What is an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS)?
AWTS - The sustainable choice
An Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) is a household sewage treatment solution specifically designed for sustainable waste management, allowing properties not connected to a town sewer system to efficiently treat and recycle wastewater from toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries. This innovative system employs oxygen and naturally occurring bacteria to effectively break down waste in a series of treatment chambers, resulting in cleaner water that can often be safely reused for irrigation purposes. AWTS units are frequently installed in rural and semi-rural areas and require regular servicing to ensure optimal performance and compliance with environmental and health standards.
AWTS - The Process
Wastewater from a household undergoes treatment in stages across several separate chambers as part of a sustainable waste management system.
PRIMARY (ANAEROBIC SEPTIC)
The first chamber functions similarly to a conventional septic tank (anaerobic), initiating the sewage treatment process. Wastewater enters this chamber, allowing solids to settle at the bottom and form a sludge layer. Scum gathers at the top, while the partially clarified wastewater flows into a second chamber.
AERATION
In this chamber, air is introduced, typically via a linear air pump. This aeration process promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria, which further breaks down and treats the effluent, enhancing the overall wastewater treatment process.
CLARIFICATION
The third chamber provides additional clarification by allowing solids to settle. These solids are returned to the primary tank through a sludge return system for further treatment, either back to the septic chamber or to the aeration chamber.
SANITATION OF WATER
The clarified effluent is disinfected as it moves from the clarification chamber to the pump-out chamber using chlorine tablets.
In the primary chamber, bacteria effectively break down the solid matter in the sludge and scum layers. However, material that cannot be fully decomposed gradually accumulates in the chamber and must be pumped out periodically to maintain effective sewage treatment.
BIOSEPTIC
Since 1992, BioSeptic has been manufacturing, supplying, and servicing quality aerated wastewater treatment systems (AWTS) for thousands of households. As an Australian company located in Narellan (southwest Sydney), BioSeptic is renowned for delivering homegrown, economical solutions for sustainable waste management and effective sewage treatment. With years of experience, the BioSeptic name has become one of the most recognizable in the industry, synonymous with high-quality wastewater treatment products and services.