Aerobic Septic System Pump FAQs

Q&A on ATU septic system aerators or effluent pumps

Aerobic Septic System Aerator Pump FAQs

Is my Noisy Septic System Air Pump Normal?

In in my new to me house I have a system with a Blue Diamond ET 80 A air pump. According to the previous owner the pump is about 2 years old.

The pump noise is driving me crazy! Using an Iphone app I measured the sound level at 85DB.

Is this normal? If the pump need to be replaced can you recommend an ultra quiet pump ? On 2016-10-13 by Howard

Reply by (mod)

If you need a new aerobic pump

see AEROBIC SEPTIC AERATOR PUMP SOURCES

Photo: HiBLow septic aerator pump models used in aerobic septic systems.

 

Should our septic aerobic pump run all the time?

Is an aqua-safe AS-500 ATU motor supposed to run continually? We have a new system and we can hear the motor hum continually. On 2018-05-08 by Vickie

Answer by (mod) - Run time of aerobic septic system aerator pumps - continuous versus intermittent operation depend on type of use

Vickie (and for other readers)

In these aerobic treatment unit septic systems, you may find two different pumps:

a dosing pump operated by a timer sends effluent to the disposal or dispersal system - a dosing pump will not run continuously.

an aerator pump provides air (oxygen) for proper bacterial action in the treatment tank. An aerator pump usually is designed to run continuously.

Your AquaSafe AS-500 is an aerator pump.

Here's a copy of the AQUASAFE AERATOR PUMP INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF] (2007) (at Oregon's website) Ecological Tanks, Inc. 2247 Highway 151 North Downsville, LA 71234 PH (318) 644-0397

To understand the aerator pump on an Aqua Safe 500 ATU system we excerpt from the system manual:

Aqua Safe series models of wastewater treatment plants are made with an outer mixing compartment and a center settling or clarifier compartment.

They are in many ways similar to large township or municipality sewage treatment plants. They employ an extended aeration, activated sludge process.

This type of treatment depends primarily upon the use of air that is introduced by air passing from the aerator compressor to four air lines located around the perimeter of the aeration mixing compartment.

As wastewater enters the aeration mixing compartment, simple hydraulic displacement is accomplished by the introduction of air which promotes the growth of aerobic organisms in much larger quantities than would occur naturally.

These bacteria break down the organic solids in the wastewater. From the aeration mixing compartment, mixed liquid enters the cone-shaped settling or clarifier compartment from the bottom.

No mixing occurs in this quiet zone where solids separate from liquid and settle to the bottom of the clarifier and re-enter the mixing compartment.

The liquid that separates from the solids in the clarifier continue to flow upward to the discharge pipe.

Details about the company ECOLOGICAL TANKS INC and access to the manual for your system are

at AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEM ATU SUPPLIERS & MANUALS 

To start addressing an aerator pump noise complaint let's look first at how the system was actually installed at your property.

Here is what Ecological Tanks Inc. says:

The aerator compressor must be installed in a well ventilated, relatively clean and dry location. Install the aerator compressor on the treatment plant=s tank top or at a remote location no more than one hundred (100) feet from the treatment plant.

The aerator compressor is supplied complete with all discharge fittings. Install 3/4" Sch. 40 PVC piping (supplied by others) between the aerator and treatment plant.

A minimum of twelve (12) inches ground cover is recommended over the 3/4" Sch. 40 PVC air piping.

Do I really need the aerator pump running on my septic system?

Is it necessary to have this system. Can i just turm it off? On 2016-02-19 by Cindy

by (mod) - If you turn off the aerator on an aerobic septic system

If you turn off the aerator on an aerobic septic system you will destroy your drainfield, risk sewage backup into the home, and probably violate local regulations.

IF the system is not working as designed it is not treating the sewage and thus is contaminating the environment, starting at your own property. Best to leave it on.

Where does the diffuser go in my Clearstream Aerobic Tank

When installing the difusser in an aerobic system (in my case Clearstream), does the difusser float on top of the water or does it stay submirged towards the bottom.

