My Septic System Experiment

[hawkeye08]

I'm very interested in this.. I see no reason for my septic tank to have to be pumped every 5-7 years (to avoid problems, that is hindsight talking there). This should be a no brainer for new systems as well as retrofitting..

 

[stingray1]

I'm impressed,you guys really know your ****. Thanks for the info.

 

[fenixsk]

Great info, thanks for posting this!

 

[Pettrix]

Great info, thanks for posting this!

No problem. It's still amazes me that there is almost NO smell from the septic tank and the effluent is almost clear. Aerobic bacteria is so much superior to anaerobic bacteria.

 

[PILOON]

I installed a fine air tube diffuser inside my first chamber in my 2-chamber septic system and ran air to the diffuser 24/7 for the past 6 months. It costs me about $3.00 per month in electricity. It's a new system on a new home. ------------------------
I'm now a believer in aerobic septic systems. The entire setup cost me $300 in parts and labor was free (me). :laughing:

All great but our city still mandates pumping every 2 years, subject to a healthy fine if we don't comply.

 

[Pettrix]

All great but our city still mandates pumping every 2 years, subject to a healthy fine if we don't comply.

I'm sorry to hear that. Bureaucracy is what causes most of the expensive problems that everyday citizens have to deal with.

The mandated pumping by your city is just making the pumping companies profitable, the city makes money on fines and monitoring and the average Joe gets screwed and pays for unnecessary pumping.

I'm glad my area requires no such stupidity and once the tank and system is in, nobody monitors it. Pumping is only required once you sell the home. Otherwise, you can go for decades without pumping, if applicable.

With my aerobic system, I will have almost no solids in the tank after 2 years, it will be 98% liquids. Even without the aerobic setup, I would be surprised to see enough solids in a system just 2 years old, that would require pumping. Maybe a small tank with heavy loads might need to be pumped every 4-5 years but 2 years is pretty insane.

 

[cqaigy2]

I'm sorry to hear that. Bureaucracy is what causes most of the expensive problems that everyday citizens have to deal with.

The mandated pumping by your city is just making the pumping companies profitable, the city makes money on fines and monitoring and the average Joe gets screwed and pays for unnecessary pumping.

I'm glad my area requires no such stupidity and once the tank and system is in, nobody monitors it. Pumping is only required once you sell the home. Otherwise, you can go for decades without pumping, if applicable.

With my aerobic system, I will have almost no solids in the tank after 2 years, it will be 98% liquids. Even without the aerobic setup, I would be surprised to see enough solids in a system just 2 years old, that would require pumping. Maybe a small tank with heavy loads might need to be pumped every 4-5 years but 2 years is pretty insane.

Not commenting on about ever day problems, but I find it's lack of knowledge about their septic systems. People that think a septic systems are similar to city sewer and drop everything into it. Garbage disposals, toxic chems, etc into their septic systems and the system gets compromised. I even know somebody that drained their hot tube into their septic, flushing hundreds of gallons of highly chlorinated water thru the whole works. You get enough people in an area doing that, and pretty soon there is a real health issue.

Thanks for posting about your system, if i'm ever in the position in putting another septic in, im definitely going to include some of your design, including the aerobic portion. I'm really looking hard at retrofitting mine with a bubble stone.

Thanks again.

 

[Pettrix]

I'm very interested in this.. I see no reason for my septic tank to have to be pumped every 5-7 years (to avoid problems, that is hindsight talking there). This should be a no brainer for new systems as well as retrofitting..

Yep, that's the other plus to the system. Pumping septic tanks gets costly. Where I am at the cost to pump a tank is $900

In addition, with the aerobic systems, you help the water table environment. Since septic systems are located on rural lands where people have water wells, the effluent is very clean so it recharges back into the aquifer as clean once it is filtered through the earth.

Just checked the D-Box today and the effluent was crystal clear. Amazing.

 

[RalphVa]

I installed a fine air tube diffuser inside my first chamber in my 2-chamber septic system and ran air to the diffuser 24/7 for the past 6 months. It costs me about $3.00 per month in electricity. It's a new system on a new home.

