What Do You Need to Know About Installing an Aerobic Treatment Unit in Miami Dade County?
When city sewer services are unavailable, septic tanks have long been the answer. However, there are places where a standard septic tank simply can’t cope. These locations need a special solution. An aerobic treatment unit is one possibility. These highly efficient private wastewater disposal systems reduce the amount of biological matter entering your drain field. Could one of these systems be the right choice for your Miami-Dade County property?
What Advantages Do Aerobic Treatment Units Bring?
Florida’s Miami Dade County is only about six feet above sea level, and it’s blessed with an abundance of waterways. Both factors can make establishing reliable drainage complicated. An aerobic treatment unit offers several advantages that make it a particularly useful system for property owners in this area:
- Aerobic treatment units are better for the environment because they release less biological matter.
- They operate so efficiently that they can extend the life of your drain field.
- Their efficiency also allows for a smaller drain field, which makes it possible to build a bigger house on a smaller lot.
- They are not appropriate for every property, but they can function in places where soil or site conditions would rule out a traditional septic system.
How Do Aerobic Treatment Units Work?
An aerobic treatment unit breaks down waste more rapidly by fostering a highly oxygenated environment inside the septic tank. Oxygen is forced through the liquid effluent. Since bacteria thrive in this oxygen-rich atmosphere, they work efficiently to demolish the waste before it moves further through the system.
For the best result, an aerobic treatment unit should be designed to fit the unique characteristics of your property by an experienced civil engineer. It can be made of different materials, including fiberglass, concrete, or polyurethane. While a custom design means that sizes, shapes, and details will vary, certain stages are common:
- Pretreatment: It may be a separate tank. It may be a compartment in the aerobic unit. Wherever it’s located, the pretreatment stage is designed to capture grease, oil, and toilet paper that get flushed but don’t degrade well. Reducing the amount of these substances that travel further into the system makes it easier for them to be cleaned out and prevents them from impeding the bacteria.
- Aerobic treatment unit: Aerobic treatment units use a pump, pipes, and diffusers to compress air and spread it through the unit, oxygenating the mixture of bacteria and sewage inside the tank so that the decomposition occurs more efficiently. Two common aerobic treatment unit types include suspended and attached growth units.
- Settling chamber: This stage employs gravity to separate the clear, treated water from the bacteria. This allows the bacteria to return to the aerobic treatment unit.
- Drain field: Drain fields can use numerous measures to discharge treated water into unsaturated soil for additional treatment. Possibilities include dripline systems, gravel systems, gravity feed systems, pump systems, pipe systems, and chamber systems.
Do Septic Aerobic Treatment Units Require Maintenance?
Like any septic system, aerobic treatment units require maintenance. You’ll want to have a maintenance contract with an approved maintenance entity to keep yours functioning at its best. Generally, the system should be inspected twice a year. Some jurisdictions require you to submit proof of these services to the Department of Health. They may also insist on periodic inspections from that department.
Aerobic treatment units are versatile systems. With so many options, it may seem confusing, but that flexibility allows for amazing customization. This means a civil engineer can look at the needs of your home or business and the details of your property closely. If it’s determined that this type of system is the best solution to your septic issues, then they can review all the options to assemble a system that will perform well in your circumstances. As Florida residents, the civil engineers at DKK Consulting Incorporated understand the state’s unique geography and the impact it has on septic systems. If you’re interested in installing an aerobic treatment system at your Miami-Dade County property, we’re ready to help you explore your options. Contact us today to discuss the possibilities.