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Based on scientific data, studies have shown that as many as 25% of conventional septic systems are failing. Why does this occur? There are several reasons including poor system design and installation, but the main reason is the failure of the soil to accept the wastewater discharged into it.

A conventional septic system contains a septic tank followed by a soil absorption field, which work together to make sure wastewater is treated properly and does not become a health or environmental threat The conventional septic tank was developed in the 1800's and typically consists of a tank made out of concrete, polyethylene or fiberglass. The tank may be separated into one or two compartments as required by regulatory requirements, and provides primary, or basic wastewater treatment.

The function of the septic tank is to provide a large area to allow the solids in the wastewater to settle to the bottom of the tank, and the fats, oils and grease (FOG) to float to the surface. The "grey" water from the center of the tank flows out of the septic tank and into the soil absorption field. The septic tank effluent is distributed into the field and is treated by microbes present in the soil as the water flows through it. The soil is required to treat the septic tank effluent to remove organic material (BOD), suspended solids (TSS), fats, oils and grease (FOG), and pathogenic organisms to make the water safe to be returned to the environment.

The effluent from a conventional septic tank contains levels of BOD, TSS, FOG and pathogens that are too high to be released directly to the environment. Over time, these organic materials, solids and FOG from the septic tank will accumulate in the soil pores of the absorption field and prevent water from moving through the soil. The absorption field fails and water backs up into the residence or pools on the surface of the ground.

A conventional septic tank, because it is designed for only basic treatment, will continuously discharge solids, organics, and FOG to the soil absorption field. Over time, this loading will impact the soil and will cause the system to fail. According to Michigan State University, "Most septic systems will fail sometime. These systems are designed to have a lifetime of 20 to 30 years, under the best conditions. Eventually, the soil around the absorption field becomes clogged with organic material, making the system unusable".

(If you are interested in learning more about the basic operation of a septic system or septic tank, please refer to the U.S. EPA's "A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems" found at http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/NSFC/pdf/homeowner_guide_long.pdf.)

Kevin Chaffee and Pat Hanlon, who founded Advanced Wastewater Systems have been long-time residents of the state of Indiana. Due to the poor soils in the state, many conventional septic systems are in failure. According to Purdue University, "There are approximately 800,000 septic systems in Indiana, and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) estimates that approximately 200,000 of these residential wastewater disposal systems are inadequate and have failed or are failing to protect human and environmental health".

Pat had direct experience with this situation when a close friend's septic system failed. Pat's friend had his system condemned by the county health department after a neighbor complained. The friend had limited area on his lot to replace the failed absorption field and no simple solution could be found. The county eventually filed a lawsuit against Pat's friend to force him to replace the system or abandon his home. That's when Pat realized there had to be a better solution and he would find it so others wouldn't have to go through the ordeal his friend went through.

Kevin and Pat began researching the issue. They found several alternatives to the conventional septic tank such as aerobic treatment units, media filters, and constructed wetlands, which all provided better treatment of the wastewater and reduced loadings to the soil absorption field . All of these alternative systems were mechanical, required electrical service, and continual maintenance in order to work well. These systems also cost thousands of dollars more than a conventional septic tank, and required much more regulatory oversight, including permanent maintenance contracts. Because of these issues, Kevin and Pat noted that these alternative systems were installed mainly where conventional septic systems could not be approved for the site.

Kevin and Pat realized that an alternative needed to be developed that would provide better wastewater treatment than a septic tank, but not be as expensive and complex as the current alternative systems. After much brainstorming, research and testing, the Super Septic Tank was born and is currently patent pending.

The Super Septic Tank is a redesigned septic tank with two compartments. Wastewater enters the first compartment which works exactly as a conventional septic tank works, settling the solids and floating the FOG. Water from the first compartment flows through an effluent filter and into a special treatment basin in the second compartment. The second treatment compartment is designed as an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) treatment system. This is a fancy description for a simple treatment process (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UASB). The UASB process was developed by Dr. Gatze Lettinga and colleagues in the late 1970's at the Wageningen University (The Netherlands). You can learn more about this at: http://www.uasb.org/discover/agsb.htm#uasb. Wastewater flows through the UASB basin and is treated by the anaerobic process. Before leaving the tank, the wastewater is filtered through a proprietary foam filter developed by Advanced Wastewater Systems. This filter is designed to also treat the wastewater by an anaerobic attached growth process and to filter out any solids left in the wastewater. After passing through the foam filter, the water is much cleaner than that of a conventional septic tank.

The Super Septic Tank retains the simplicity of the septic tank design with no moving parts, no mechanical components, no electrical requirements, and minimal maintenance requirements. The Super Septic Tank does a much better job removing solids, organic materials, and FOG than a septic tank, and almost as good a job as the complex mechanical systems priced thousands of dollars higher.

By purchasing a Super Septic Tank you will remove most of the solids and much of the organic materials and FOG from being discharged into your soil absorption field. By significantly reducing these pollutants and preventing them from entering your soil absorption field, the soil will last much longer and significantly reduce the chance of failure. Since the soil absorption field is the most expensive and hard to replace part of your onsite system, you will save many times the cost of the Super Septic Tank.

We are so confident in the quality of the Super Septic Tank that we will warrant the unit for life. This warranty is transferable from owner to owner, which will increase the value of the property when you decide to sell. The increase in property value should also save you many times the cost of the Super Septic Tank.