ATU Drip Irrigation Septic System

If you want to save money on the water you use in your yard and garden, consider using the output from your septic system with an ATU drip irrigation septic system.

With an aerobic treatment unit (ATU), a pump mixes oxygen with the wastewater from your septic system to encourage the growth of natural bacteria. They, in turn, eat whatever organic material is in the wastewater and are then filtered out, leaving clean water.

The ATU system is similar in many ways to the standard septic system in that it treats household "gray water" – water from sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers – as well as the materials from toilets. But unlike the septic system, the aerobic system uses the bacterial "suspended growth" process to treat the wastewater in an aeration chamber, into which the oxygen is introduced via a compressor. The treated water can be filtered either through a sand filter, in which microrganisms further digest any remaining organic material.

Once treated, the water from the ACU can be diverted through a drip irrigation system into your yard or garden. By connecting a manual valve or automatic timer unit to the ATU, the teated water can then flow into the garden where it irrigates the bases of your plants. Drio irrigation is much more efficient than standard surface watering, as you avoid runoff from excess water that the plants don't need. The flow of water is so slow that the soil can absorb it more efficiently, and you avoid the problems of nutrients leaching from the soil or plants' roots becoming loosened by overwatering.

Of course, you should check with your local water authority to find out if there are restrictions on home septic systems. It's not inexpensive to install, but an ATU drip irrigation septic system can save hundreds of dollars a year in water costs and provide a "green" alternative for yard maintenance.