The Advantex System, manufactured by Orenco Inc., must be purchased from authorized dealer and installed by an authorized and trained contractor. This unit, known as AX-10 is approximately 3 feet by 4 feet in size, 3 feet deep. The treatment system and all its components cost about $3,000, plus shipping and installation. The Advantex AX-20 unit, which has been approved in Virginia for homes up to four bedrooms in size, is larger at approximately 4 x 8 x 4 feet.
Effluent dispersal occurs via low
pressure distribution system in the back yard. The total system installation
cost, in this case, was about $15,000. However, the installation contractor
was still early on the learning curve and this system was installed on
a state contract. As contractors develop experience with installation and
a competitive market develops, it is quite possible that installation costs
will decline. The system requires maintenance approximately one time per
year (clean filter; hose off fabric; clean out distribution pipes by opening
a valve and pumping effluent from the from receiving tank, check pumps).
The manufacturer recommends that service be performed by authorized service
contractor.
Above is the AX-10 unit with the top open,
showing the effluent distribution system and the top edges of the filtration
fabric which hangs down vertically into the tank. Effluent is sprayed out
of the nozzles (visible as white circular fixtures) over the hanging fabric.
Bacterial populations develop on the fabric to process the wastewaters,
which trickle and ooze down the fabric into the tank below. This is a recirculating
system, so only a portion of the effluent treated by each pass through
the filter is pumped to the dispersal field.
The clear liquid in the foreground bottle
in the foreground.is treated effluent produced by this system. The treated
effluent is pumped to the dispersal field. Because most contaminants
have been removed from the wastewater, the dispersal field can be smaller
than a conventional septic field intented to treat similar volumes of wastewater,
and/or the effluent dispersal field can constructed in locations that would
not be suitable for untreated septic effluent.
This filter removes solid particles from
septic-tank effluent prior to treatment in the AX-10 unit. It should be
cleaned periodically, typically once per year.
Looking DOWN into the pump chamber.
Looking DOWN into the recirculation tank.
The AX-10 unit with its lid on. A good
solid lid, securely fastened, is essential to maintaining the unit's capability
to treat wastewater's effectively over the long term, and it prevents unintended
access by.insects, dogs, wildlife, and children.
The neighbor's AX-10 unit, and ports to
associated subsurface equipment. The control panel is on the house's right
side, near the corner. Although this unit protrudes from the ground, a
more typical installation would either bury the unit deeper, so as to avoid
the protrusion, or mound up some soil around the unit. Mounting the unit
close to the home is possible because there are no perceptible odors when
the system is operating properly.
The neighbor's house again, with the system
that preceded and was replaced by the AX-10.
This page created and maintained by Carl
Z
26 October 01
czip@vt.edu