Eliminite 120 C Retrofit

A client was required to add advanced treatment to his existing onsite system and chose to use Eliminite.  (Studies show that Eliminite clients generally have higher IQ's )

The existing septic tank lid is visible near the steps.  We just dug the hole and set the 120 C.  The whole operation took just a few hours and we were working in sub-zero temps. When finished, all that will be exposed will be the small riser lids set flush with the ground.  (Other studies show that Eliminite clients also have more cash left in their wallets)

A few "decentralized" thoughts

If you were to ask, the people in XXXX would say they need a centralized wastewater treatment system. But the way I think of it, due to its size, is more akin to a cluster or community system. While the plant will be “centralized”, the design concept will be decentralized and therefore, custom tailored to fit precisely the needs of the community.
The field of decentralized wastewater treatment is relatively new and continues to evolve. Perhaps the greatest challenge to the professional practicing in the field is that decentralized design requires a fluent command of numerous disciplines and areas of expertise. While a, large multi-disciplinary engineering firm may be able to assemble the appropriate expertise by employing many individuals, this strategy is not desirable because no one person is sufficiently experienced in all areas of expertise and leadership of the group will be lacking. The result is important tasks are handed off to personnel with little understanding of the goal and without a clear sense of direction or what the finished product should look like. The “Big Pipe” approach works this way. Ultimately, Big-Pipe design places little or no value on the actual needs and resources of the community but requires that the community force itself into compliance with the design. Big-pipe does not rely on creative thinking because every design has already been built and is explained in thousands of textbooks. This lack of creative thought leads to problems for the community however, because once the actual requirements deviate (and they always deviate) from the example presented in the textbook, the designer attempts to force compliance no matter how procrustean the fit. Big-Pipe can be described as a “brute force” approach to wastewater design where rather than the population being served by the treatment system, the treatment system is served by the population.

Decentralized, in contrast, begins with an understanding of the needs and resources of the humans being served by the wastewater treatment system. Assessing realistic growth patterns and growth potential is fundamental because an overdesigned system is, arguably, a more egregious design flaw than an under-designed one. Generally the problems associated with a smaller system may take years to develop and are easy to remedy. A typical grossly oversized big-pipe system will develop problems from the first day it is brought on line. Therefore, the decentralized approach will use realistic methods of flow prediction to arrive at a design that is congruous with the needs of the community. I am not suggesting that we under-design the wastewater treatment system, to the contrary, I suggest we develop a modular plan that allows the community to expand and contract according to its natural tendency and as driven by market forces. A decentralized approach demands an intimate understanding of the physical characteristics of potential sites and service areas so that many options and configurations can be considered before selecting the one best suited to the needs of the community.

An interesting aspect of the economic downturn is that classic big-pipe companies are now vying for much smaller projects than they typically manage. These firms generally, fail to offer due respect to the smaller systems and operate as though a system design for a community the size of XXXX is no more than a down-sized version of a large municipal plant. This thinking would lead one to believe that children are simply smaller versions of adults sharing the same needs ands concerns. Maybe I am stretching the analogy a little but the concept is intact; decentralized wastewater treatment is not simply a scaled-down version of municipal design but rather is a completely different way of thinking and approaching the task.

DNRC Study shows consistent, long term treatment with Eliminite

Decentralized vs Big Pipe

I subscribe to several blogs where many of the main contributors are manufacturers or engineers who design and build decentralized onsite wastewater systems. A major issue in these forums is the fact that regulatory agencies seem to be much more willing to construct "big pipe" sewage treatment plants than even consider a decentralized system. One such issue has been working its way through the regulatory mess called the L.A. Regional Water Board. ( If I had a choice, I would choose the other kind of water boarding rather than be exposed to this governmental torture). Apparently, onsite systems, the scourge of society, are responsible for all types of horrors such as polluting the bay, the aquifer, the soil....In fact they think they may have found a link between the septic system pollution and nancy pelosi's non-responsive blink reflex. But that's another water-board story.

Here is the interesting part, excerpted from their local paper:


"The Board estimated costs for a new sewer system and treatment plan for the city would range from $16 million to more than $80 million, with locals footing much of the bill. I could mean fees of $500 a month for local residents and $17,000 a month for local businesses." First I have to commend the Board on its "Cracker-Jack job of estimating the costs. $16 million to $80 million...a $64,000,000 spread! Translation: The project will cost more than $80,000,000 because these people don't know what they are talking about. It's like going to a restaurant and reading the menu:


12 oz. Porterhouse Steak.....$30 to $150

16 oz. Prime Rib (fridays and saturdays only).....$40 to $200

Bottle of Bud.....$4 to $20


Or how about....the new car you are looking to buy will either get 8 MPG or 40 MPG. Who knows?

