Septic Systems - Aerobic vs. Conventional

[Pettrix]

I am researching septic systems for a home I would like to build in a rural area. Currently I am in the city and on a city sewer. Years ago we had a septic system when we lived in a different area and it was a nightmare. The leach field failed and we had nothing but problems.

From what I have read, aerobic systems cost more but they do a better job of cleaning out the effluent BEFORE it gets to the leach field. Conventional or anaerobic systems allow dirtier effluent to reach the leach field which in turn can clog the lines and make the system fail.

I found this setup:

Orenco Systems, Inc.: Advanced Treatment Systems

Has anyone here used this setup?

Is it true that aerobic systems do a better job of preventing leach field failures?

 

[Kaw]

Man I dont know much about that set up, but for over 30 years I have had our conventional septic tank and leach field, without any problems.. We have tank pumped every few years and thats all. I hope to keep problem free for many many more years. If its built right you should not have issues.

 

[jdonovan]

Around my area these aerobic systems are used for getting septic installed on land that won't accept a conventional system. Some of the designs have been very marginal and the county is now dealing with 100's of failed systems that current engineering practice says don't even try to put a septic system on that land.

The technology got ahead of the health department... So now they require annual inspections of any alternative system. New alternative systems are required to be grossly over designed to reduce the possibility of failure.

End result, a conventional system would be about 10-12k for a 4-BR, the alternative is almost 50k, and the hassles of yearly inspections.

The traditional system installed on acceptable ground, and maintained properly will last you a lifetime. Abuse it, fail to maintain it, or install it on the wrong soils and you'll have a lifetime of problems.

 

[Redneck in training]

I my place the county selects septic type proven for the particular soil condition. It has to be installed by approved contractor. My soil doesn't percolate so the discharge comes to the surface. Looks like it works well. My dog drinks the discharge. I have to take a sample every year and send it to the lab. To save money I took the course and exam so I can take the sample by myself. The course is free and takes about an hour at the county office.
When I built my house I needed only two permits. Building and septic.

 

[Bird]

I never even heard of that Orenco system before, but in 1996 my brother had an aerobic system installed, in 1997 I had mine installed, and in 1998 a brother-in-law had one installed. But all of us moved from those homes by the Fall of 2002, so I can't say for the long term, but we were very happy with them. But back then my brother and I only paid $5,000 for each of ours installed. Brother-in-law used a different installer and paid $5,100.

 

[300UGUY]

I don't know where you are at, but here in Michigan, it's gotten pretty expensive to put new septics in. I doubt that you can get one installed now for less than 12 to 15K. And if the perk is marginal, it could be a lot more.

 

[joemd11]

I don't know where you are at, but here in Michigan, it's gotten pretty expensive to put new septics in. I doubt that you can get one installed now for less than 12 to 15K. And if the perk is marginal, it could be a lot more.

x2 what 300guy said. Check your state and local regs. Here in PA I don't think you can even put in a standard septic system. I think it has to be the sand mound type and they run around 15k. We have a small septic tank (500 gal) and I don't even know if we have a leach field or if it works. The house was built in the 50's. I just get the tank pumped every two years and have not had a problem yet. I hope to get by until the local municipality installs a sewer system.

 

[MF1652]

I have never seen or heard of an aerobic system being used in NH. Everyone around here uses a conventional septic system with a tank and leach field. The conventional systems are pretty fool proof but like anything they require maintenance and care to make them last.

When we had our leach field installed ten years ago the contractor told me to take a packet of bread yeast, mix it in a glass of hot water and dump it down the drain a few times a year to put good bacteria in the system. I've done this every year and never had a problem. Eight years into the system I had it pumped out(state recomends pumping the tank every 3 years) and the guy doing it said it didn't look like it even needed to be pumped out.

 

[oldnslo]

Not sure where the OP is located but I suspect county code will dictate what type of system is required. Yes the mound type systems are expensive.

 

[s219]

We're planning a septic system for some new property and talking to installers. In my opinion as an engineer, improper design, installation, or maintenance is the main problem with *any* system.

If the soil and location supports a traditional gravity feed system and it's installed and maintained properly, it should give you at least 30-40 years of trouble free service (and likely more).

The main motivation to go with an alternative system would be in marginal soils or install locations where a traditional system won't work well or fit in the available space. It's generally not done for reliability, as these systems have more complexity, not less. That said, the alternative systems I have spec'd out seem pretty simple and I wouldn't worry about them myself. In some cases, they have less rigorous cleanout/inspection schedules simply because they provide better control over the whole process.

To me, it should come down to site requirements and cost. Try to go with the least expensive and most reliable system that will satisfy the requirements. Look at it as a binary choice -- either a certain type of system will do the job, or it won't.

 

[jinman]

Pettrix, you really need to tell us where you are located or at least the state. The only info I can give you is that I've had an aerobic system for 12 years and NEVER had a problem with the absorbtion field because I don't have one. My effluent is completely odor free and clear. It's pumped to two sprinkler heads just like a lawn sprinkler system. The water sprays on top of the ground and evaporates or soaks in.

Whatever system you use, I strongly suggest you DO NOT run your laundry water through the system. Laundry water is not sewage, it's grey water. You technically don't need to run bath water or laundry water through the septic, only your toilets and kitchen sink/dishwasher. Laundry water is a killer for the way a septic works. All your soap and bleach does is inhibit biological activity that treats and purifies sewage. Laundry water also contains loads of solids that include detergent and lint from clothing. That detergent and link will clog filters and become sediment in your tanks. On a new house, there is no reason you cannot have a separate grey water system for at least your laundry. It's harder to get a plumber to separate the showers from the commode drains, but making the laundry a separate system is a snap.