Here are the results after 1/2 a year of use:

A - The septic tank has NO smell once you open the tank lid. It actually has an "earthy" smell, kind of like soil when wet.
B - There are NO solids in the tank. It's just liquids.
C - The effluent filter in chamber #2, before it heads to the leach field, was very clean. No debris on it, just some slime bacteria.

This proves to me that aerobic systems are way better than anaerobic systems. Studies I read show 10x faster digestion and breakdown of wastes and the effluent is much cleaner as it heads into the leach field. This also helps with the biomat in the leach field. One is less likely to have a failure in the biomat with an aerobic system. In addition, I might never have to pump the tank since the solids (poop & toilet paper) are breaking down so quickly.

My last home had an anaerobic system that smelled really bad when accessed and required pumping every 5 or so years. The methane gas produced by anaerobic breakdown is very caustic to the concrete septic tank. Since the aerobic system has basically no methane gas, the longevity of the concrete tank is indefinite.

I'm now a believer in aerobic septic systems. The entire setup cost me $300 in parts and labor was free (me). :laughing:

Here's what it is called. It has a name, Mo-dad: Mo-Dad Aerobic Septic System Air

We had to replace our septic tank in Baton Rouge parish (aka county) when we lived there. The required replacement was a Mo-dad unit that came with a diffuser and compressor to pump air through it.

Yes, I'd think a solar panel or maybe 100 watts or so (like from Harbour Freight) could go a long way towards powering it. We had ours plugged into an outdoor power plug.

Ralph

 

[Pettrix]

Here's what it is called. It has a name, Mo-dad: Mo-Dad Aerobic Septic System Air

We had to replace our septic tank in Baton Rouge parish (aka county) when we lived there. The required replacement was a Mo-dad unit that came with a diffuser and compressor to pump air through it.
Ralph

I designed my own setup which is a lot less $$ than the kits they sell online. Here is my original post:

I will sketch it up and give the best info I can. There are companies out there that sell aeration kits for septic tanks but they run about $1,000 - $1,600 for the systems. I did my own setup for $300 which included the air pump and diffuser (see previous posts for equipment info).

SUPPLIES:
Hakko 40L air pump ($180)
Matala EPDM Air Diffuser stick ($60)
Air Tube Diffusers - Air Diffusers
5/8" weighted heavy duty air hose
3/4" rigid PVC pipe

View attachment 533528View attachment 533529
View attachment 533533

3/4" PVC pipe from garage to septic tank riser. This was buried next to the 4" ABS sewer line. (see pic)

Then it coverts to 5/8" rubber weighted air hose which connects to the diffuser using brass & plastic air barb fittings.
The rigid PVC you see in the picture is used to keep the diffuser from floating to the top of the water since I attached the diffuser to the PVC using a SS clamp and zip ties. The plastic septic tank access lid, once closed, keep the PVC pipe in place and thereby keeping the diffuser stick underwater. The PVC stick was cut to length once everything was in place.

The air pump sits inside a garage to keep it protected and out of the elements.

 

[PILOON]

I can recall when 20 years back most excavators could install a septic system for an average $3000.
Now days what with Bionex or Equoflow (+ other patented systems) the price has climbed to over $20,000.
Adding to that injury municipalities wanting to err on the safe side mandate all too frequent (IMHO) pumping. Great for the tank truck guys.
Heck as long as we followed certain government guide lines we could create our own septic systems, which I have done a few times, and so far none have been problematic.
One in question was pumped for the first time after 20 years of usage and was declared to be totally normal for a (get this) 3-4 year old system!
I only had it pumped as the flow was getting bad only to discover that the renters had flushed what they had been advised not to do. (septics simply do not like J cloths nor kiddies toys. Feminine products also don't decompose either)

PS, I no longer rent, just too much hassles, sold instead.

