Importance of Aerobic Bacteria

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Anaerobic Septic Systems are Inefficient – Aerobic Bacteria Are Critical To Saving Failed Septic Systems

Anaerobic septic system or Aerobic? Which types is better, learn why.

  • Aero-Stream’s® Highly efficient oxygen loving Aerobic bacteria reduce wastewater strength more than 90% in the septic tank. Therefore, the drainfield must perform only 10% or less of the water cleansing.
  • The inefficient oxygen hating anaerobic bacteria in a standard septic tank reduce the wastewater strength only 30% – 40%. Therefore, the drain field must perform 60% – 70% of the water cleansing.
  • Converting your septic tank to energetic oxygen loving bacteria with the Aero-Stream product reduces the work load on your drainfield allowing it to recover.
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Aero-Stream eliminates septic odor and drainfield ponding so that you can enjoy your backyard!
  • Oxygen loving bacteria dramatically improve the quality of wastewater leaving a septic tank versus standard oxygen hating bacteria.
  • Oxygen hating bacteria in a standard septic tank produce rotten egg-like odor.
    Oxygen loving bacteria tanks have only an earthy musty sent-like topsoil.
  • Oxygen hating bacteria systems produce corrosive hydrogen sulfide gas that deteriorate metal and concrete tanks and distribution boxes.
  • Aero-Stream can successfully execute aerobic anaerobic a controlled aerobic conversion of your septic tank, saving your system and thousands of dollars compared to system replacement!
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Background Information

Incoming sewage or influent arrives in the septic tank containing both oxygen loving and oxygen hating bacteria. It is important to understand the following:

  • Aerobic Bacteria needs oxygen to live.
  • Anaerobic Bacteria do not need oxygen to live.
A very important function of the septic tank is to allow bacteria to convert organic material into energy the bacteria then uses for its life functions. This conversion is what breaks down the organic solids in the wastewater into simpler solids and gas, making the wastewater leaving the septic tank comparatively cleaner than what comes into it. However, since most septic tanks do not contain oxygen, the oxygen loving bacteria quickly die off, leaving the job of breaking down waste to the oxygen hating bacteria. Consequently, most septic tanks contain only oxygen hating bacteria.
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Why Do Septic Tanks Produce Odor?

Oxygen hating bacteria in standard septic tanks emit a rotten egg like odor.

The odor is a characteristic of corrosive hydrogen sulfide gas, a byproduct of the oxygen hating bacteria.

Both anaerobic and aerobic respiration processes need to have atoms or molecules willing to accept electrons to get the respiration processes started. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen, one of nature’s best electron acceptors.

Anaerobic respiration, however, must settle for less efficient options like sulfate (containing sulfur atoms). When the chemical reactions are completed, the odorous and corrosive hydrogen sulfide gas is eventually produced. If you need to replace your septic tank riser we offer a complete line of durable septic risers.

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Concrete riser breaking down from the corrosive effects of an anaerobic septic tank

Why Aerobic is Superior to Anaerobic

Converting an anaerobic septic tank to an aerobic one will save a failing septic system. This is because there is a huge difference in the ability of aerobic bacteria to breakdown organic material as compared to anaerobic bacteria:

  • aerobic bacteria will generate 20 times or more energy from the same amount of organic material than anaerobic bacteria.
  • aerobic bacteria will reproduce and consume organic material at an explosive rate as compared to anaerobic bacteria.

For large municipal wastewater treatment plants, aeration and aerobic treatment of wastewater has been in use for more than 100 years.

For residential and commercial septic systems, introducing aerobic bacterial environments in septic tanks created through a carefully controlled aeration process reduces the amount of organic material leaving the septic tank by 90% or more.

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Growth rates for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

This is how Aero-Stream’s patented septic aeration process successfully remediates and extends the life of failed and failing septic systems for a fraction of the cost of septic system replacement.

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Ready to convert your septic system to an efficient aerobic environment? Install an Aero-Stream remediation system and we guarantee to fix your failing system or get your money back!

