Top Trends in Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems

As the largest and driest inhabited continent globally, Australia had to deal with water challenges for quite some time. In fact, recent studies show that underground water sources in the country are declining at an alarming rate, threatening access to clean, safe water. It can be attributed to climate change, and Australians are taking matters into their own hands. Today, homeowners are installing wastewater treatment facilities in their homes to combat water shortage problems. However, it is advisable to first look at trends in wastewater treatment systems before installing one.

Non-Electric Systems 

Traditional domestic wastewater treatment systems are electric-powered. They comprise discs, pumps and air blowers, which aerate sewage liquid. However, high energy costs have forced homeowners to look for ways of reducing electricity usage, but electric-powered wastewater treatment systems do not help much. Luckily, manufacturers are increasingly developing non-electric systems. The systems use filtration media, such as husk fibre and Rockwool. As sewage flows through the system, the filter media traps pollutant particles. Notably, channel passages supply air to the system, which penetrates the filter material and ensures that it is well aerated. The absence of mechanical parts eliminates maintenance issues, making non-electric systems very cost-effective.

Compact Design 

The size of the older generation of wastewater treatment systems depended on a household's size. A family with many members produces more wastewater and requires a bigger treatment system. Moreover, the primary tank and the treatment unit in traditional systems are separate, which means that they generally occupy a bigger surface area. Considering that lot sizes in Australia are shrinking, homeowners lack enough space to install the large wastewater treatment systems. The new generation treatment systems are compact and ideal for modern homeowners. The primary tank and treatment box are a single unit, which reduces the design's footprint. Furthermore, compact wastewater treatment systems are easy and cheaper to install.

Ultra-Violet Disinfection  

A vast majority of residential wastewater treatment systems rely on chlorination as the primary form of disinfection. However, hazardous byproducts of chlorination call for extra caution, which homeowners struggle with. Modern domestic wastewater treatment systems use ultra-violet irradiation to disinfect sewage liquid. According to experts, UV disinfection is more effective than chlorination-based treatment. It makes the design the best treatment system for any wastewater, whether from a bathroom, a toilet, or a kitchen. However, wastewater treatment systems with UV disinfection can be quite expensive, but the investment pays off over time since you save a lot in water bills.

To learn more about domestic wastewater treatment, contact a local septic service.