Author Topic: Anyone have a residential aerobic treatment (septic) system?  (Read 1085 times)

Bradfurd

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Anyone have a residential aerobic treatment (septic) system?
« on: March 21, 2018, 10:13:47 AM »
I am considering trying to subdivide a 2 acre lot. One lot would have my existing home on it with a traditional septic (anaerobic) system. New construction in my area requires a 10,000 SF drain field for a traditional (anaerobic) system. I've not yet had a perc test, and I've not yet talked to the health department to see if they will allow the aerobic system, but I'm curious to see what the MMM community thinks of them. My lot would have some slope and space constraints, so I want to at least consider it.

Cost?
Drain field (SF) required in your area for aerobic and anaerobic?
Issues/maintenance?

Thanks!

myrrh

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Re: Anyone have a residential aerobic treatment (septic) system?
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2018, 04:01:53 PM »
I'm from New Mexico where we have a lot of septic systems. I used to regulate wastewater permits for large systems (from mobile home parks to fairly large cities) so I'm not really familiar with the small (aerobic) systems, but I can tell you they really aren't much different from the big ones as far as how they work.

Wastewater treatment plants use microorganisms to break down organic waste, and the organisms have needs that are not much different from a pet or a herd of cows. They need a relatively constant supply of food (er, fecal material or food waste) and water, and constant supply of oxygen (air pump/electricity.) If a house resident throws hair dye, paint, bleach, or other nasty stuff down the drain, the organisms die. If the residents leave for a month on vacation and no one is flushing the toilet or washing their hands, there is no food or water and the organisms die. If the resident has a bunch of house guests for a few days, there is an oversupply of food to organisms so not everything is treated. As the organisms go through their life cycle, they reproduce and eventually you will have too many for your food supply, so you have to "cull the herd", ie, drain off some of the wastewater (this is called wasting.) 

While this sort of thing isn't rocket science, most homeowners don't understand or care about it, and so at least here, regulations require homeowners with aerobic systems to have an operator familiar with wastewater treatment, with its resultant cost.

The regulations for small septic systems are very prescriptive. For example, you cannot have a regular (anaerobic) septic system on less than 0.75 acre due to potential nitrate contamination of groundwater; anything smaller than that you need an aerobic system. For a four bedroom house with clay soil (large house with "bad" soil), the required leachfield area would be 2200 square feet. This seems quite different than 10,000 square feet, where are you located?

It won't be applicable to you but if it helps, here is the website for aerobic systems in NM:
https://www.env.nm.gov/liquid_waste/advanced-treatment-systems/
If you scroll to the bottom, there is some information on leachfield sizing and helpful fact sheets: https://www.env.nm.gov/liquid_waste/
« Last Edit: March 29, 2018, 04:05:13 PM by myrrh »

Gone Fishing

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Re: Anyone have a residential aerobic treatment (septic) system?
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2018, 07:08:00 PM »
As Myrrh said, septic systems vary wildly based on soil, weather, and politics.  Talk to as many local people (owners and installers) as you can find.  Use your best judgement, keeping potential profit motives in mind.

 

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