After 12 years of use, I've had to replace my aerobic's aerator pump one time ($395) and several sprinkler heads (around $20 each). My system gets inspected once each 4 months. My inspectors always tell me that my system is clean and trouble free. My neighbor has the same system and runs laundry drains through his. His is a nightmare of grey sludge and clogged filters.

 

[Grateful11]

This is what my brother had installed a few years ago, darn thing is made out of packing peanuts.

How to Construct a Residential Septic System : How-To : DIY Network

Also my cousin does septic systems for a living and he said a good way to get a system going is to flush raw chicken fat and innards, makes good bacteria growth. Wife killed our system once by using to much Clorox when cleaning the toilets. Had to have pumped and start all over.

 

[Bird]

Pettrix, you really need to tell us where you are located or at least the state. The only info I can give you is that I've had an aerobic system for 12 years and NEVER had a problem with the absorbtion field because I don't have one. My effluent is completely odor free and clear. It's pumped to two sprinkler heads just like a lawn sprinkler system. The water sprays on top of the ground and evaporates or soaks in.

Whatever system you use, I strongly suggest you DO NOT run your laundry water through the system. Laundry water is not sewage, it's grey water. You technically don't need to run bath water or laundry water through the septic, only your toilets and kitchen sink/dishwasher. Laundry water is a killer for the way a septic works. All your soap and bleach does is inhibit biological activity that treats and purifies sewage. Laundry water also contains loads of solids that include detergent and lint from clothing. That detergent and link will clog filters and become sediment in your tanks. On a new house, there is no reason you cannot have a separate grey water system for at least your laundry. It's harder to get a plumber to separate the showers from the commode drains, but making the laundry a separate system is a snap.

After 12 years of use, I've had to replace my aerobic's aerator pump one time ($395) and several sprinkler heads (around $20 each). My system gets inspected once each 4 months. My inspectors always tell me that my system is clean and trouble free. My neighbor has the same system and runs laundry drains through his. His is a nightmare of grey sludge and clogged filters.

We did have our laundry, in fact everything, going into our aerobic system. The aerator pump got noisy and was going bad after two and a half years. The same pump would have cost $310 plus $25 labor to replace, but instead we got a new but rebuildable pump for $408 plus $25 labor. And probably because of the laundry, after four and a half years it needed to be pumped out so we had that done.

 

[gghb]

have designed and installed septic systems in western washington for 40 years. the best anyone can tell you is check with your local regulaters they will determine what you need. ornco products are state of the art but not neccessary unless local conditions require that level of treatment. a simple gravity system can serve you well if the conditions are right for it and it is dieigned and installed properly. if the soil conditions are poor then you need to work up the chain til you find the right treatment level for you conditions

greg

 

[charlz]

I have an aerobic system with a leach field. Works pretty good. One of the downsides is you have to have electricity 24x7 to pump air into the system. My system is one of the earliest ones installed in this state and has a few design issues, it is a little undersized and there is no large cleanout port on for the back half. This means I have to clean out every 3 years or so and it was $350 the last time as it takes the guy a while to clean out the back half. I also have to pay an annual service fee which covers the testing.

I understand now they put a regular septic tank in front of the system to help with settling out solids and then the aerobic system after that. Still preferable over the sand mound they would have had to build but maybe not by much.

 

[Bird]

I understand now they put a regular septic tank in front of the system to help with settling out solids and then the aerobic system after that.

Yep, that's what I had.

 

[dmccarty]

I would read your local/state regulations. I did because we had poor soil and issues with the inspector. In my area, the land that will perc for a conventional systems is getting few and far between. Most of that land, in a good location, is already built on.

Your state/local regulations may only allow certain system brands.

We did manage to get a conventional system and after 6-7 years, we have had no problems. We pump out both tanks every four years. We pump out the scat every Presidential election cycle.

In my area the newer tanks have two internal tanks. One for solids which is connected to the house. The other internal tank get liquid that flows from the other tank. BOTH tanks have to be pumped but on the liquid tank has a riser for easy access as well as the filter. Lazy pumpers will only pump the liquid tank which is pretty much useless since it is the solids that really need to be pumped.

The spray systems are really nice. Except for cost and upkeep. :laughing: When I was checking on prices a decade ago one of these systems would cost $30K. I remember when Bird mentioned that his system cost $5K I about had a heart attack.

Now way can I see how these systems cost $30K to build. There is not that much to them.

Later,
Dan

 

[Whitnel]

Don't want to hijack but have a question about spetic systems. I have some property that will have a septic system. The site that perks is across a ditch / valley between where i want to build the house so i can not run a gravity line to it. Will there be a problem with pumping the waste to the system? I plan to put a grinder pump at the bottom of the hill that runs to the tank.

 

[jdonovan]

Don't want to hijack but have a question about spetic systems. I have some property that will have a septic system. The site that perks is across a ditch / valley between where i want to build the house so i can not run a gravity line to it. Will there be a problem with pumping the waste to the system?

should not be a problem

 

[charlz]

Don't want to hijack but have a question about spetic systems. I have some property that will have a septic system. The site that perks is across a ditch / valley between where i want to build the house so i can not run a gravity line to it. Will there be a problem with pumping the waste to the system? I plan to put a grinder pump at the bottom of the hill that runs to the tank.

Something to think about would be power outages. If you plan to run a well off generator etc. you would also need to run this pump and thus need a way to get genny power to it. Might be easier to wire that in when installing.