I guess the next septic upgrade will be a computer controlled one with 'on line monitoring' via skype. (but 2 year pumping will still be mandatory)

 

[check]

I can recall when 20 years back most excavators could install a septic system for an average $3000. Now days what with Bionex or Equoflow (+ other patented systems) the price has climbed to over $20,000. Adding to that injury municipalities wanting to err on the safe side mandate all too frequent (IMHO) pumping. Great for the tank truck guys. Heck as long as we followed certain government guide lines we could create our own septic systems, which I have done a few times, and so far none have been problematic. One in question was pumped for the first time after 20 years of usage and was declared to be totally normal for a (get this) 3-4 year old system! I only had it pumped as the flow was getting bad only to discover that the renters had flushed what they had been advised not to do. (septics simply do not like J cloths nor kiddies toys. Feminine products also don't decompose either) PS, I no longer rent, just too much hassles, sold instead. I guess the next septic upgrade will be a computer controlled one with 'on line monitoring' via skype. (but 2 year pumping will still be mandatory)

Bob, I have a rental property with a septic system as well up in cottage country here in Ontario, and I'm always paranoid about what the renters flush down the toilets. So far so good, but I imagine it is only a matter of time!

 

[ultrarunner]

Have one rental with septic... it has been a mixed bag... one tenant was super careful and another liked to have parties often... meaning high usage in a short period of time.

Septic upgrade is over 50k and now requires a contract with oversight plus power to operate... Washington State.

I would pay to hook up but most likely will never happen as the zoning is such to keep the rural nature...

 

[Pettrix]

Septic upgrade is over 50k and now requires a contract with oversight plus power to operate... Washington State.

I would pay to hook up but most likely will never happen as the zoning is such to keep the rural nature...

It's mind boggling that some states charge such outrageous amounts to get a septic system.

I paid around $10k (including permits) for a 2,500 GAL concrete tank (2 chamber), 4 leach lines x 80' each of the infiltrator dome chamber system and all the labor to install. I put landscape fabric over the chambers as an additional safety for soil infiltration.

It was approved for up to 7 bedrooms/7bath usage. Basically 2 homes can use the system without any issues. Add my $300 aerobic setup, this system can easily handle more than that if needed and it produces a clear effluent and I will never have to pump the tank.

 

[ultrarunner]

It is often used as a means to control building... either septic permit or sewer hook-ups.

The engineered systems with contracts are becoming more common around my end of Puget Sound.

 

[cqaigy2]

It is often used as a means to control building... either septic permit or sewer hook-ups.

The engineered systems with contracts are becoming more common around my end of Puget Sound.

This and the unfortunate issue of fecal coli-form in high amounts in the Sound.

 

[ultrarunner]

In the last 15 years or so I have seen Mound Systems and Glendon? go in around me... the owners don't have much if anything positive to say... many are on small plots of land and were only able to build using one of the engineered methods... comments are the mostly about higher cost all around.

I do know quite a few on acreage with traditional septic and no issues... but, they also use care and almost long term owner occupied.

I misspoke in that I actually have two septics in WA... with the other McKenna...

I always pump between tenants... the difference in care is very evident.

 

[Pettrix]

Effluent still clear at the D-Box. No solids in the 1st chamber. System is working great.

Tank pumping in my area is $550 and climbing due to EPA and rising fuel costs.

At this rate, I will probably never have to pump my tank.

 

[cqaigy2]

Good to hear!
:thumbsup:

 

[dfkrug]

I'm now a believer in aerobic septic systems. The entire setup cost me $300 in parts and
labor was free (me).

Just saw this thread. Thx for posting.

I have always loved aerobic systems. They have been around for many years. My folks had one
in central Ohio in the early 70s where there was no leachfield at all, and the effluent from the tank
went out to the storm drain system. It was clear and did not smell much at all.

I have a pump-up septic here that uses Infiltrator chambers and 2 1500-gal tanks. I had the main
tank pumped for the first time after 15y of use. ($450 for one hour's work, no problems, easy access.)

Clearly, that is more than an aerator system could cost, as you have demonstrated. I may
have to install one.

I run a bubbler and vent fan in my 5000-gal water tank to remove sulphurous gases and it has
worked great. Note that an air stone failed there, so I just use a silicone rubber 1/4" weighted line and
an aquarium bubbler.