AWTS Product Use Guide
Keeping your Aerated Wastewater Treatment System Healthy
To ensure your EnviroTas-AS is operating effectively and within the standards set by regulatory bodies, it is necessary to avoid certain products entering the system. Your treatment system relies on bacteria for treatment, so any product used to kill bacteria is detrimental to system efficiency, can cause bad odours and damage the workings of the system.
Follow these tips to ensure your Aerated Wastewater Treatment System operates effectively and trouble-free:
If the alarm is activated, contact EnviroTas and eliminate the problem as soon as possible.
Use cleaning products that are bio-degradable and low phosphorus.
Be aware most products advertised as clean-green and septic-friendly are often based on natural oils (eg Eucalyptus/Tea Tree) and these can decrease the effectiveness of your system.
If possible, spread your washing loads over a week, e.g. 1 or 2 loads per day.
Adhere to recommended dosages of cleaning and wash products.
Don’t allow the following items down any drains connected to your treatment system:
- Dyes or colourings.
- Strong caustics, alkalis, oils, acids, bleaches, disinfectants, antibacterials, chemical detergents,
- or caravan toilet chemical.
- Bio-degradable detergents that contain disinfectants (e.g. chlorine bleach), benzine or
- phosphates. Benzine converts to carbolic acid which is a strong disinfectant.
- Antibiotics.
- Sanitary items, wipes (even flushable wipes) newspapers, paper towels etc.
Don’t exceed the maximum design load or subject the system to hydraulic shock loads (use of washing machines, multiple showers/emptying of baths at the same time). Leaking taps or toilets constantly running can affect excess loading on the system and cause odours.
Don’t switch off power to your system.
Avoid the use of garbage disposal units in sinks.
Avoid pouring quantities of oil/fats, alcohol, dairy products or fruit juice into the drains to the system.
Helpful Tip
If you need to use any products not safe to use with your AWTS, it is best to do this in a bucket and discard the contents appropriately outdoors after use.
Research Proven
Yoghurt, sugar, yeast, roadkill and lime fertiliser may assist with biological health, but does not counteract against use of bad products.
Product Use Guide
Moderation is key with all cleaning products. Your AWTS will cope with a small amount of incorrect products but to keep everything working as required please follow our suggestions.
It is difficult to specifically label which products are safe for use with an AWTS as the product ingredients are continually evolving and changing. Choosing products is often just about trial and error, your EnviroTas technician will advise on your service report if it appears that incompatible products are affecting the operation and biological condition of your system.
- Antibacterial Products.
- Disinfectant Products.
- Concentrate or super concentrate branding.
- Anything labelled grease cutting or eliminates grease is
- too strong.
- Items bleach or ammonia based.
- Spray-on prewash for laundry.
- Anything eucalyptus based.
- Koh range is very good. Lucent Globe range is generally safe.
- Vinegar, Bicarb Soda.
- Natural based products are generally ok, as long as no eucalyptus ingredients.
- Subdu, Actizyme or other enzyme based products are healthy for preventing drain odours and blockages.
Bathrooms & Toilets
- Look for environmentally friendly and biodegradable products.
- Most cream cleaners such as JIF are suitable unless in excess quantities.
- Alternative non-product cleaners are recommended such as Enjo, Norwex etc. Koh products are known to work very well with AWTS.
- Bicarb Soda or Vinegar works well as a cleaner.
- Avoid antibacterial, bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.
- Toilet fresheners are not recommended.
- Windex used on shower screens is generally too strong.
- Avoid mould killer products.
- Avoid orange power as it is too strong.
Floors
- Nothing antibacterial or disinfectant, unless the water is disposed of outside (not down the drain).
- Vinegar or a mild detergent mixed with hot water works well on floors and is safe for AWTS.
Laundry
- Product must be stamped as NP (a blue and white logo)
- No bleaches.
- Look for low phosphorus, low sodium and low sulphur products.
- Avoid stain removal products, particularly prewash spray.
- Rubbing a bar of soap over a stain before washing is a quite effective stain removal.
- Incompatible soakers (Sard or Napisan) can be used in a bucket and then disposed of appropriately outside (not down the drain) when finished.
- Liquids are generally better than powders.
Personal/Pet Hygiene
- Anything you can use on the human body is generally safe for your system in small doses (except strong antibacterial handwash in excessive quantities).
- Take care that no pet wash runoff, including flea products etc, drains into your system.
Kitchen
- Choose products that are non-toxic, non-chlorine based and biodegradable.
- Liquids are generally better than powder or tablets.
- Dishwashing liquid must not be antibacterial, disinfectant or concentrate.
- Finish Powerball or any other dishwasher tablets/capsules with fancy balls or colours are too strong.
- Finish Powder or other types of basic powders are generally ok, stick to recommended dosage.
- Surface cleaners should be natural based, unless using a disposable wipe which isn’t rinsed down the drains.
- Any cream cleaner such as JIF are generally safe.
- Do not use Draino or other strong drain cleaners.
Still unsure what products are safe for use with an AWTS?
The team at EnviroTas understand how tricky it is to find the right products to suit you and your Wastewater Treatment System, especially if this is your first time with an AWTS.
Please dont hesitate to contact us and we'll help you out.