If it is designed to stay towards the botton, and for instance the pump is not on, what keeps the filter and line filling up with water? Thanks On 2020-07-13 by Bull Sitter

Reply by danjoefriedman (mod) - close to the bottom of the septic ta nk

If I understand the situation correctly the air diffuser will normally be near the bottom of the tank as the design wants air bubbles to create the volume of wastewater in the tank

In most systems the air is running all of the time.

If your design is one in which air pump only runs in cycles (operated by a timer) the pump will need to be of sufficient capacity to simply push the water out of the diffuser and the vertical pipe.

So don't worry about water getting into the diffuser or bubbler.

Aerobic Septic System Effluent Pump FAQs

Report on ATU Septic Effluent Pump Failure

We had a problem with the pump that pumps out the water. It was noted in Dec. 2018. Left until now Aug. 2019. We had called a few times, got no response.

Finally, we got the owners wife who blew a gasket at me saying they have over 1000 customers but yeah they'll move us to the head of the line.

She was rude and uncaring. I was going to report them for neglecting my system when we had called 2x and emailed a few times. When you call all you ever get is a machine. Since they knew about this and our High water alarm went off is it not their responsibility to have gotten this fixed long before Aug 2019. It cost us $475.

His wife wanted the money in a snap. We have been their customer for 13 years and built a trust and asked to pay it in 2 payments and she refused.

So I said to my husband she will bloody well have to wait. Should this system have been fixed back in Dec. 2018 when he knew it was not working up to par ...as to avoid spillage? On 2019-08-16 by MMCM -

by (mod) - effluent pump problems

MM

Sounds as if you might want to find a different service contractor.

Our aerobic septic system pump motor runs constantaly

Should my motor constantly be running and never shut off? (Feb 2, 2014) Bria n

Reply: aerator pumps run continuously; effluent pumps do not.

Brian, I'm not sure what to answer, as we don't know what equipment you have installed.

But indeed, there are aerobic septic system designs in which the aerator pump is intended to run constantly.

In contrast, a second pump used in ATUs is the effluen pump used to move treated septic effluent to a disposal or dispersal field or spray heads. That pump usually is turned on and off by a float switch or by a timer.

Aerobic Septic System Alarm Q&A

Yellow air pump warning light on for aerobic septic system.

Yellow air pump warning light on for aerobic septic system. The pump is pumping air.

How do you check/clean (unclog) the diffuser aeration line and diffuser? (3 tank system, with above ground aeration pump) (May 30, 2015) Jay Rennie

Moderator reply: How to respond to aerobic system alarm lights or sounds

Jay

The yellow light on your aerobic septic system control means that there is a problem with the aeration system - just as you suspect.

A red light on the aerobic septic system is a high-water alarm that's critical since it means that either an outlet is blocked or an effluent pump is failing, leading to a sewage backup.

You may also hear an audible alarm on your aerobic controlbox, usually a shrieking whistle or a buzz.

Details of just what to do to fix the problem causing the aerobic septic alarm to sound are found

at AEROBIC SEPTIC ALARM SYSTEMS

Please look there and don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions. - Daniel Friedman

ATU Disinfectants FAQs

Will chlorine tablets used in "self-cleaning" toilets damage our septic system?

I have installed a Self-Cleaning Toilet System on our 3 toilets which consists of a small water tight container which sits inline with the water line that fills the bowl (not the tank).

You put a 1" chlorine tablet inside the container and each time you flush a small amount of the slowly dissolved tablet is placed in the toilet bowl, effectively keeping you bowl clean.

We are on a septic system, should I be concerned about this small amount of chlorine going into the septic system with each flush? Would bromine tablets be better for a septic system? Thank You. On 2016-08-31 by Loren

by (mod) - self cleaning toilet cakes or products

Loren:

Modern self cleaning toilets like the Kohler example I cite below often use a combination of a deodorizing / disinfecting additive and some toilets may also use water jets to try to clean the toilet interior enough that you can put off using a toilet scrub brush.

