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Homeowner Care of a Residential Aerobic Wastewater Treatment System Click HERE for PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) printable copy of this form.
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All Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Systems are suspended growth floating bio-mass systems designed to treat common household sewage only. In plain language, this means that the systems contain and depend on an aerobic (oxygen-requiring) bacterial colony which, when well cared for, digests and treats household sewage just as aerobic bacteria clean groundwater in nature. This is why aerobic systems have an air pump and air distribution piping – for supplying the aerobic bacteria with oxygen. Bacteria, however, can't eat just anything and everything. For a listing of things to avoid feeding to an aerobic bacterial system, see below.
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Normal maintenance is required on all aerobic treatment units, as they are activated sludge sewage treatment systems just like large municipal water treatment plants. Our factory-trained Hydro-Action Industries installers or service technicians regularly service our installations, checking to be sure that these systems are in proper working order. Aerobic systems are not designed for disposal of solid waste or chemicals. If homeowners stay within the guidlines listed below, their systems should function properly as sewage treatment systems and should not require unscheduled maintenance or frequent expensive pump-outs.
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What NOT to put in an aerobic treatment system:
- Non-biodegradable items such as cigarette butts, match sticks, disposable diapers, feminine hygene products, condoms, hair, coffee grounds, rags, paper towels, bandages, etc. These are solid-waste items and should be disposed of in regular trash service.
- Greases, fats or oils. This includes cooking oils and meat or meat grease.
- Pesticides, herbicides, photographic chemicals or other toxins.
- Paints, thinners or household chemicals, including many cleaning compounds, and mop-bucket water.
- Water softener unit backwash.
- Citrus products, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.
- Home-brewery or winemaking wastes.
- Strong medicines, particularly antibiotics.
- Antibacterial soaps and antibacterial laundry detergents should be avoided. These are the current marketing rage, but overuse will only breed resistant strains of bacteria in the home, and kill the aerobic action in the treatment system.
- Strong disinfectants or bleaches, particularly products containing chlorine or ammonia.
- Commercial septic tank additives; they do more harm than good.
- Kitchen garbage grinders (disposals) should be used sparingly, if at all. Dispose of food waste in a solid waste bin or compost heap. Food waste represents additional loading on the aerobic plant, possibly causing organic overloading and more frequent pump-outs of the system.
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Volumetric Overload of an Aerobic System
Our system is rated for a maximum volume throughput per day, ie. 500 gallons per day (GPD) for an AP-500, 600 GPD for an AP-600, etc., and only household wastewater (sinks, tubs, washing machines, toilets, etc.) should be allowed into the unit. 'Volumetric overloading' is simply a term used to describe putting more than the rated amount of wastewater through the system during a 24 hour period. To avoid volumetric overloading of our system, which can result in incomplete treatment conditions, observe the following:
- Avoid multiple wash loads in one day; spread out your laundry during the week.
- Watch for leaking/flowing faucets or toilets and repair immediately.
- Use water flow reducing devices whenever possible.
- Be aware of any excessive water use of any kind.
Home Cleaning Products Guidelines:
- Recommended laundry detergents are: Powdered, low-sudsing, low-phosphate, non-antibacterial and bio-degradable.
- Recommended household cleaning products are: Non-chlorine, non-ammonia, non-antibacterial, non-toxic and bio-degradable.
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