What You Need to Know About Aerobic and Anaerobic Domestic Treatment Systems

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Carrie's Construction Tips

Welcome to my blog. I'm Carrie and I would like to share some of the top tips I have learnt about construction and repair work in the home. My passion is for buying old property and carrying out work on them to bring them into the 21st century. I started out doing this a couple of years ago. I used some money I had inherited to buy a wreck of a place and if I am honest, I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I was really lucky to find some great contractors who helped me out a lot and taught me lots of very cool things.

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What You Need to Know About Aerobic and Anaerobic Domestic Treatment Systems

2 May 2018
 Categories: , Blog


When it comes to domestic treatment systems, one of the major decisions you will have to make is choosing between an aerobic and an anaerobic treatment system. Each of these systems functions differently and has its own pros and cons. Aerobic treatment systems use bacteria that need oxygen to break down the waste that's within the wastewater, which means that there is the need for constant circulation of air throughout the treatment tank.

Anaerobic treatment systems, on the other hand, rely on bacteria that thrive in environments that lack oxygen. Below is a brief overview of some of the key aspects of the two systems to help you choose one that will work best for you.

Costs

Cost is always a priority when it comes to the addition of any system in your home. Aerobic systems tend to be more expensive than their anaerobic counterparts. That's because of the air or oxygen input that is required to break down the waste, making aerobic treatment systems more complicated. On the other hand, installation of anaerobic treatment systems is way simpler and less costly.

Maintenance

Unlike aerobic treatment systems, no air input is required for anaerobic systems, which means significantly less sludge is generated. What this means in terms of maintenance is that handling the sludge will be less costly compared to aerobic treatment systems. Also, aerobic systems tend to have more mechanical as well as electrical parts than their anaerobic counterparts because of the air input required. These parts will require regular inspection as well as maintenance.

The Slope of the Land

The slope of the land can also play a crucial role when it comes to your choice of a domestic treatment system. Generally, anaerobic systems work best on gently sloping land. The gentle slope will make it easier for the wastewater to move into your septic field. On the other hand, aerobic treatment systems tend to work well on very flat land. Therefore, evaluate your land carefully before making your choice. For accuracy in evaluating the slope of the land, leave the task to a professional.

Soil Conditions

Soil conditions should also be taken into consideration when evaluating the land. Anaerobic treatment systems are usually effective when the soil allows for easy percolation of water. Therefore, a percolation test will have to be conducted to determine the rate at which the soil absorbs water. If the water is absorbed into the soil slowly or isn't absorbed at all, an aerobic system would be the more efficient treatment system to invest in.

To learn more about your options, contact services that provide septic tank installations.