How Does A Septic Tank System Work especially one that uses worms.
A Worm Farm Septic Tank System is the perfect solution for properties without town sewerage access.
How does a Septic Tank System work when worms do all the work. For thousands of users Australia it works exceptionally well. It’s a superior alternative to the traditional septic tanks. It can be installed anywhere, replacing septic tanks, bucket toilets and drop toilets. The system operates with billions of aerobic organisms working for you, primarily worms.
Before we go any further lets talk about some basics. Septic tank systems are underground wastewater treatment systems used in areas that are not connected to the mains sewage system. They treat and dispose of household wastewater, which includes water from bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry. A standard septic system has three main components:
A standard septic system has three main components.
1. Septic Tank
A large, watertight container that holds wastewater from your home. Solids settle to the bottom, forming a sludge layer, while oils and grease float to the top, creating a scum layer. Bacteria in the tank break down some of the solids. The middle layer of partially treated liquid, or effluent, flows out of the tank into the drain field.
2. Drain Field (Leach Field)
A network of perforated pipes buried in trenches filled with gravel or sand. The effluent trickles from the pipes, is absorbed into the soil, and undergoes further filtration and microbial treatment as it moves through the ground.
3. Soil
The final treatment occurs as wastewater percolates through the soil, which naturally removes harmful bacteria, viruses, and nutrients. Clean water re-enters the water cycle through groundwater recharge.
Types of Septic Systems And How They Work
Conventional Septic System
- Components: Septic tank and drain field.
- Best For: Single-family homes or small businesses in areas with appropriate soil conditions.
- How It Works: Wastewater from the house flows into the septic tank where solids separate. The liquid effluent passes into the drain field and is naturally filtered by the soil.
Drip Distribution System
- Components: Septic tank, pump, and shallow tubing.
- Best For: Properties with shallow soil depth or uneven terrain.
- How It Works: Wastewater is pumped from the septic tank into small, shallow tubes that are laid over a large area. The system requires a pump to distribute effluent evenly, which is ideal for areas with unsuitable soil conditions.
Aerobic Treatment System (ATS)
- Components: Aeration chamber, septic tank, and disinfection unit.
- Best For: Properties where the soil or terrain is unsuitable for a conventional system.
- How It Works: An ATS adds oxygen to the treatment process, enabling aerobic bacteria to break down waste more quickly. The treated wastewater is often disinfected before it is discharged into the drain field.
Mound System
- Components: Septic tank, dosing chamber, and raised sand mound.
- Best For: Areas with shallow bedrock or high groundwater.
- How It Works: Wastewater is pumped into a mound built with layers of sand and gravel. The mound provides additional soil depth for filtration, allowing the effluent to be treated before entering the ground.
Worm Farm Waste System (Vermiculture)
- Components: Worm farm septic tank and drain field or garden irrigation system.
- Best For: Eco-friendly households or properties with low water usage.
- How It Works: A worm farm waste system uses composting worms and micro-organisms to break down solids in the septic tank. Worms digest organic waste, turning it into humus and producing nutrient-rich liquid that can be safely dispersed into the soil or used for irrigation. The system eliminates the need for regular septic tank pumping and offers an environmentally sustainable solution for managing household waste.
How Does A Septic Tank System Work for your garden
If you have a traditional septic tank system then is not good for your garden at all. It will need to pumped out and cleaned on a regular basis. On contrary our system provides flush toilet and grey water disposal while retaining the water you use for recycling on your land.
The filtered outflow is a valuable asset a permanent soil fertiliser for gardens. Typically, you might use your dispersion drain water to irrigate trees or shrubs, under the lawn or under garden beds.
The liquid fertiliser also contains worm eggs. Washed out of the system, they hatch and the worms live in the disposal areas scouring and aerating the soil. Even heavy clays will be opened up 100mm vertically and 50mm on each size per year by the worms and microbes.
How Does A Septic Tank System Work on household organic garbage
Worm Farm Septic Tank Systems will also take all compostable or rotting kitchen and household wastes. You just open the lid and drop in wastes ranging from cooked and raw food to cut flowers and weeds from the garden. That means up to 90% less garbage will leave your site for landfill. The system and its worms will never have too much to consume.
The extra carbon that food scraps and other organic waste introduce actually balances the excess nitrogen and phosphorous that comes into the system through the black and grey waters. The outflow from your system is water carrying colloidal solids (tiny particles both in solution and in suspension).
No Septic Smells
The aerobic (with oxygen) process means that Worm Farm Septic Tank Systems have no nasty smells and only needs minimal maintenance.
On the other hand, septic tanks use an anaerobic (without oxygen) process which generates sulphides and other foul smelling gasses.
Other systems have intensive and expensive maintenance contracts attached to their installation.
How Does A Septic Tank System Work on Weed control
Again if you have a traditional septic system then you can add weeds into the system. However, with a Worm Farm Septic Tank System you safely dispose of weeds including thistles, docks, cape weed and Patterson’s Curse. The system has a huge void capacity for organic garbage, unlike other systems that can only accept very small quantities and generally only through an insinkerator.
Very low running costs
How does a septic tank system work when it comes to cost. If your property is sloped, Worm Farm Waste Systems would install a gravity septic system which requires no power connection.
On flat sites, a pumped system would be installed.
This would include a small sump pump in the bottom of the system which activates on demand, if 100 litres of liquid is in the bottom section a float switch will activate the pump for approximately one minute.
Unlike treatment plants with multiple pumps that switch on and off all day regardless of whether you are using any facilities in the building or not.
Unlike treatment plants with multiple pumps that switch on and off all day regardless of whether you are using any facilities in the building or not.
Worm Farm Septic Tank Systems use very low energy with no noise when the pump switches on. A typical four-bedroom house would cost about $20 a year (independently tested).
Want to know more? Visit our FAQs page or if you need a quote now then head to our quote page or call 03 5979 1887.