Bird
Rest in Peace
I don't believe I've heard that term used in connection with the aerobic systems, but it may be.
Bird
Bird
Tractor Buying Sanity Check
- Thread starter dmccarty
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geneP
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- Case-International 385, Kubota L5450 w/LA1150A loader
I don't think they are the same. Bird can explain how the aerobic system works, and I think the constructed wetland (at least around here) utilizes a pit that the water from a septic tank drains into at the end of the field line. A type of plant that consumes a lot of water is planted in the pit to dispose of the water. This type is used here on hard clay ground that doesn't percolate well.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I guess they're not the same then. I doubt that I could explain the aerobic system in a few words, since the manufacturers use a whole brochure, and they have now combined what used to be 3 tanks into one unit, but I'll try to describe mine.
1. The first tank is an ordinary 500 gallon, concrete septic tank (they call it a pre-treatment tank).
2. From there it flows into an 800 gallon fiberglass "treatment" tank with a cone shaped insert. There is a small 120 volt air compressor that runs continuously pumping air through 3 lines to the bottom of this tank. The air is passed through ceramic diffusers so the very small bubbles rise to the top. There is also a filter device.
3. From the treatment tank, it flows slightly downhill over chlorine tablets and into the final tank, which is basically another 500 gallon concrete tank, but since it doesn't flow out the side, it actually holds closer to 600 gallons. There is a stainless steel submersible water well pump and adjustable level sensors in this final tank. When the tank gets about 180 gallons in it, the pump comes on and pumps about 100 gallons out through 1" PVC to the sprinkler head (ordinary revolving lawn sprinklers). There is both an audible and visual alarm should the air compressor stop or should the water pump fail to come on when the water gets up to the right level.
I understand a very similar system can also be used without the sprinkler heads and instead have the pump pushing the water out into perforated underground lines similar to ordinary septic lateral lines.
And you can also unscrew the sprinkler head, screw a garden hose onto the line, and run the water wherever you want it. I haven't done that myself, but know people who have.
Bird
1. The first tank is an ordinary 500 gallon, concrete septic tank (they call it a pre-treatment tank).
2. From there it flows into an 800 gallon fiberglass "treatment" tank with a cone shaped insert. There is a small 120 volt air compressor that runs continuously pumping air through 3 lines to the bottom of this tank. The air is passed through ceramic diffusers so the very small bubbles rise to the top. There is also a filter device.
3. From the treatment tank, it flows slightly downhill over chlorine tablets and into the final tank, which is basically another 500 gallon concrete tank, but since it doesn't flow out the side, it actually holds closer to 600 gallons. There is a stainless steel submersible water well pump and adjustable level sensors in this final tank. When the tank gets about 180 gallons in it, the pump comes on and pumps about 100 gallons out through 1" PVC to the sprinkler head (ordinary revolving lawn sprinklers). There is both an audible and visual alarm should the air compressor stop or should the water pump fail to come on when the water gets up to the right level.
I understand a very similar system can also be used without the sprinkler heads and instead have the pump pushing the water out into perforated underground lines similar to ordinary septic lateral lines.
And you can also unscrew the sprinkler head, screw a garden hose onto the line, and run the water wherever you want it. I haven't done that myself, but know people who have.
Bird