The point is that any option costing businesses $17,000 per month is a dumb option. Period. But here is why, in my opinion, dopey regulators are so fixated on big pipe systems and unwilling to even consider a decentralized option: The manufacturers and designers of "decentralized" systems design and manufacture systems that look, to any rational person, dumb. A case in point can be found in an old edition of Onsite Installer magazine. Back in 2007 there was an article titled, "Soaring with Eagles" or something grand like that. I suggest you find that article, read it and decide whether or not it is "eagles" doing the soaring. Soaring cost? You bet. High flying absurdity? Absolutely. Stratospheric stupidity? Without a doubt. These types of designs, and they are common....in fact many designers and manufacturers cannot wait to land a job like that...only serve to damage the decentralized industry. Who cares that the mfg and designers were able to talk an obviously catatonic client into this foolishness, the fact is, when people think decentralized, that is what they envision because that is what gets designed and installed. As a result the decentralized industry is not given serious consideration because the designs it presents do not appear as if the designer is serious. The pod proliferation looks like something out of the old kids game "Mouse Trap". The idea behind the game was to perform a simple operation with the most convoluted apparatus possible. Take a look at http://www.rubemachine.com/. I am certain most of the decentralized "Big Boys" have a pretty good shot at sweeping the Rube-Goldberg competition with their existing designs.

The result, in the decentralized industry, are goofy wastewater treatment systems requiring, in some designs, continuous on-line babysitting. It seems to me that the only reason a manufacturer would require 24/7 monitoring of the septic system (something that is not very popular with the owner of the system) is because they NEED it. In other words, the system is so unreliable that without a continuous on-line connection, the system is in imminent danger of failing catastrophically without warning. It is interesting that most other industries, automobile industry for instance, have progressed to a point where cars can log 100,000 miles before a tune up. Auto warranties have gone from 12 months to 24 months to 36 months and they keep improving. The onsite industry, in contrast, has regressed from bury it forget it and replace it in 30 years to installing a full time digital link-up in an attempt to keep the goofy thing running until the next onsite maintenance visit. And I don't want to hear about system failures....from what I have seen, the only systems failing are the "new" ones that cost a fortune and were supposed to be a panacea for all of our perceived wastewater issues. If the decentralized industry wants to make progress and compete effectively with big pipe, it will need to conduct a serious self-evaluation and stop pretending that all the snake-oil, pod after pod systems are real wastewater treatment systems and accept what they are, goofy.

Aerobic Treatment Units ATU

Before my rant begins I just want to express my amazement and gratitude at how many hits this blog receives each day...wow!! I'm starting to get embarrassed. Thank you, I appreciate the fact that so many people take the time to read some of these comments.

I want to take some time to poke fun at a class of onsite wastewater treatment systems (yeah, right) referred to as ATU's or aerobic treatment units. These contraptions are slapped together by a variety of snake-oil purveyors and find their way into peoples yards through a complex and effective manipulation of smoke, mirrors, sleight of hand, payola and coercion, in other words, marketing. In their most basic form (and that's really all there is) they are simply aerated septic tanks. Somehow, someone figured out that that could toss a fish tank aerator into a common septic tank and charge thousands of dollars for it.

(The heart of the scam can be found at your state or local environmental health office however. This is because if the regulations determine that you need and ATU, you cannot simply go buy your own aerator for $250.00 and stick the hose in your septic tank NOOOOOOO......you have to go pay thousands of dollars to buy their aerator so they can stick the hose in your septic tank.)

You have to admit, that's pretty slick marketing... unless you happen to be the one paying for it of course. What's really funny about ATU's is the lengths each peddler will go to to try to differentiate their ATU from all other ATU's. This is a losing battle because they are all exactly the same thing, Aerated Septic Tanks. Some will extol the virtues of the geometric precision of their dynamic aeration chamber which leads to enhanced treatment including the conversion of chicken-shit into chicken salad. Others will try to close the blinds on your ability to think by telling you that their gizmo provides an attachment surface for tired little microbes and thus combines suspended and fixed growth processes. This is of course chicken salad (or was it the other one?) because they don't put enough attachment media in the things to do anything...it's all a hoax, period. All the work is done by the air compressor that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. And yes, the electrical cost is significant.

