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Aerobic Treatment Units
A properly maintained septic
system helps to ensure that the ground and surface waters have
reduced amounts of bacteria and minerals that could otherwise affect
human, animal, and plant species. Maintaining the
surface and ground waters is everyone’s responsibility. Homeowners
who have septic systems are responsible to ensure that the systems
function properly.
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Common
reasons for ATUs and all other septic systems to fail are
long periods without use (i.e. vacation), putting
inappropriate items into the system such as grease, coffee
grounds, dental floss, kitty
litter, sanitary napkins, cigarette butts, paper towels,
paints, varnishes, thinners, photographic supplies and
pesticides. |
Septic tank systems
in Charlotte County are permitted and regulated by the
Charlotte County Health Department (CCHD), a division of the
Florida Department of Health, through inspection and
permits. Systems that malfunction are inspected and
compliance is enforced to prevent contamination of the
ground and surface waters.
Several types of septic tank systems
exist:
Standard baseline septic, Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU),
and Performance Based Systems (PBS).
Aerobic Treatment Units and PBSs are
different from standard baseline septic units as they
contain mechanical and electrical components. They have an
electric motor that is used to run the pump that circulates
air into the effluent (waste water). The |
circulated air helps the
oxygen loving bacteria to flourish, thus breaking down more organic
material than the bacteria in a standard septic tank. Some models
have computer circuitry that determines when and for how long
 the
pump runs daily. Because of the technical nature of these systems,
they must be inspected and serviced routinely.
Aerobic Treatment Units and
Performance Based Systems are used on properties that are not
suitable for the installation of a standard baseline system due to
either the lot being too small, and / or the lack of central
potable water. Due to the higher bacterial digestion of carbon based
material and complex organics,
Florida Administrative Code 64E-6.012(h) (.pdf /
598.67kb) allows for a smaller drain field size. In Charlotte
County, they are required on lots that are less than 10,000 square
feet.
While the theory of
operation of ATUs and PBSs is sound, they do have their drawbacks
since they must be inspected, serviced and pumped frequently to
assure that they operate properly. Routine maintenance and electric
can cost the homeowner approximately $700-900 per year.
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Florida Statute 381.0065(3(u) requires that
owners of ATUs maintain a current maintenance service
agreement with an ATU maintenance entity permitted by the
health department. The maintenance entity shall obtain a
system operating permit from the health department for each
ATU under service contract. The maintenance entity shall
inspect each ATU at least twice each year. The owner shall
also allow the health department to inspect each unit at
least annually. Some PBS’s are required to have four
inspections per year as established by the manufacturer.
County Ordinance 2007-061 (.pdf / 49.83kb)
requires the maintenance entity to inspect the ATU using the
manufacturer’s guidelines which includes inspection,
lubrication, servicing, and checking of the effluent levels
in all of the tanks. Findings from recent inspections by
CCHD indicate that some models may require pumping out as
frequently as annually. Failure to maintain these units
result in sewage intrusion into the
home and damage to the drain field requiring expensive repairs. |
Aerobic Treatment
Units need the same care as standard septic tanks but are
more sensitive to all the same elements. Only human wasted,
toilet paper, and other waste water from the home should go
down the drain. Grease causes damage to the aerobic units
and the drain field. Left over food and food waste should be
put in the garbage if the home uses a septic system. |
To assure that consumer
protection is provided to Charlotte County property owners, the
Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners on August 28, 2007
passed
County Ordinance 2007-061 (.pdf / 49.83kb) that requires
the ATU maintenance entities to be licensed to conduct business in
Charlotte County. Furthermore, the maintenance entity shall leave an
inspection report with the system owner and the health department.
Septic Installers for Charlotte County
Back to Sewage Disposal |