FAQs

The natural waste stream coming from the home contains both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. There is no need to add any extra bacteria.
An aerobic septic systems are similar to an anaerobic system, with the exception that air is infused into the tank to convert the process to aerobic.
Aerobic septic systems are designed and installed by local contractors. If you have a conventional anaerobic septic system, you can convert it to an aerobic septic system using an Aero-Stream Remediation system. Call us at 877-254-7093 to learn more!
The difference between an aerobic and an anaerobic septic system is air. An aerobic system uses air in the process of breaking down organic waste. it is 30x more efficient than an anaerobic system. An anaerobic system operates without oxygen in the system. It is a lethargic process and eventually causes the drainfield to fail.
Anaerobic bacteria is naturally occurring in the wastewater coming from the home. There is no need to add any extra anaerobic bacteria to the tank.
A conventional septic system operates without the addition of air to the system. Unfortunately the process only performs about 40% of the wastewater cleaning in the tank. That means that the drainfield must do 60% of the work. This causes the formation of a bio-mat in the drainfield. Eventually the bio-mat clogs the soil and renders the drainfield non-functional or failed.
An anaerobic system operates without oxygen in the system. It is a inefficient process and eventually causes the drainfield to fail.

An anaerobic septic system has three distinct layer in the tank. A scum layer made of fats, oils and grease. The center section is the clear zone. this has light suspended organic material in the water. The bottom of the tank has a sludge layer. This is made of inorganic material and biosolid waste.

An anaerobic leach field is generally constructed with trenches with a layer of gravel on the bottom of the trench. Perforated pipe is then laid on top of the stone and connected to a header pipe. The perforated is then covered with about 12 inches of gravel. The balance of the trench is filled with native soil.
Anaerobic septic systems do require maintenance. They should be pumped every three to five years or when the scum + sludge layers occupy 30% of the tank volume. Some believe that if a septic system is operating properly they never need to be pumped. This is a fallacy and should be ignored.
Anaerobic septic systems are designed and installed by local contractors.
Generally, most states do not allow effluent sprinklers with anaerobic systems. That is because the effluent contains substantial solids and the disinfection devises are not capable of doing an adequate job of sterilizing the effluent.
Anaerobic septic systems are usually installed by local contractors. Some states and municipalities allow homeowners to install the septic system. Check your local codes for requirements.
Anaerobic septic systems are the least costly to construct. The price to install an anaerobic septic system can vary significantly depending on the site condition, soil types, and your location within the country. A complete anaerobic system can be installed for as low as $12,000 and as high as $40,000.
Anaerobic septic system design can usually be performed by the installing contractor. Some states allow homeowners to design the system. Other states require registered Professional Engineers to design the system.
The cost of an anaerobic system in Texas is similar to other states and is dependent on site conditions, soil types and size.
There are not complete aerobic systems for sale. Aero-Stream offers all of the aerobic treatment equipment that can be installed in a locally available tank. The drainfield pipe can be purchased at your local hardware or big box home improvement store.
It is very and easy to convert a septic system to an aerobic system. Aero-Stream offers a complete line of conversion kits!
Aerobic systems work extremely well at treating household wastewater. They are 30 times more efficient and do 90% of the wastewater cleaning in the tank so the drainfield soil only needs to do 10% of the work. Converting an anaerobic system to aerobic will reverse the aging of the drainfield and allow it to function as it did when it was new.
An aerobic system works by mixing air/oxygen into the wastewater. The air is delivered to the tank by an air compressor. The air flows through a specially designed diffuser in the tank. This environment allows the aerobic bacteria to thrive and clean the wastewater. This bacteria is 30 times more efficient than anaerobic bacteria.
A properly designed aerobic system will have 3 – 4 mg/l of dissolved oxygen in the effluent flowing into the drainfield. This allows the aerobic bacteria to continue to live in the drainfield and continue to clean the wastewater.
The difference between an aerobic and an anaerobic septic system is air. An aerobic system uses air in the process of breaking down organic waste. it is 30x more efficient than an anaerobic system. An anaerobic system operates without oxygen in the system. It is a lethargic process and eventually causes the drainfield to fail.