Aerobic systems use bacteria to pre-treat wastewater for safe disposal, requiring oxygen to process waste. There are three types of aerobic processing systems: suspended growth, sequencing batch reactor, and fixed film reactor. Aerobic systems are more expensive but produce superior quality effluents, making them suitable for sensitive environmental areas. Some locations do not allow the use of an aerobic system due to government codes and regulations.
Septic systems used to treat domestic and other wastewater typically use bacteria to help turn the waste into a final product for disposal called effluent. Anaerobic systems involve bacteria that do not require oxygen to process waste. Oxygen is, however, required in an aerobic system. It typically needs to be pumped through the system to ensure the bacteria are able to process the waste. Aerobic systems have some disadvantages over anaerobic systems, but are more appropriate for use in certain circumstances.
In an aerobic system, bacteria are used to pre-treat wastewater for safe disposal. These bacteria use oxygen and wastes pumped into a reservoir as sources of energy for their survival and growth. This results in decomposition of the waste and a reduction in the concentration of harmful microorganisms in the final liquid waste product. There are three basic types of aerobic processing system (ATS): a suspended growth system, a sequencing batch reactor, and a fixed film reactor.
The bacteria float throughout the main tank in a suspended growth system. The air is pumped through the liquid waste. The treated solid waste is deposited in a secondary tank and the bacteria are recycled into the main tank. The treated liquid waste is then conveyed out of the ATS. Maintaining a proper balance of waste, wastewater, and bacteria is important to prevent clogging of a suspended growth system.
A sequencing batch reactor is similar to a suspended growth system in that the bacteria float freely throughout the tank. However, decomposition and settling takes place in one tank. Air is supplied to this single tank only during the decomposition stage. It is turned off during the settling phase to allow the solids to settle on the bottom of the tank. The effluent is then pumped out of the tank, thus completing the cycle.
While bacteria float freely in these two types of systems, bacteria in a fixed film reactor are attached to a particular surface. Decomposition takes place in one tank and sedimentation takes place in a second tank. Air is supplied only to the area of the decomposition tank with the surface to which the bacteria are attached. Recirculation of the bacteria into the decomposition tank is unnecessary because the bacteria always remain attached to the surface they are growing on.
An aerobic system of any of these types is typically more expensive than a traditional anaerobic system in both initial cost and maintenance. Such systems typically have more complex designs and involve more moving parts than traditional systems. They require electrical energy to recirculate the plant air during the decomposition stage, thus also incur ongoing operating costs.
Despite the higher costs associated with such a system, an aerobic system may be the most appropriate or perhaps even the only option under certain circumstances. The production of superior quality effluents makes such a system suitable for sensitive environmental areas. Space constraints may also require an aerobic system where a large drainage field would not be possible.
Some locations do not allow the use of an aerobic system due to government codes and regulations. Others permit the use of an aerobic system but require the owner to be contracted with a professional to ensure the system is properly maintained. Alarms may be needed in some areas to alert the owner if there is a system malfunction. The codes and regulations for installing and maintaining an aerobic system are usually administered by state or local agencies such as a health department.
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