I tried those "self-cleaning" products a few years back - leading to the following opinion:

1. "self-deodorizing" is a more accurate term that "self-cleaning" since the bleach won't scrub off fecal markings in the toilet bowl

2. depending on the frequency of toilet use and thus the concentration of bleach in the flush water, high bleach concentrate in the toilet tank damaged the flapper valves on some low-use toilets

3. at normal usage levels the amount of chlorine discharged into the septic tank ought to make no difference to its operation

• KOHLER CONTINUOUS CLEAN TOILET INSTRUCTIONS [Website]
  
  Excerpts: ContinuousClean is Kohler’s innovative self-cleaning technology that automatically dispenses cleaning solution with every flush to help keep your toilet clean longer*.
  
  Yes, when used as directed, the cleaning solution that the ContinuousClean system delivers with each flush is safe for septic system use.

A much more aggressive and thorough self-cleaning toilet system is used in some public restrooms, like the Sanitronic that actually rotates into and out of a cleaning station.

• SANITRONIC SELF-CLEANING TOILET SYSTEM [Website]
  
  Excerpt: A revolutionary, self-cleaning, toilet system. With a quick turn around time, every visitor will be able to experience a toilet that will be clean on the inside and out. 

Aerobic Septic System Service & Maintenance FAQs

They told my mom the septic system would not need service for 15 years or more

We are selling our home with a septic tank & just discovered it is 4ft from the spa & buried under 4ft of cement with no access.

We took the home over from my mom & she says it was acceded & she was told it wouldn't need to be serviced for 15 years.

That was in 2004. I'm guessing it was serviced prior to the cement being poured. Everything was permitted by the city. Who is responsible for such a negligent mistake? Nicole (no email) On 2016-08-12 by Nicole -

Reply by (mod) - Really? permitted (getting a building permit to install a septic system) absolutely does NOT mean no-septic maintenance required

Your mom did not, from what I can read in your note, receive accurate, useful information.

Furthermore, burying a septic tank under concrete is improper, rendering it inaccessible;
The result increases the chance of an early drainfield failure as it's pumping the tank on schhedule (Search InspectApedia.com for SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE) that extends drainfield life.

"Permitted by the city" doesnt tell me enough; IMO no permit should have been issued for what you describe. But "you can't sue city hall". And I'm doubtful about collecting from a contractor who did something 12 years ago.

You might consider having the septic tank abandoned and installing a new one, or giving an allowance for that purpose rather than aggravating yourselves with litigation and fouling up the sale of your home. A related concern is the remaining life of the drainfield.

Why is our toilet still gurgling even though we had the septic tank pumped?

Wwe have a septic system. We just had it pumped out because of gurgling sounds from the bath tub drain, after flushing the toilet. Still gurgling!

Also, when several loads of laundry are done, there is suds in the toilet bowl! This bathroom is sharing the laundry room drain system. Could a vent pipe be clogged on this side of the house? On 2016-05-29 by Dann Makins

by (mod) - there is a clogged drain or plumbing vent or possibly a failing drainfield / leachfield

Dann

Unfortunately, pumping out a septic tank will **never ever** fix a clogged drain nor a failing drainfield. But yes it makes good sense to check first for a clogged vent line. Sometimes insects build a nest that blocks the line and on occasion I've found frogs, birds, even mice in vent pipes.

Aerobic Septic System Odor FAQs

Is there any reason I should be smelling sewage at the site of tank

I purchased a home and the county required a bigger tank size
(1250 gallons) the seller was required to do this before closing
the 1250 gallon was not available for 2 months and seller did not want to wait

so with no disclosure to ANYONE (county, realty agents or purchaser seller ordered 1500 gallon tank
septic co. was unable put it in where the smaller tank had been so AGAIN with no disclosure to anyone had septic co. install larger tank about 15'to the right and 3' down on the other side of a retaining wall

since the ground at the original site of tank was disturbed we were none the wiser

UNTIL we began working outside in the yard about 2 weeks after closing and could smell a strong sewage odor

3 months later the smell is still with us septic co. has sealed large lid at top of tank with caulk (3 weeks ago) it did not help and they have not been back in contact

No one has been able to tell me any reason why this isn't a major problem
the old tank was pumped collapsed and buried the odor is not present at this site
the leach field were not replaced at time of new tank install but found to be in working order by county inspector

a septic certificate was issued
Here is the question

Do you know of any valid reason I should be smelling sewage at the site of tank install at this point? On 2016-07-07 by monica

Answer by (mod) -

Monica it sounds as if I'm stepping in sewage with this question, as "valid reason" is a confusing label.

