In this section, two types of wastewater treatment tanks will be discussed: anaerobic (septic tank) and aerobic. Both types of tanks treat toilet waste (blackwater) and wastewater from sinks and baths (greywater) in conjunction with a secondary treatment such as a leach field.
Both processes use “bugs” or bacteria to break down pollutants. In the aerobic process, the bacteria require oxygen to break pollutants down into carbon dioxide and water. Anaerobic processes work without oxygen and produce methane and other gases.
A third type of system, the holding tank, which should only be considered as a last alternative, is discussed at the end of this section.
Aerobic, Conventional & STS, Composting toilet
For: new and replacement installations where conventional-sized leach fields are not possible and/or where proximity to water table, open water, wells or personal bias dictates the maximum treatment of effluent.
Four options that will improve your system’s performance:
- Low flush toilets
- Biomat leach field systems
- Leach field pre-filter
- Aerobic septic tanks