As far as actual treatment results.....well let's just say that, from what I have seen, the only data that shows that these Aerated Septic Tanks consistently remove nitrogen from wastewater, is the data the snake-oil salesmen have paid for. In other words, in real-world applications, where they are not being spoon-fed a select diet of organically grown, antibiotic free, scientifically diluted, free range wastewater prepared by the galloping gourmet, served according to a precise dining schedule and in carefully measured bite-sized pieces, they just do not seem to work......

ATU's do, however, come complete with an extensive list of excuses provided free of charge by the manufacturer as to why that stink-pot in your back yard is not doing the job you paid for. When the list is exhausted, most of the peddlers have a toll free phone number you can call to get more. I hear a few of these companies have web sites where you can download thousands of previously tested excuses that are guaranteed, in writing, to make you think the reason the thing is not working is your fault. Here are a few:

You are using too much water.
You are not using enough water.
You are using the correct amount of water at the wrong time.
Your water is too hard.
Your water is too soft.
Your water is just right and the monotony is killing the microbes off.
Have you tried talking to it? Try enunciating more clearly.
Have you tried praying for it? To it?
You need to buy another "pod".
You are using antibacterial soap. Can't you just rinse off outside?
You are taking penicillin or some other antibiotic.
You can't use oral contraceptives and expect this thing to work!
How do you expect it to work with all these kids you have?!

ATU....Always Trouble Underground
ATU...Another Troubled Unit
ATU...Always Totally Under-performs

Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Cost

We finished up a job last week.....the original plans showed the other guys system. A single family home, five bedrooms, nothing special, was being served. I guess they decided to check us out after they received the quote for the components of the system. It was almost $18,000.00 just for the parts!

The Eliminite system came in at $10,800 for the entire system. And we are making a handsome profit at that price.

Like I said....Better products. Better prices.

Smart onsite design means big cost savings

Advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems are expensive so it is important to get the most value for your money. I want to provide an example of the savings you can realize by selecting an Eliminite system rather than another competing onsite wastewater treatment system. We recently quoted a project with a design flow rate of 5000 GPD. The project engineer had the "big manufacturer" draw up a design and he just pasted it into his plans. The system included a 15,000 gal fiberglass septic tank, 2 treatment boxes full of their media, a 4000 gal recirculation tank, 4000 gal dosing tank, an electric heater and a fresh water cistern to wash off the media everytime it clogs. The owner was also being required to install a dedicated phone line, presumably because the system needed to chat with someone.

The Eliminite system consisted of 2, 3000 gal concrete septic tanks and 2, Eliminite 320 C treatment units. (The largest tank the local concrete company we were working with has is 3000 gal or else we could have done the entire system in one or two tanks.) We do not need the enormous septic tank volume because our MetaRocks are much less likely to clog. The big guys media is so fine and has such little pores that even the tiniest piece of gunk will get caught on the surface and send the whole thing on its way to bio-foul city. The Eliminite design is much simpler, more compact and is not nearly as sensitive installation so the contractor does not have to get stressed out about fractions of inches in elevation. Our price came in a full $10,000 lower than theirs on parts alone. By the time you figure in labor Eliminite blows them away! But, here is the kicker: The competition was so angry that we were bidding the job that they bullied the project engineer into making us bid it with the big fiberglass septic tank even though we don't need one that large. And I am fairly certain that the competitions local distributor is deviating from the manugacturers recommendations regarding system design to try to get his prices down. But, even in the face of their dirty dealings, we were still $10,000 lower than their bid. Without the huge fiberglass septic tank, which we will omit and substitute correctly sized septic tanks, our bid will be around $20,000 below theirs.....not bad considering their price was around $85,000. Our price was for the ENTIRE system...sewer, septic tank, treatment system and drainfield.

The simple truth is that Eliminite is the smartest choice for onsite wastewater treatment systems and I can prove it. Oh....our treatment numbers are better too and we did not need a water cistern to wash the media. Our MetaRocks don't clog the way the other guys media does which means our maintenance is far less invasive, far less expensive and far less STINKY.

I was driving around the other day and I saw one of the competing systems in someones backyard. What a mess!! If I were the homeowner I would bring them up on charges for sticking all that junk right off my patio! Vents, risers, big lids, cleanouts. There is no way you could put up a volleyball net, or a small swimming pool, or throw a ball. The centerpiece of the entire backyard is the shit tank....And when they come next week to hose down the clogged media, you know where the mess is going. It will be splashed all over the patio furniture, the barbecue grill, the dog will be rolling in it. Give us a call and we can help you avoid those kind of mistakes. One lady told me she cursed the day they put the other system in her yard. When she saw how unobtrusive the Eliminite is and what she could have had, I thought she was going to cry.