If you mean does sewage odor mean something is wrong and needs to be fixed, of course.

by monica

thank you Dan
yes of course it does
any companies you could recommend..?

by (mod) -

You will want to hire a local plumber or septic company who have experience with tracking down plumbing vent problems and septic system problems.

Aerobic Septic System Tank FAQs

Why doesn't our septic tank ever develop a scum layer?

Why doesn't our septic tank ever develop a scum layer? At least, not visible at outlet side of tank.

It is a 1000 gal tank, just two people in the house, 4 years old, never yet been pumped out with little sludge developing in the bottom of the tank.

We have extremely hard water and the softener recharges every 3 to 4 days, hence a lot of salt in the system.

The screen at outlet becomes clogged with heavy black stuff and has to be cleaned every 6 months; at 8 to 10 months it would otherwise be completely clogged.

We do not allow any oil or grease down the drains and do not use the garbage disposal.
Any thoughts? On 2016-07-06 by rsd

by (mod) - it probably does: you may be looking in the wrong spot

RS
If you are looking into the interior of an outlet baffle from above you won't see the scum layer because it's being blocked - kept away from the outlet pipe opening by the baffle.

If you inspect the tank through a center cleanout you will most likely see a scum layer. With just two people in a home with careful use of septic system as you describe you are at a 5.9 year tank pumping interval - all else being equal;

When the tank is pumped, be on-hand and with help from your pumping company -and with care as leaning over or falling into a septic tank is usually fatal - take another look at the scum layer.

I would be worried about backwashing a lot of salt into a septic system. Gayman and probably others have written about the deletrious effect salt on septic soakbed life.

Good going on keeping oils out of the septic tank - that increases its performance and perhaps field life. Same with garbage disposer.

It sounds as if your water softening system may be straining on your water supply; it might be worth a review with an onsite expert: hardness and daily usage volumes would determine the type and size of water system needed.

Aerobic SepticSeptic System Life FAQs

Experience with Aerator Systems aerobic septic systems: drainfield failure & replacement

We have lived in 3 homes with Aerator Systems, and are getting ready to build a new home where we will install an Aerator system.

Note1: We’ve always had a service contract and done normal maintenance (with one instance of a motor rebuild), with overall good results. However, we just had a major failure — this week — and this is how it played out.

Initially, the alarm on our tank went off.

After resetting, it came right back on every time. We turned it off and called for system maintenance. He arrived and after evaluation, said the system wasn’t draining/we had a blockage in the drain field.

He made a recommendation that we get the (concrete) aerator tank pumped, and then get someone out to find the problem.

We got the tank pumped, and then called a plumbing service that had a camera they could use to find the blockage. They went as far as they could with the camera, then pinpointed this location above ground so we knew where to start digging.

We dug this area, and found that the “pipe” had collapsed. We couldn’t get anyone out to excavate for at least a week, so rented a small excavator. Bottom line, the remaining line was silted in, so total leach field failure.

The leach field piping used was FRENCH DRAIN PIPE! Inside a poly rock sock (taking the place of gravel and geo textile cloth). Epic failure!

We researched the proper specs for installing a septic leach field, and replaced the entire leach field accordingly, with proper fall, and installing the proper layers - gravel/triple wall leach field pipe/more gravel/geo textile cloth/dirt back fill.

I’m commenting here because I want to make it known that the leach field is just as important as the aerator system. I have no idea how many installers use leach field shortcuts, so be aware. Note2: digging up a leach field can be nasty, but considering this was an aerator system leach field, it wasn’t bad. On 2019-10-18 by PTators

Reply by (mod) -

Thank you for that detailed posting, it will be helpful to other readers.

What is "Bump and Brush" septic tank maintenance and does it work?

Should I use the bump and brush" method for clearing roots from LPP laterals?

