How Does My Septic System Work?

When a stool in the home is flushed the wastewater drops into a drainpipe that carries it underground to a septic tank. The purpose of the septic tank is to allow anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grows without oxygen) to break the waste down over time. The septic tank has both an inlet baffle and outlet baffle necessary to keep waste from entering the tank and floating directly across the top of the septic tank and discharging to, as in the case of this illustration the drain field, however it could be a sand filter, mound system, drip system, or any type of secondary treatment system. Without these baffles the drain field would quickly fill up with these solids causing drain field failure. The septic tank would then discharge 70 to 80% raw sewage to the drain field where this raw sewage would be processed by passing through a build-up of Bio-Mat.

Illustration of a Drain-field, subsurface seepage system, or low pressure dosing system!!

What is Bio-Mat?

The bio-mat is a layer of bacteria that forms in the soil in and around the rock in the secondary treatment system. This bio-mat is very important in processing the raw sewage that generally discharges from the septic tank. It’s purpose is to process the many small waste particles and pathogens that make up the septic tank discharge before soil absorption can take place. Without this process inadequately treated effluent can contaminate groundwater, which can end up in wells, streams, ponds or even the ground surface. Should this happen the potential for the family pet or even the children to come in contact with septic tank effluent containing disease carrying pathogens is dangerously increased.

Once the septic tank effluent is discharged to either a drain field or seepage bed the bio-mat that forms will effectively reduce the waste particles and pathogens to an acceptable level before it can move further into the surrounding soils. Inadequate treatment of any septic tank discharge should be considered unacceptable and remediated immediately.

Bio-mat Surfacing in the Yard

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The SepAerator™ Starves the Bio-mat Causing it to Die and Disappear!!

Bio-mat consists of anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grows without oxygen) and the waste generated by these anaerobic bacteria processing the 70% organic matter that generally discharges from a septic tank. Bio-mat can form in any type of septic system that utilizes a septic tank in front of a secondary treatment system. Under normal conditions a septic tank doesn't clean up its discharge but simply breaks larger solids down into smaller particles. These smaller particles, consisting of as much as 70% organic matter, exits the septic tank and then must be processed in the secondary treatment system. Anaerobic bacteria and the waste generated by these anaerobic bacteria processing this organic matter are what make up Bio-mat. When you convert your septic tank to the Aerobic process using the SepAerator™ and process the waste inside the septic tank discharging as high as 95% clear water, you elimiinate the anaerobic bacteria and the 70% organic matter that normally exits the septic tank, which essentially eliminates the food source for Bio-mat causing it to starve and die. Once the Bio-mat is gone you have clear water discharging directly into the soils rather than raw sewage through bio-mat.

Where Does the Bio-mat Form?

Bio-mat can and will form in any type of secondary treatment system following a septic tank. As an example, once the septic tank effluent discharges to the drain field anaerobic bacterial growth forms beneath the distribution lines and within the first inch or so of the soils. This formation is considered the Bio-mat and eventually known as the “clogging mat”. This “clogging mat” when formed is seen as a very black slimy material. It seems similar in body make-up to jello. This jello like material continues to grow thicker over the years until at some point in time the septic tank effluent has difficulty in penetrating it to reach the soils below. This bio-mat consists of anaerobic microorganisms, which are bacteria that grow within a septic tank that do not need oxygen. These anaerobic bacteria will slowly utilize the small waste particles exiting the septic tank for their nourishment. By adding the SepAerator™ you will eliminate the Bio-mat's food source and starve it causing it to die and disappear. Part of the treatment in these types of systems consists also of some aerobic bacteria, which is a form of bacteria that needs oxygen to thrive. When a stool is flushed inside the home the discharge heads for the septic tank with the oxygen needed to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria. Once entering the septic tank the oxygen is lost causing the aerobic bacteria to die and the anaerobic bacteria to take over. Once this effluent discharges the septic tank filled with anaerobic bacteria that will form the bio-mat then some aerobic bacteria will begin to grow again utilizing the oxygen found in the soil.

Why Does the Bio-mat Clog the Field?

As the Bio-mat continues to grow over the years the effluent discharging the septic tank cannot penetrate through it causing the effluent level inside the drain field trenches to rise where it will absorb through the sides of these trenches. After a period of time the sides of these trenches will begin to clog. Once the bottom and the sides of these trenches are clogged with Bio-mat, the effluent will begin to back up into the septic tank. Most septic tanks have approximately 4 inches of fall between the inlet of the septic tank and the outlet. If the effluent level raises 4 inches in the septic tank because it can no longer enter into the absorption field than it begins to back up the inlet pipe. Once this happens the drains in the home will become very sluggish as there is nowhere for the effluent to go. Bio-mats purposely restrict the flow of effluent to the soils allowing them time to filter out the pathogens and viruses. Eventually the hydraulic loading rate (gallons of water being drained from the home) will exceed the soil absorption capacity of the drain field. Once this happens the septic tank effluent will either back up into the home or discharge to the ground surface causing ponding.

The SepAerator™ Eliminates Clogging Bio-mats

Once the SepAerator™ is added to an existing septic tank the dynamic of how a septic tank works is dramatically changed. The SepAerator™ will introduce large amounts of oxygen inside the septic tank that will rapidly proliferate the growth of aerobic bacteria inside the tank. Aerobic bacteria are much more effective at processing waste and will thrive under the SepAerator™ generated conditions. Rather than discharging raw sewage into the drain field, seepage bed, sand filter, mound system, cesspool, or whatever type of secondary treatment system you might have the waste is processed inside the septic tank. The SepAerator™ has been tested and proven to discharge approximately 95% clear and odorless water to the secondary treatment system. When the waste is processed inside the septic tank with clear water discharging to the secondary treatment system the Bio-mat loses it's food source and will quickly die. Since Bio-mat needs anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grows without oxygen) to form, this Bio-mat that has been growing in the secondary treatment system for many years, quickly begins to break-up.

This SepAerator™ generated clean effluent, mixed with large amounts of aerobic bacteria, entering into the drain field, mound system, drip system, or any type of absorption system, will cause the Bio-mat to disappear allowing the clean effluent to easily penetrate into the soils once again. Since the aerobic bacteria are very effective at reducing disease causing pathogens the rejuvenation and transformation of the septic system is complete.

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The SepAerator™ is a Permanent Solution, Not a Temporary Fix

The SepAerator™ has been designed to convert your existing septic tank system to an aerobic process. Once you have converted to the SepAerator™ you will quickly see that the wastewater is processed so much more effectively iinside the septic tank you will never want to use your system without it again. Some systems are designed to be installed on a temporary basis, Not the SepAerator™!!! Once installed, we highly recommend that the SepAerator™ be used on a permanent basis just as you would if you purchased a Class 1 aerobic system. With a system that will now process approximately 95% of the waste inside the septic tank and eliminate the Bio-mat by starving it, why would you even consider going back to the rather primitive wastewater treatment conditions that originally caused or would cause you many problems before? With high quality and long lasting air pumps that only use approximately $5.00 per month worth of electricity the cost of running the SepAerator™ is very minimal. The cost of running your system without it can ba a lot more expensive. Hook the SepAerator™ up, let it run, protect the environment, and save money all at the same time!!!