EnviroTas Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

An Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) or Secondary Treatment System (STS) takes wastewater from kitchen and laundry sinks, toilets, basins, showers and baths. The system’s purpose is to treat the wastewater and then distribute the treated wastewater on site to the land-application area.

An STS is an older term and refers to a basic system that separates and partially treats wastewater.

An AWTS is a more advanced system that actively treats wastewater to a much higher standard. The EnviroTas-AS is an advanced AWTS which produces a class-leading treated effluent quality thanks to a five-stage treatment process using anaerobic and aerobic bacteria to digest waste.

If your property is not connected to the sewer system you will need a Wastewater Treatment System on your property. 

The type of system you require will be determined by a Wastewater Engineer at the planning stage of your property.

Household wastewater contains harmful pathogens, chemicals and bacteria that can cause disease if not treated appropriately. Using a wastewater treatment system removes these contaminants and ensures that only clean water returns to the environment. 

The main difference between a Wastewater Treatment System and a Septic System is the level of treatment they provide and how the treated effluent can be disposed.

Septic systems have been in operation for decades and have changed very little over the years. Septic systems take household wastewater into a tank in which solid waste is allowed to settle to be digested by beneficial bacteria. Effluent from septic systems can only be discharged below ground and is still classified as a contaminant.

An AWTS or STS uses both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to treat the wastewater to a quality that is safe to be used for irrigation on lawns and gardens.

Most wastewater treatment systems will require a service every quarter.

The number of services a system needs per annum is set when the system is accredited and cannot be changed unless the accreditation is amended. 

The EnviroTas-AS is one of the few onsite wastewater treatment systems accredited for six-monthly servicing.  

Scheduled servicing is a requirement of system accreditation and a condition of your plumbing permit.

Yes you do.

Council regulations require wastewater treatment systems to be regularly serviced and maintained even if there is no one living on the property. 

No, it is not recommended to turn off your system ever. 

Without power, the necessary bacteria in your system will begin to die within 8-10 hours and will continue to die off the longer they are without aeration. It will be difficult to re-establish a healthy balance of bacteria when you turn the system back on and may require a service technician's intervention, reducing the effectiveness of any power savings.

The average daily running cost of most systems is very low. The annual usage of electricity for an EnviroTas-AS is similar to that of an average household refrigerator.

It is very important to be careful with what cleaning and wash products enter your system

As a rule of thumb, liquid products are more likely to be safe for your system than powder or tablet form. Avoid anything antibacterial and look for products that are phosphate-free or low-phosphate. 

Use products that do not contain bleach, chlorine or strong antibacterial agents. Most products marked biodegradable/green etc. are safe for use in your EnviroTas-AS, however some plant-based cleaners are powerful antibiotics and will cause your system not to work effectively.

Moderation is key with all cleaning products. Your EnviroTas-AS will cope with a small amount of incorrect products but to keep everything working as required please follow our suggestions. 

You will know if you are using the wrong items if your system starts to smell or if the service technician marks 'poor biological condition' on your service report. 

For more information on cleaning products visit our User Manual

No, it is best to leave the system accessible.

It is important that your Wastewater Treatment System is always easily and safely accessible for scheduled services and any maintenance required.

However, if you wish to cover the system for aesthetic purposes, some people use a mat of fake grass or similar which is easy to remove and replace. 

Please do not use pine bark or any other fibrous materials as pieces can sift into the tank and cause blockages which will be costly to repair.

Your system should be fine without power for 1-2 days. 

The bacteria will start to die after 8-10 hours but will rapidly grow again if power is restored quickly. An EnviroTas-AS system has a large volume capacity so is unlikely to overflow if left without power for up to 48 hours. 

No, it is not recommended. 

Food scraps will put additional strain on your system and introduce extra levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. 

Probable cause:

• Power switched off – Check that you still have an active power source to the system.
• Blocked irrigation filter – Check the filter to ensure that it isn’t blocked. Refer to Irrigation Filter Cleaning Procedure.
• Irrigation pipework damage or blockage – Check irrigation lines for any obvious blockages, kinks poorly fitting connections or obvious signs of leakage.
• Blocked dripper or sprinkler heads – Check irrigation area to ensure drippers/sprinklers are functioning normally. Clean and repair as required.
• Irrigation pump failure.

If the problem cannot be resolved easily, call EnviroTas for assistance.

Probable cause:

• A fault with the air blower - Listen at the electrical box to confirm if the air blower is working. If you cannot hear it running, contact EnviroTas to resolve.
• Air pipe has disconnected - You may be able to reattach this yourself, if unsure please contact EnviroTas to resolve.

You will most likely need an EnviroTas technician or plumber to sort this for you.

If you are able and know where the eyehole is, please check the inlet to your Wastewater Treatment System for blockages. 

If there is no blockage at the inlet, there is likely a blockage in your sewage drainage pipework. This is most likely a problem for your plumber but if in doubt call EnviroTas.

If you aren't sure how to do this call EnviroTas and we will talk you through it or send a technician to assess the problem.