Has anyone heard of the "bump and brush" method for clearing roots from LPP laterals? Method as it was explained to me involves taking a hammer to the end of the lateral and literally hammering it about 8" to move it to break up the small roots in the biomet, which are clogging the drain holes of the LPP laterals, and moving the pipes to a different area of the trench where there is minimal root growth to allow effluent to move through the lateral's small holes (5/32").

After the LPP is moved, a brush is then inserted in the line to brush debris, clearing the holes.

The entire line is then flushed. Copper sulfate is then flushed through the system after the procedure, then a month later, and then every 6 months. The 2 lbs. copper sulfate is mixed with water and introduced into the pump tank for dispersal through the system to deter further root growth. Thoughts, anyone? On 2016-03-20 by Stephanie

Reply by (mod) - OPINION: Bump your wallet and brush the money

Unfortunately no magic bullet repairs for failed septic systems work, and the risk is that you spend a lot of money with little benefit. Bump your wallet and brush the money into someone else's pocket, maybe.

More seriously, NO drain line or septic drainfield system that simply removes roots from a pipe is going to give long-lasting repair: the roots grow back.

Root poisoning contaminates the environment, does not offer a rapid repair, and may not be permitted in some jurisdictions.

Moving the drainfield is an option - costly. Would it be less costly to remove the offending trees and shrubs and most of their root systems?

Details by Stephanie on Bump and Brush septic maintenance

I had posted a question about the "bump and brush" maintenance on 3/20/16 since I had not heretofore heard of this method.

This is a follow-up post. I confirmed that this is a real procedure for our area in North Carolina with our county health department. It is considered the last resort to temporarily restore a drainfield, to help it along for a while longer before a new drainfield is needed. Eventually the drainfield will fail as LPP systems are supposed to have a usable lifespan of 25 years or so.

LPP systems (septic tank/holding tank contents which are pumped into a drainfield at specific dosing intervals) are notorious for having problems because the trenches for the laterals are only 10-18" deep (ours are 10") which makes them prone to tree root infiltration, which was our problem (we have a lot of trees in the yard). The septic company came out and did the bump and brush.

This consisted of digging up the distal ends of all 10 laterals and disconnecting (sawing) the pipe to lift out the elbow turn up, digging up where the laterals joined the manifold and sawing the lateral pipe away from it, and with a 4 x 4 and a sledge hammer literally bumping each lateral in the dug out distal end trenches, moving the laterals 10-12" toward the manifold, afterwards a huge brush was pushed through each lateral to clear out whatever roots were in the pipes,

then reconnecting everything, flushing the laterals and resetting the gpm pump rate by adjusting the gate valve in the pump tank and the gate valve between laterals 3 and 4. This was done on 3/28/16 and we have not had any surfacing effluent since.

The health department verified the usage of copper sulfate to deter any root growth into the newly moved laterals. This is a stop-gap measure to buy the homeowner time before having to have a new drainfield installed.

The health department said the temporary fix could last 5 months, or 5 years or longer. It depended upon the number of people in the household, how much water usage in the home, and how careful the people were to take care of the system by putting copper sulfate into the pump tank every 6 months and then having the laterals flushed a month afterwards to keep new root growth at bay.

Only time will tell in our case, but so far, it seems to be working. Hope this information might help someone else in a similar situation. On 2016-04-22 by Stephanie

by (mod) - bump and brush septic system maintenance utility is questionable, and using root killers in the septic is a bad plan

Thank you Stephanie, for the informative comment.

Watch out: My opinion and experience is that root killers don't work, don't kill off roots past the actual septic drainfield pipe, and don't remove "dead roots" from the pipes, and worse, may kill off the aerobic and anaerobic soil bacteria that are needed to properly break down and process the pathogens in septic effluent being discharged into the soil.

Watch out: My opinion is that bump and brush is a tempting "magic bullet" that will tempt homeowners who face what's really needed: a septic field replacement. I agree that there is no predictable forward life of the system after that procedure. You end up pouring money down the toilet and having to replace the drainfield anyway.

Consider that what clogs, when a drainfield has "failed" - that is when the field no longer accepts effluent at a functional rate - is not the pipe but the trenches that have become clogged first at the trench bottom then up the trench sides.

The clogging is a bacteria/organic slime that becomes water resistant.

