Aerobic Treatment Unit
Septic Systems
Aerobic treatment units are a different kind of septic system—one that works more like a small-scale wastewater plant than the traditional setups people are used to. Instead of relying solely on soil and time, these systems introduce air into the treatment process, feeding naturally occurring bacteria that break down waste more aggressively and efficiently.
They’re usually needed when the property itself can’t do the job alone. Maybe the soil is too tight, the lot is too small, or there’s a high water table that won’t allow for proper drainage. In those situations, a standard gravity or even a pressure system just isn’t enough to meet health and environmental standards. That’s where an aerobic unit steps in—treating the wastewater to a much higher level before it ever reaches the ground.
The result is a cleaner discharge and a system that can work in places where others simply can’t. It does come with a bit more complexity—air pumps, controls, and regular maintenance—but in the right situation, it’s not just an option, it’s what makes building on that piece of land possible at all.
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Common systems in our area include: Nuwater BNR, Clearstream, Microfast and Lowridge OSCAR systems.
ATU systems typically use Subsurface Drip Distribution in shallow, narrow trenches.
Manifold for Distributing the effluent to the driplines. You can also see the air vacs that allow the lines to drain when not pressurized so they do not freeze.
The blower is what makes the bacteria happy and creates the high level of treatment.
OSCAR coils come in handy for difficult sites with shallow soil and small footprints.