Onsite Solutions of Virginia, Inc.   •   PO Box 861585   •   Warrenton, VA 20187   •   (540) 428-3919   •   onsite@sesonsite.com

This page was created by, and is maintained by Curtiss Grymala for Ten-321 Enterprises
and was last updated on Monday January 07, 2008

Onsite Wastewater Disposal System Maintenance

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Why Use a WhitewaterŽ
  • What About Odor?
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  • What Will I See?
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  • What Systems Use Aerobic Treatment Units?
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  • How Much Does It Cost?
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  • How Much Maintenance Is Required?
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  • What About the Warranty?
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  • Where Can I Find More Information?
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  • Diagram of a WhitewaterŽ Aerobic Treatment Unit
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    Why Use a WhitewaterŽ

    Whitewater treatment units provide excellent treatment of household, industrial and commercial waste. They are well suited for all systems, which dispose of the effluent into the soil. They are especially well suited where secondary or better treatment levels are necessary for smaller areas of good soil, soils with high water tables or soils with shallow depths to bedrock or restrictive soil horizons and slow permeability. In addition, WhitewaterŽ treatment units are the most economical way to construct discharge systems where a conventional system has failed and there are no onsite soil based alternatives or where direct stream / dry ditch discharges are allowed.

    We won't encourage you to buy a WhitewaterŽ if you don't need or want one. If your site is suitable for a conventional septic system, they are great systems if you properly maintain them by watching what you put in the system and having your tank professionally cleaned every 2 to 5 years. These systems are typically good for 15-25 years, and some last as long as 50 years before showing signs of failure. However, adding a WhitewaterŽ unit to a conventional septic tank system could double the life expectancy of your drainfield.

    What About Odor?

    Septic Tanks have an odor because the bacteria that live inside a septic tank are anaerobic (oxygen haters). They produce a gas that smells similar to rotten eggs. WhitewaterŽ systems use an external air compressor about the size of a bowling ball. The compressor adds oxygen to the system so the bacteria produced are aerobic (oxygen lovers). The odor produced is a sweet musky smell that is vented through a 4" pipe, level with the ground surface, and is rarely noticeable. If you notice an unusual or foul smell from your WhitewaterŽ unit, something is wrong, and you should call for service.

    What Will I See?

    WhitewaterŽ units are the most inconspicous and aesthetically pleasing alternative systems on the market. The tanks are about 5 to 8 feet in diameter, and 5 to 7 feet tall. They are completely buried underground, with only the green 24" man-way cover and 4" vent-cap showing. The compressor is about the size of a bowling ball and can be located inside the house, garage, or outside by the air conditioning units as long as it is not more than 75 feet from the unit.


    Click to Enlarge

    What Systems Use ATU's?

    WhitewaterŽ is the perfect compliment to all soil based disposal systems. Think of a Whitewater unit as you think of plug and play devices for your computer. The unit itself fits after a septic tank and in front of the distribution box for traditional gravity flow systems, or in front of a pump chamber for pumped applications. WhitewaterŽ is the perfect compliment to drip disposal systems, spray irrigation systems, mound systems, discharging systems or any other soil based systems, and can be used with other manufacturers' disposal systems.

    What Are the Costs?

    WhitewaterŽ units come complete and ready to install, and are entirely self-contained in fiberglass tanks. Be sure to compare this with other units that are to be inserted into a concrete tank that you have to purchase. The insert-type systems also require additional labor and materials to complete the installation, increasing the installation time and costs. Since the WhitewaterŽ units are self-contained, they are a little more expensive to ship. Unit costs delivered to your site range from $2,000-$6,000, depending on your location and the number of bedrooms in your house.

    The air compressor runs constantly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is very quiet and burns electricity equivalent to a 60-watt light bulb.

    What About Maintenance?

    WhitewaterŽ units require surprisingly little maintenance. The only moving part is the external air compressor. The compressor has a small air filter that needs to be cleaned every six months. Other than that, your system will operate on its own as long as you do not abuse it by flushing or washing things down the drain that you should not. An initial 2-year inspection policy is included in the original sales price of your unit. After the initial policy, inspection plans run from between $150 and $400 per year, depending on the type of disposal system. If your system requires effluent quality samples, there are additional fees involved, depending on the sampling criteria.

    What About the Warranty?

    All WhitewaterŽ aerobic treatment units come with a standard 10-year warranty on the fiberglass tank and a 5-year warranty on the compressor. The compressor warranty is depreciated over the 5-year period. If the compressor is serviced regularly, it should last ten years, or more. Replacement costs are $250-$600, depending on your unit. Since Onsite Solutions is the master distributor for Delta Environmental Products (the manufacturer of WhitewaterŽ units), all warranty claims are handled in our main offices.

    Where Can I Find More?

    Delta Environmental Products - The web site of Delta Environmental Products, the manufacturer of WhitewaterŽ units.
    Delta Environmental Products- Aerobic Treatment Units - This is the official web site of the WhitewaterŽ Aerobic Treatment Plants
    Onsite Solutions - You can find a great deal of information on the different types of disposal systems that can be used with WhitewaterŽ units right here on our web site.
    Drip Irrigation Systems - Information on the WhitewaterŽ Drip Irrigation systems we provide, along with diagrams (including a WhitewaterŽ Aerobic Treatment Unit) and photographs.
    Spray Irrigation Systems - Information on the WhitewaterŽ sprinkler (spray) irrigation systems we provide, along with a diagram of a typical system (including a WhitewaterŽ Aerobic Treatment Unit).
    Residential Modified Mound Systems - Information on the WhitewaterŽ mound systems we provide, along with a diagram of a typical system (including a WhitewaterŽ Aerobic Treatment Unit).
    Surface and Stream Discharge Systems - Information on the WhitewaterŽ discharge systems we provide, along with a diagram of a typical system.
    SeptiClean, Inc. - This web site includes a wonderful online informational brochure on conventional wastewater disposal systems, including diagrams, definitions and explanations of the different parts of a system. The brochure also contains extensive information on what you should and should not flush into your system, as well as how to properly maintain any wastewater disposal system.

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