Disturbing the pipes and trenches may buy some time. But you don't state the cost of this procedure.

What % of the cost of a new field is being paid for each bump and brush treatment? How long does that treatment last on average?

by Stephanie: Septic bump and brush costs $125 per lateral - we have ten of them - total cost $1,250.

The cost in our area (Durham, NC) for the bump and brush procedure is $125 per lateral and we have 10 laterals. The cost of the B & B procedure was far less than a new drain field which we cannot afford at this time.

I don't know if another B & B procedure would be allowed by the County, but I got the feeling from the septic company foreman who initially told me about the procedure that this is a "one chance to dance" procedure.

We are hoping that this procedure will buy us some time to save the money for a new drain field since we have been told by the County that hooking to a public sewer is not an option at this time and probably won't be for the foreseeable future.

Removing all the trees on the lot will not really help either since there are SO many of them. The root infiltration is part of our problem, but I do agree that the bacteria/organic slime is the ultimate culprit in the death of any drain field.

I can only hope that we can "limp along" as the health department official said until we have the money for a new drain field. I did not mean to offer false hope to someone in a similar predicament, only that there was a more affordable, albeit temporary, solution to the problem.

LPP systems are not allowed in our County anymore because of their premature failure and short lifespan. I understand that a pressure manifold is its successor, and the trenches are deeper and about 3 feet wide rather than the LPP trenches which are on 10-18" deep and about 12" inches wide.

by Stephanie: Septic bump and brush treatment lasts 5-months to 5 years?

In answer to how long the bump and brush procedure effects will last, I was told by both the septic company foreman and the County health inspector anywhere from 5 months, to 5 years, or longer. It really depends upon how many people are in the house, the water usage, and if the system is maintained properly.

I checked with a different septic company in the area who is highly recommended as was the one we decided upon and was told that the success rate for the B & B is 80-90%.

There was no guarantee that the drain field would not fail in the near future, since it is really difficult to know exactly what each lateral trench looks like (how invasive the roots are, how thick the bacteria/slime layer is). My husband and I can only hope this will buy us some much needed time to get the money together for a new drain field.

by (mod) - Highly questionable value of Septic Bump and Brush

Really?

I asked an attorney who specializes in advertising law just what is the legal definition of "up to" claims in advertisements.

Bottom line: from the information you were given even by the bump and brush septic company, nobody is promising you that you won't be spending more than $2,500 a year on septic cleaning and even then there's no promise that your septic system has not failed already or won't fail during that time.

My OPINION is that that's hardly an economically-justified service.

Details: I agree that " ... no guarantee that the drain field would not fail in the near future" in fact it's generally likely.

The range of promises is opinon rather than having basis in objective data. In advertising law, "up to" claims such as "your drainfield will last up to 5 years longer" need to be correct only a small percent of the time to be legally defensible.

Watch out: I understand the wish to defer the major expense of a new drainfield, but it would be smart to plan on the need.

Removing tree roots from pipes is of very brief benefit as the roots outside the pipes but nearby will quickly find their way back to that nutrient-rich area. Only by removing trees near the drainfield can that problem be stopped.

Read details at PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS - how far away must shrubs & trees be from septic components

Worse, if you have trees near the septic drainfield it's likely that you're going to have to add the cost of tree removal to the septic drainfield replacement projcet.

by Stephanie

Thank you for your objective and wise advice. The sweet gum trees, tulip tree and maples along with huge pines were here when we bought the place in 2006.

We have had three maples and a pin oak tree taken out already back in 2010 since they were inside of the drainfield or very close to the laterals and were causing issues.

The one lateral is directly underneath the huge tulip tree (which is problematic to take out because of the height and size of the tree and its location directly over a lateral and it is within the drainfield) and the remaining sweet gums (which we were originally told were not going to cause a problem) are outside of the drainfield, but tree root invasion I'm sure can still take place.

Both my husband and I were new to the area and did not know a thing about LPP systems or how invasive tree roots could be causing problems, or I would have said "no thanks" on the house. But we are kind of stuck at this point and have to make due as best we can. All we can do is start saving for a drainfield replacement as it will be inevitable.