If you want to improve the safety, cleanliness, and eco-friendliness of your property, it might be time to re-think your septic system. This post will walk you through some of the best alternative septic systems on the market, to give you a better idea of what might work for your home.
If any of these systems sound like the right choice for your home, talk to your local septic installation specialists to learn more.
Conventional Septic Systems
Before we get into some of the alternative options, let’s talk about the basics of a conventional septic system.
In a conventional system, waste is pumped through a sewer main from your home to the septic tank, a safe distance away. Once in the septic tank, waste natural separates and starts to break down. Solid waste at the bottom of the tank rises to the top of the tank as wastewater once it is safely broken down by bacteria inside the tank. Wastewater is then channeled through pipes from the top of your septic tank to a leach field, where it is dispersed and safely filtered through the soil.
There is nothing wrong with a conventional septic system: they are affordable to install and maintain, and safe in most circumstances. But not every property is right for a conventional septic system: if your ground can’t pass the soil percolation test, for example, you might not be able to safely filter wastewater through a leach field on your property. In that case, you should consider a safe alternative.
Aerobic Septic Systems
An aerobic system works much like a conventional septic system, with one key difference: air is pumped into the septic tank to expedite the breakdown process. The result is cleaner, lighter wastewater being channeled from the tank to the leach field. This ensures the safety of the ground and waterways around your property.
Aerobic septic systems can be a little costlier than conventional systems, but they are safe, clean, and highly reliable on any property.
Sand Mound Septic Systems
In a sand mound septic system, a mound of fine sand and gravel is built over or in place of a leach field. The mound then filters wastewater that comes out of the tank, to prevent contaminated water from reaching the ground and seeping into waterways.
Sand mound systems are a safer choice for the environment, especially in the case of a property that can’t pass the percolation test. They do come with an extra cost to install, but are generally very affordable to maintain, and will last for years without replacement.
Private Water Treatment Plant
Finally, a private water treatment plant will channel waste away from your property to f
ilter and leach in a safe location. This is one of the best choices for a home on a smaller property, without the space for a septic tank and leach field. It’s also one of the easiest options to maintain — the septic system itself is mostly out of the hands of the homeowner.
To learn more about any of these alternative systems, talk to a septic design professional in your area. A new septic system might just be the best way to improve the safety and eco-friendliness of your property!