and received a national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for this system.
4. The effluent quality meets the applicable limitations of State & Federal laws and rules.
5. To the maximum extent practicable, the owner minimizes surface discharges from the system that may (i) cross property lines, (ii) create nuisances, (iii) create mosquito breeding areas and other areas that foster vector borne diseases, or (iv) create areas that foster water borne diseases.
My Thoughts: Yes this draft or one similar to it will be adopted. We don't think it will happen until the end of 2008-2009, but it will happen. Basically what it means is that septic contractors and the local health departments are going to have to be creative in eliminating surface discharge either by subsurface trenches overflowing to chlorinators & then into effluent receiving beds, at grade systems, or constructed wetlands onsite, drip irrigation raised filter beds (which Zsuinc has been installing since the late 90's) and or peat filters. No one knows what the NPDES permit fee will cost yet. We already have facilities for testing the effluent quality, and have been doing service and maintenance contracts since we started our business.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AN AEROBIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM.
This system is a mechanical wastewater treatment plant, which breaks down solids and aerates human and organic wastes. The system produces effluent that should be colorless and odorless after treatment. The effluent is normally discharged into a subsurface sewage disposal system. Typically, owners have an aerobic wastewater system because the ground is unsuitable for a conventional system.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP A WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
The bacterial process that is taking place in your yard is important because it will help protect the water supply from contamination and also help control diseases and nuisances that may result from improperly treated sewage. These systems are efficient in treating sewage wastes when properly maintained.
DISINFECTION SYSTEMS.
All aerobic treatment systems which discharge above the ground surface are equipped with disinfection devices that are designed to kill any microorganisms that may have survived and made it through the entire treatment process. The most common type of disinfection device is the erosion feed calcium hypochlorite disinfection system with a chlorine contact chamber. The device has vertical tubes, which connect with the horizontal discharge pipe using an inverted "T" at the bottom. Chlorine tablets are stacked inside these tubes. Effluent traveling through the discharge pipe dissolves some of the chlorine tablet at the bottom eroding it. The resulting wastewater/chlorine solution passes from the discharge pipe to the chlorine contact chamber, where it is retained long enough to kill the microorganisms. The main thing a homeowner needs to remember about the disinfection system is that chlorine tablet tubes needs to be refilled periodically. How often depends on the water consumption habits of the people using the system.
WHAT TO DO TO KEEP YOUR AEROBIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
> Maintain a service contract for annual routine check-ups with your licensed manufacturer's representative.
> Conserve water to avoid overloading the wastewater system. For example, do not do more than two -three loads of laundry at a time. Try to do a few loads in the morning and if necessary a load or two at night. Use liquid detergents low in phosphate. Check for toilets, sinks or any plumbing leaks within your home or business periodically.
> Do not flush chemicals such as paints, varnishes, thinners, waste oils, photographic solutions or pesticides into your sinks and toilets. Do not flush coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers, kitty litter, sanitary napkins, tampons, cigarette butts, condoms, gauze bandages, fat, grease, oil or paper towels into sinks and toilets.
> If your unit is equipped with a chlorinator, check monthly that the chlorine container has the proper chlorine levels. Most of the time when customers get a bad effluent sample (Will County) it is because they have no chlorine in the contact chamber.
> Keep your system accessible for inspections and pumping. Keep written records of your aerobic treatment system including a drawing of where it is located on your property, your contract service agreement, and records of service visits and maintenance performed. If you are a customer of ours we do this for you.
Below is a list of the main ATP units sold & serviced in this area.
Aerobic Unit Comparisons Fast, Norweco, Jet, Clear Stream, Aqua Safe, Hydro-Action
Do the Aerators set inside the tank? Only in the Norweco & Jet Unit.
Are there electric wires, air diffusers or floats going to or inside the tanks? Yes on all but the Fast Unit.
Do you need to remove, clean or replace these filters & diffusers? Yes on all but the Fast unit.
Do I need one tank or two? The Fast & Norweco unit are single tanks all other units require a pre-treatment tank in front of the main unit.
Are the tanks concrete? The Fast unit & Norweco units are. The other units are Fiberglass. We have the option of using a Fiberglass tank for the Fast unit if we can not get a concrete tank into the site.
How many risers are above ground on each unit? The Fast unit has one, the Norweco has 3, the other units have 1 on main tank & possibly one on pre-treatment tank so you won't have to dig up the cover to service.
Are the risers plastic? Yes on all but the Norweco unit.
Is digging necessary to clean the tanks? No unless no risers were installed on pre-treatment tanks.
How are the Aerobic units aerated? The Fast unit has a 2" air line from the blower to the tank. Norweco uses an electric motor with an stainless steel aspirator shaft, inside the tank that spins (no comment). Aqua Safe & Hydro Action use a linear fish tank type blower with a 1/2" air line with diffusers or pvc piping running inside the tank and located at the bottom of the tank where the solids or sludge will be processed.
-
All Aerobic treatment units should be pumped every other year. We install the Fast units but we service any and all Aerobic units.
-
Key elements of the Fast System: One tank two-compartment easily maintained. No electrical, or moving parts or filters inside the tank.
-
2" airline free flowing-creating vigorous water movement. Blower is mounted on brackets to concrete foundation similar to an air conditioning unit.
