NATURAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Worm-based septic tanks use the power of nature to provide a passive, low-energy and reliable method of wastewater treatment.  These tanks comprise an engineered ecosystem that mimics the way nature breaks down and decomposes organic matter to a suitable level for irrigation purposes. These ecosystems simulate the forest floor, where worms are provided with a habitat to perform the same tasks they have in nature for thousands of years.

How does it work?

The septic tank consists of a layered filter bed that separates solids from liquid sewage. It provides a stable environment for organisms that break down the separated solid waste into a stable humic product – exactly as they would in nature. 

The stars of the show – Tiger Worms – continually break up the sewage and create millions of aerobic channels. These conditions are ideal for other organisms to move into and together they complete the decomposition process.

The sewage gets turned into humus and the wastewater is then cleansed as it trickles through the man channels in the humus.

The worms naturally aerate the waste, and the humus absorbs any odour, providing a natural smell suppression.

This layered filter bed comprises 3 layers. The solids of the wastewater are broken down in the top layer and the remaining liquid is then cleansed as it passes through the lower layers.

This top layer is made up of coarse mesh bags with plastic media in them. It houses the wet soil ecosystem comprising the worms and the billions of microorganisms. They break down the organic material and what is left over passes through to the middle layer.

In the middle layer the wastewater is repeatedly reprocessed by the organisms. They are constantly renewing its drainage and aeration pores, resulting in finely structured compost with smell suppression properties.

In the last layer, the effluent has been well treated and passes through a geofabric layer. Particles larger than 90 micron are filtered out and the water can finally accumulate in the sump where any remaining fine particles are settled out. The clear reclaimed water can now be pumped or drained for irrigation.