Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs) or aerobic septic systems are popular septic systems because the wastewater effluent leaving the septic tank is treated to a higher standard. Aerobic Treatment Units are often used for small lot sizes (ATU use a smaller leach field footprint) where a conventional septic system would not work due to for example inadequate soil types or a high water table (close to water). Also, families sometimes like that the wastewater coming out of the system is teated with either ultraviolet light or chlorine tablets.
Aerobic septic systems use oxygen forced into the aeration chamber with the use of an air blower or compressor. If your property is on solar power, it is a good idea to add a timer on your blower/ compressor so it only operates during sunlight hours. This will also reduce the noise from the septic tank during the night.
The additional oxygen stimulates natural bacterial activity within the system, which in turn aids in the treatment of nutrients in the effluent. Many aerobic systems have a pre-treatment tank before the aerobic unit or may have a pretreatment tank within the unit to allow solids and sludge to settle before the effluent wastewater enters the ATU. The last stage of treatment is a disinfection stage is to treat wastewater with either a chlorine tablet or ultraviolet light to reduce harmful pathogens as it is leaving the entire aerobic septic system.
The benefits of an aerobic treatment unit system are:
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