If you are building on property that does not have access to municipal utilities including sewage, you will need a way to process the wastewater from your home. Traditional or conventional septic systems may not fit on your property for many reasons. Or perhaps you want to build a larger house on a small lot, and Aerobic Treatment Unit or ATU, can make this possible. Let’s look at how they work, how aerobic treatment units are designed and if they are right for your property.
How Do ATUs Work?
There are 4 main steps in ATUs. First there is a pretreatment where solids are separated and held in a separate tank or compartment of the main tank. The second step is the star of the system, the ATU itself. This is where air is forced, with an air-pump to introduce additional oxygen in the the tank. This causes the bacteria inside the tank to grow at a faster rate and help to start in the breakdown process. After this is over the water and remaining solids flow to the settling tank. Here gravity separates the solids left with the water. This separation allows the treated water, the effluent, to then be discharged into the drainfield. Any of the drainfield systems can be used including conventional, chamber, mound or drip.
Is There Maintenance of the ATUs?
Yes. In the state of Florida homeowners must maintain current operating permits for the system. This must be renewed every 2 years. You must also maintain a valid maintenance contract with an approved company. Martin Septic has you covered as we will maintain your system. These units do cost more money than convention, but depending on your property this may be the best options.
Aerobic Treatment Units Help the Environment
They actually do. By introducing helpful bacteria in the tank you can begin the breakdown and treatment well before the water in sent to your drainfield. This results in faster breakdown of the wastewater. If you have any questions about which system is right for you, give us a call. We are Southwest Florida’s top qualified and experienced septic tank company. Port Charlotte, North Port, Englewood, Punta Gorda and Cape Coral are just a few of the area we work in daily.
