Septic Installation and Service: Modern Trends and Must-Have Equipment

Late summer and early fall is the busy season for septic installation and service. It’s a time of the year when families and businesses get back into the normal routine and have more time to focus on maintenance projects that have been on the back burner throughout the summer.

The weather plays a factor as well. As far as an ideal environment for septic contractors to do their jobs, the weather in September is about as good as it gets in the midwest. It’s not too hot, not too cold. It may rain sometimes, but not as much as it does in the spring. As a result, the soil is drier, lighter and easier to work with.

Before offering septic installation and service to your customers this fall, it might be a good time to brush up on current trends and what your customers are looking for. Staying informed will help you offer solutions that align with their goals and deliver the kind of experience they’ll want to share with others.

Eco-Friendly and Environmentally Responsible Solutions

Many environmentally conscious homeowners and business owners are turning to options like constructed wetlands, Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs) and advanced filters that effectively trap pollutants.

• Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands are engineered systems that use natural processes like filtration, sedimentation and microbial activity to treat wastewater. They are designed to mimic natural wetlands, providing a sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods.

Through this process, wastewater is directed into basins filled with gravel, sand, soil or other substrates and then planted with vegetation suited for wastewater treatment. As wastewater flows through the wetland, pollutants are removed through filtration, sedimentation, plant uptake and microbial activity.

• Aerobic Treatment Units

Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs) are wastewater treatment systems that use oxygen to promote the breakdown of organic matter by aerobic bacteria – essentially a miniature version of a municipal sewage plant. 

An ATU works by introducing oxygen into the wastewater, creating an environment where aerobic bacteria thrive and efficiently break down the sewage. This is in contrast to traditional septic systems that rely on anaerobic bacteria, which function in the absence of oxygen.

In ATUs, several components work simultaneously based on the following steps:

1. Pre-treatment occurs in the septic tank to separate solids from the liquid.
2. Air is forced into the wastewater via a blower or compressor inside an aeration chamber.
3. After aeration, the treated wastewater flows into the clarifier (Settling Chamber), where remaining solids and microbial cells settle out due to gravity.
4. Some systems include a disinfection stage, which might use UV light, bleach or chlorine to further eliminate harmful bacteria before the wastewater is discharged.
5. The treated wastewater is then discharged into a drainfield or other dispersal area for further filtration and eventual release into the environment.

Automation and Technology for Septic Systems

Septic system solutions continue to evolve, particularly with the growth of Artificial Intelligence and other automation, such as Smart Monitoring Systems and AI-based predictive maintenance.

Smart Monitoring Systems use IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to track key parameters like tank levels, flow rates and water quality in real time. Sensors installed in the septic tank and drainfield collect data on system performance, and that data is often accessible remotely via mobile apps, allowing for proactive maintenance and early detection of issues.

Alerts notify users of potential issues, such as high tank levels or leaks, before the issues escalate into problems and costly repairs.

Smart monitoring systems are particularly beneficial for advanced setups like the above-mentioned aerobic septic systems, where maintaining the right conditions is critical for effective wastewater treatment.

Artificial intelligence is also making its way into septic system management through predictive maintenance tools. AI algorithms analyze data collected by smart sensors to predict when maintenance is needed, reducing the likelihood of unexpected system failures, extending the lifespan of septic components and optimizing maintenance schedules – all of which can save homeowners, business owners and septic system contractors time and money.

The NightEye Wireless Enabled Indoor Pump Alarm is among many septic system installation and maintenance solutions that can protect properties while saving homeowners, business owners and septic contractors time and money.

Septic Installation and Maintenance Solutions Through DSI

Several products available through DSI will help you maintain or install septic systems quickly, leverage modern automation and provide additional drainage solutions – all while protecting our environment and your customers’ properties. Following are just a few examples:

• NightEye Wireless Enabled Indoor Pump Alarm: Through intelligent pump monitoring, alarm notifications are sent to your smart device.
• SJE Rhombus Tank Alert Alarm System: This alarm system monitors liquid levels in lift pump chambers, sump pump basins, holding tanks, sewage, agricultural and other water applications, sounding an alarm when a potentially threatening liquid level condition occurs.
• Bull Run Valve: The Bull Run Valve™ splits and alternates flows to drainfields or systems, thereby increasing the useable life of the septic system.
• Liberty Outdoor Alarm With Float Switch: This alarm system monitors liquid levels and then sounds an alarm and illuminates a red beacon when potentially threatening liquid level conditions occur.
• Hotrod Pro Septic Treatment: This professional-grade treatment can be used for both aerobic and anaerobic systems.

In addition to these products, Drainage Solutions Inc. offers a wide range of tools and accessories to help contractors and homeowners install, maintain or service septic systems safely and efficiently. Our septic drainage experts are ready to help property owners in Indiana and across the country find the right products for their specific needs.

Step into one of our stores in Indiana — located in Franklin, Lebanon, Greenfield and Leesburg — or send us a message online for efficient solutions and helpful tips that will make a difference on the jobsite!