SEPTIC SYSTEM REPAIR / ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Bioren System under Construction

BIOREN Community System 5,300 gal/day

Chart below compares the relative efficiency of the BIOREN System vs. other commercially available Wastewater Treatment Systems.  There are, however, major differences in the processes.  The BIOREN and the Ecoflow systems are passive and require no outside source of energy and have no moving parts and treated effluent is infiltrated directly beneath the system (no leach field required).  All other systems are aerobic/mechanical devices which require electricity and regular maintenance and a leaching field or other recipient.  All test results should be taken with a grain of salt.  Much depends on environmental conditions, temperatures, concentration of various inhibiting or growth contributing components.  The removal rates indicated should be obtained under normal operating conditions.

The Plastic Chamber Cesspool Devices appear to be preferred in the State of Connecticut by its Department of Public Health.  Their Public Health Code has been revised several times in the 90's making it difficult to employ new technologies while reinforcing the position of these polluting open bottom devices.  The most skewed practice is to credit open bottom cesspool devices with an alleged increase in volume delivery making these units very cost effective while erroneously derating the efficiency, and thus escalating the cost, of systems which can make a significant contribution to cleaning and preserving the environment.

It is reported that since regulators got heavily involved in on-site sewage, the average life expectancy of septic systems is significantly shortened.  The cesspool type chambers will likely significantly shorten the useful life of leaching fields unless installed in extremely porous soils.

The next fix by regulators will be to install pre-treatment filters in Septic Tanks.  This will extend the life of the open bottom chambers but will significantly contribute to polluting the groundwaters by the degradation of the biological mat which forms in leaching fields.  Virus, Pathogenic Bacteria travel to groundwater will be enhanced.

There is a lot to say for the old septic installer who has enormous experience, is well aware of soil characteristics and has a good handle on local conditions, of course the latest trend is now to involve several licensed persons in order to install a septic system.  In Massachusetts, on many repairs, you need the following:
1) Licensed Inspector (to report that you have a failed system),
2) Licensed Soil Evaluator (to inform you whether septic fix is possible and how high it has to be placed above the high groundwater and also to confirm the Inspectors work),
3)  In state Registered Professional Engineer to design system per state design standards and perform Inspection to certify installation to his plans and codes.
4) Licensed Surveyor to confirm that there is no encroachment on neighbors land,
5) Licensed installer to carry out engineers design which meet state and local codes,
6) An Attorney to ensure compliance with laws on both sides and to protect the owners interests,
7) The local Board of Health Sanitarian to ensure code compliance,
8) If the system is an alternative technology appearing to treat the water,  a state certified laboratory must be hired to assure the Department of Environmental Protection that the system performs at least as well as a conventional title 5 system, which can simply be an open bottom device which delivers raw septic effluent directly into the underlying soils.
These DEP engineers could simply use a Mr. Coffee twice, once making coffee with a filter and once making coffee without the filter, then analyze the difference in results.  Perhaps a coffee addict could be employed for the occasion.

Your very important mission:
If you are in a state or jurisdiction where there are no extensive regulations, pressure your political representatives to keep it that way unless new regulations are supported by good valid, in the field, use and data.  It is my firm belief that by having regulations which promote the use of open bottom cesspool devices the water quality will steadily decline in those areas, and all money spent on licensed professionals become a total waste.  From personal experience, being surrounded by recently constructed title 5 systems, my drinking water quality has been in a steady decline and we're now drinking bottled water.  The water quality in my potable well for some parameters is worse than the BIOREN water quality shown in the charts above.  Many repairs in Massachusetts are costing in excess of $25,000.00.  Our competitors in many countries spend little or no money to practice their god given right.