aerobic septic systems

[ET1 SS]

I was cleaning today, and I came across a brochure that I got at a fair, this brochure is selling septic systems and their big 'thing' is they put an aquarium airline in the septic tank.

Now their airline comes from a 40 watt pump, and the air stone rests inside of a 5 gallon [or so] bucket, that is weighted down and resting on the bottom of the septic tank.

Their brochure goes on to make fantastic claims about how fast the microbes grow and how well they eat up the 'stuff' in your septic tank.

The guy pictured on the brochure is shown drinking from a beaker, drinking cloudy water, that is supposedly effluent from the leach lines that would have been going out to soak into the ground.

At the fair, the salesman has a large tank of this water, and will occasionally drink from it, to make a show of how safe the septic tank output has become due to the super action of these microbes [being fed these air bubbles].

The name of the company is: "Pirana"

Their slogan is: "Nature called and we answered"

Their website is:
www.pirmaine.com

My question [before I throw out the brochure], is are these guys idiots?

Or will dropping an air-stone and pumping air into the bottom of a septic tank really 'break down' all effluent?

Cabin Fever - what say you.

[Explorer]

Sounds as if they are smart, the customer are idiots.

[IowaLez]

The county is requiring these systems in all the new houses on our area. Especially the lots that don't perk that well.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by LezlieinCA

The county is requiring these systems in all the new houses on our area. Especially the lots that don't perk that well.

Totally different things. The original poster was talking about a bucket device in an existing septic tank.

[ET1 SS]

Originally Posted by LezlieinCA

The county is requiring these systems in all the new houses on our area. Especially the lots that don't perk that well.

So it is your understanding that in areas of Ca septic systems are required with air bubbling in them to grow and maintain the microbe flora and more actively break down effluents? So what comes out of the septic to the leech-field is no longer a bio-hazard and does not require the same qualities of perc in the leechfield.

This company that I have seen is marketing the air-stone or bubbling to happen within an open bucket set on the bottom of the tank, they call it an "Aerobic bacteria Generation system". That the bacteria are generated in or near the bucket and 'vigorous circulation' then happens throughout the tank so the microbes can feed on the effluent.

To your understanding; is that bubbling happening within a bucket? or are they simply setting the airstone on the bottom of the tank?

[Cabin Fever]

There are probably a dozen or so brands of "aerobic treatment units" or ATUs on the market today. Basically all that they do is reduce the organic load of the wastewater that flows to the drainfield. In other words, the wastewater entering the drainfield does not have as high concentrations of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) as compared to wastewater having just septic tank treatment. In wastewater terms, the typical septic system provides "primary treatment" and an ATU system provides "secondary treatment." What all this means is a household using an ATU could get by with a smaller drainfield and possibly less seperation to the watertable or bedrock. In southern states, an ATU system can be followed by disinfection (ie, chlorination) and the wastewater can then be used to irrigate lawns and flower gardens.

ATU systems require frequent maintenance by professionals....most counties will require that the homeowner have a contract with a proefessional service provider that will regularly service the ATU system (usually every six months).

It is a clear misrepresentation by the company to suggest that the water is safe enough to drink after ATU treatment.

[ET1 SS]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

... It is a clear misrepresentation by the company to suggest that the water is safe enough to drink after ATU treatment.

Thank you.

I kid you not, the brochure has a picture of this Phd biologist with a beaker to his face.